The following contains spoilers for the first three episodes of Gen V.Last week saw the release of Gen V’s first three episodes on Prime Video, and the latest Boys’ spin-off series is already being met with widespread critical acclaim. The series follows a group of young ‘supes’ as they train to become the next generation of heroes at Godolkin University, a prestigious college created by Vought International. Gen V has been eagerly awaited ever since the spin-off series was initially announced back in September 2020. Even though the series’ first few episodes only premiered last week, it is already being embraced by The Boys’ fans who are crediting Gen V for living up to its long-awaited arrival. However, it seems that fans of The Boys won’t have long to wait before season four premieres. Its fourth season is rumored to arrive early 2024 after its development was delayed due to the recent writers’ strike.
As a spin-off of The Boys, it’s expected that the two series are largely connected with each other, but some fans are confused about Gen V’s placement in The Boys’ timeline. With only a few short months ahead of The Boys’ fourth season, where exactly does Gen V take place in The Boys’ timeline, and how exactly are the two series connected?
How Is Gen V Connected to The Boys?
Gen V’s inspiration was derived from The Boys’ original comics. The series’ narrative was loosely inspired by the seventh story arc of Garth Ennis's comics, ‘We Gotta Go Now’. Whilst ‘We Gotta Go Now’ functions as a self-contained story, it is still interwoven with The Boys’ wider narrative. This particular story arc is a satire of the X-Men series; however, it wasn’t well received by a number of The Boys’ fans who critiqued the series. Fortunately for them, Gen V’s creators have clarified that the latest spin-off series is only very loosely inspired by ‘We Gotta Go Now’ and frequently diverts from its original source material.
Whilst audiences do not have to be die-hard fans of The Boys to enjoy Gen V, the two series are heavily connected. Gen V follows The Boys’ satirical themes and memorable gore. In a mocking of Marvel and DC, The Boys and Gen V both strive to push the boundaries of their ‘superhero’ genre, as clearly shown in Gen V’s opening scene. As expected, Gen V is crammed with references to The Boys and even includes a few familiar faces, such as A-Train, Ashley Barrett and Soldier Boy.
However, Gen V introduces audiences to a new group of ‘supes’, each one with a memorable superpower. For example, the series’ protagonist, Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), has the ability to weaponize her own blood. With season four of The Boys just around the corner, it’s easy to assume that the two series will be interconnected, but Gen V’s first episode reveals exactly where the spin-off series occurs in The Boys’ timeline.
When Does Gen V Take Place in the Boys’ Timeline?
As revealed in its first episode, Gen V takes place in the aftermath of The Boys’ third season. A news report in Gen V reveals the Seven Tower in a destroyed state, alluding to the final battle against Soldier Boy, as shown in the finale of season 3. Additionally, Gen V explicitly references Starlight’s resignation from the Seven, which only occurred in the build-up to season 3’s final episode. Gen V also alludes to Queen Maeve’s ‘death’, demonstrating its connection to season 3’s dramatic finale. Because of these references, some fans have theorized that Gen V occurs only months after the events of The Boys’ third season.
However, rather than being connected to the upcoming fourth season of The Boys, Gen V is set to conclude before season 4 begins. This means that the latest spin-off series occurs between season 3 and four of The Boys. This information was confirmed via The Boys’ official account on X, in which they wrote: “If we’re clearin up the timeline, @genv takes place between S3 and S4. So the kiddos at God U all saw Homelander laser a guy’s head off to the sound of thunderous applause”.
Gen V briefly provides audiences with some updates regarding Homelander. During Gen V’s first few episodes, it’s clear that Homelander is awaiting trial for his murder of a protester, but this hasn’t stopped the supe’s influence from spreading. At Godolkin University, a student is seen wearing a hat which reads ‘Keep America Safe’, which some fans may recognize as Homelander’s slogan. Whilst these references are dotted throughout Gen V, it’s clear that fans will have to wait until season 4 to discover Homelander’s fate.
However, Gen V is by no means a substitute for The Boys’ fourth season. Although the series takes place in The Boys’ diabolical universe, Gen V offers its own humorous and satirical narration. It’s clear that Gen V has been met with praise both from fans and critics, with The Guardian hailing the latest series as ‘extraordinary’. This means that The Boys’ latest spin-off series is clearly not one to be missed.
The first three episodes of Gen V are available to stream on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping weekly.