The Boys Spinoff Explained A Key Character Death In The Best Way It Could

Warning! This review contains SPOILERS for Gen V season 2, episodes 1-3.Gen V season 2 sets up a new mystery to explore, and it’s already having major repercussions. As The Boys universe grows, it’s nice to see Gen V maintain the same level of quality as its parent show. Season 1 was the perfect origin for Godolkin University and its batch of young superheroes.

After Gen V season 1 ended with four heroes trapped, what would happen to them next became the ultimate question. Obviously, the answer had to change due to the untimely death of actor Chance Perdomo, who played Andre Anderson. Still, the show did a great job under extremely difficult circumstances, making Andre’s fate in the show greatly affect the narrative.

Gen V season 2 gets off to a solid start, and while the first three episodes do not reach the heights of season 1, save for the premiere, I expect the action to pick up in the coming weeks. What matters is making the world interesting, and with a mix of returning characters, guest stars, and new players, season 2 looks promising.

Gen V Season 2’s Explanation For Chance Perdomo’s Death Is Fitting

Chance Perdomo as Andre Anderson in Gen V

Given Perdomo’s death, Gen V had two options: recast Andre and keep what the show had planned for the character, or have him die and use his death as a big factor in the story. I’m glad the show chose the second option. Perdomo’s charismatic turn in season 1 left too big a mark on The Boys spinoff for the role to be recast.

While the series does not show flashbacks of what happened to Andre, which is for the best, the character’s absence plays a huge role in the first three episodes of season 2. We learn that Andre had died in the premiere, but the show slowly reveals how and why it happened.

The event affects character dynamics, as one would expect. The idea of having Marie (Jaz Sinclair) escape before Andre’s death and her not being present for it, plus serving as his inspiration for trying to escape and subsequently dying, created a realistic divide between her and Jordan. The death also offers a bigger role for Andre’s dad, Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas), in season 2.

It will be interesting to see how the veteran supe works with the young heroes as they continue on their mission, and his exchanges with Emma (Lizze Broadway) have been quite fun so far. Gen V had already laid out a way for Andre to die in season 1, as his powers were slowly killing him with every use. Season 2 employed that narrative detail well.

The Boys Characters Have Already Made Their Presence Felt

The Deep (Chace Crawford) staring intently at Sage (Susan Heyward) in The Boys season 4 episode 4

The first few episodes feature three major characters from The Boys. In episode 1, Erin Moriarty returns as Starlight and saves Marie before asking her to investigate Project Odessa at Godolkin. I did not expect Starlight to have such a key role in the season.

That said, Gen V understands not to let The Boys characters outshine the show’s main stars, so Starlight might have played an important role in setting up this season’s overall story, but she has a minor onscreen presence so far. The same goes for Chace Crawford’s The Deep. The Boys‘ scene-stealer is in for a couple of funny scenes before bowing out.

Valorie Curry’s Firecracker is the one with the biggest potential appearances, as she covers new reports and can do so throughout the season. We might get more returning stars from The Boys, but all in the same kinds of roles. Given that the first three episodes were released at once, packing them with cameos to raise interest tracks.

Cipher & Episode 3’s Ending Kickstart The Rest Of Season 2

Cipher (Hamish Linklater) wearing a suit while conducting his class in Gen V season 2

Hamish Linklater’s Cipher is a welcome addition to Gen V. As Godolkin’s new dean, the character has already proven quite menacing despite not appearing so at first. The direction the show is taking the character, and not revealing what his powers are yet, makes it clear he is not to be trusted.

The reveal that Marie is seemingly the only baby alive from Project Odessa is intriguing. The character is even more important to The Boys universe than season 1 revealed. Given that Cipher was involved — not only in sending Marie and her friends to a facility to study them, but was also the one to deliver her as a baby — makes him key to her story.

With episode 3 ending as Jordan decides to make a stand against Godolkin and Vought publicly, I can’t wait to see how season 2 will make their life difficult. Likewise, Marie’s origin and connection to Cipher make for a compelling mystery to follow.

Release Date: September 28, 2023
Network: Prime Video
Directors: Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum
Writers: Craig Rosenberg
Franchise(s): The Boys