God U – The episode opens during a newscast from eight years prior. VSN anchor (Chris Handfield) announces that Godolkin University’s A-Train (Jessie T. Usher), the first Black man, has been drafted into La Siete. Madelyn Stillwell (Elizabeth Shue) claims A-Train joining The Seven proves the world is “post-racism.” An excited Malcolm Moreau (Ty Barnett) invites young Marie Moreau (Jaeda LeBlanc) and Annabeth (Maria Nash) to join him in watching history being made. Refusing the offer, Marie snaps Annabeth’s picture. Jackie Moreau (Miatta Lebile) says he goes to the same club as Scott Disick and Jake Paul. Marie complains of stomach pain. Jackie offers her some Pepto-Bismol but she refuses before rushing to the bathroom where she realizes she is bleeding. A concerned Jackie knocks on the door. As the blood ascends into the air, Marie leaps off the toilet crashing into a shelf. When Jackie bursts through the door, the bloody blob hits her neck before crashing into the wall. Blood spews from Jackie’s neck as she collapses on the floor. Malcolm rushes in to see what is happening when blood through the floor killing him. Annabeth is stunned by what she sees.

Present day at Red River Institute – Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) wakes up with a start. 4pm June 22 is marked on a wall calendar. Standing in the center of a room, she cuts her hands with a pocket knife. As blood from both hands ascends upwards, she utilizes it to knock things over until it comes to rest on the floor. Later, she watches security guards force a girl into an Elmira Adult Rehabilitation Center van. At 4pm, she signs into her Godolkin University account to discover an acceptance letter. She shares the news with Vanessa (Alexandra Castillo) who congratulates her before suggesting she could protect a city someday. Marie boasts of being the first Black woman to join The Seven. Vanessa tells her that non-adopted children with a violent history are often transferred to Elmira’s Vought Adult Facility. She says a God U Graduate could give her a clean start. Marie vows to never return to Red River Institute.

Godolkin University – Maverick (Nicholas Hamilton) informs Marie of the consent seminar being held in the common room at 3pm. Entering her dorm room, Marie finds a shrunken Emma Meyer (Lizze Broadway) standing in a miniature boxing ring with her gerbil, David Caruso. Emma greets her with a hug before offering her a “White Claw” which she refuses. She explains her YouTube show, “Fun Sized with Little Cricket.” At the stadium, Emma suggests Golden Boy/Luke (Patrick Schwarzenegger) is not circumcised because he can’t be cut. On the field, Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips) asks Golden Boy if he slept last night. He complains of a repeat confusing nightmare. She offers to screw him until it stops. He asks if he said anything about wanting it to stop. Andre Anderson (Chance Perdomo) orders Golden Boy to get his head in the game. Golden Boy claims to not be concerned about The Incredible Steve (Warren Scherer). Andre admits to putting $10k on him. Golden Boy threatens to throw the match if he doesn’t agree to split the winnings with him. Andre jokingly curses him before urging him to kick Steve’s a*s.

Golden Boy and The Incredible Steve fist bump before the match begins. Igniting his body, Golden Boy dodges Steve’s punches. The match continues until Steve’s body explodes. While helping Andre reattach Steve’s arms, Golden Boy says he did well. In the stands, Marie asks to borrow Emma’s phone because she doesn’t have one. Stunned, Emma asks if she is Amish.

Jordan Li (London Thor) informs Marie of her being rejected from Brink’s Freshmen Intro to Crimefighting. Marie demands to speak with Professor Rich Brinkerhoff (Clancy Brown). Jordan admits to rejecting her. Brink emerges from his office and shoots Jordan. Transitioning into a guy (Derek Luh), Jordan holds up the bullet. Brink boasts of having the fastest draw. Jordan demands a new shirt. Declining a “Good Morning America” interview, Brink says they can read his book. Marie blurts out that she read all of his books before explaining how she was rejected from his Intro Class. Brink assures her that Performing Arts will earn a spot on “Dancing With The Stars.”

On campus, Marie sees Sam (Asa Germann) running from the police. Sam assaults two Woods Security Officers and turns over a cruiser before fleeing. She asks the officers what is happening. An officer (Brian Gibson) says the suspect is “tweaking on meth.” Andre watches the officers run across campus. After cutting her palm, Marie utilizes her blood to nab Sam. Getting to his feet, he turns to look at her. She tells him to calm down. Sam assaults several officers before vowing to not return to the Woods when a vehicle hits him. While trapped between two vehicles, the police taze him. Later, officers throw Sam into a cell in the Woods. He pleads to not be left there.

Marie tells Emma about the arrest. Emma says she could have gotten millions of “likes” for the footage. She assures Marie that Performing Arts won’t be bad with a few friends. They approach a group of students gathered around Justine (Maia Jae Bastidas) who says Innovative picked her for a limited series on Vought Plus. She hopes being friends with Zach Braff will play in her favor. Emma introduces herself. Justine and Liam (Robert Bazzocchi) recognize her from “Little Cricket.” When Justine addresses Marie, she politely leaves with Emma in tow. Emma says 5% of the students receive a city contract, the rest sell merchandise for Vought.

When Brink first met Golden Boy, he promised that he would be bigger than “Homelander.” Brink reveals a prototype of Golden Boy’s suit made of hafnium carbide alloy that won’t melt. Golden Boy assures him that no one will pay eight figures for it. Brink says New York already paid for the suit which is already in production. He announces Golden Boy’s induction into The Seven.

Andre complains about the way the officers treated Sam last night. Marie says he was out of control. He invites her to an off-campus field trip. She says it would mean breaking curfew before refusing the offer. He tells her that they are meeting up at the Crimefighting Building at 10pm. Later Emma urges Marie to go on the field trip. Marie claims her father is strict. Emma offers her an outfit. Marie later leaves campus with Andre, Cate, Jordan, and Golden Boy. In her dorm room, Emma scans her social media comments when Liam texts asking if she would like to hang out sometime.

Seven Tower – Jordan and Cate use coke. Golden Boy offers Marie some alcohol which she refuses. He suggests she dreamed of being with The Seven at six. She denies knowing about her powers until she was 12, even though, she took V as a baby. Initially claiming her dad boasts of her powers to his friends, Marie says her parents are dead. He tells her about his deceased brother. She wants to be a superhero to prove to her sister…. He suggests being a superhero for herself, no one else. Back in the dorm room, Liam and Emma are making out when he asks her to transition into Little Cricket. She transforms in the bathroom.

Cate uses her power to get them into the Skyscraper Club without ID. Jordan has Molly and Golden Boy has shrooms. Cate jokingly threatens to remove her glove to make Marie use drugs. Marie ingests drugs before hitting the dance floor. Back at the dorm, Emma plays with Liam’s penis as Little Cricket. At the pub, Jordan says Brink will never rank number one with Golden Boy in the picture. Golden Boy says Jordan is Brink’s favorite son and daughter. Jordan suggests the Trustees will choose Andre who denies wanting the position because it would mean a lot of responsibility and working with his father. A short time later, Andre utilizes his powers to score a date with a woman (Keelin O’Hara) when a bump causes the necklace to cut a woman’s throat. Frantic, he applies pressure on the woman’s neck. Jordan and Cate convince him to leave. Marie uses her power to stop the bleeding while people are recording.

Marie and Emma watch footage of the incident when Maverick knocks on the door. He says Brink summons her to his office. Brink tells her about Fred McCallister drowning while saving his dog. He says it is all about sacrifice before expelling her to protect Andre, Golden Boy, and Jordan. He accuses her of cutting the woman’s throat. He suggests she is wasting her time at Godolkin University because blood powers are a “nonstarter in Middle America. When she threatens to not accept the expulsion, he reminds her that she killed her parents. Later, Marie blames Emma for forcing her to go out partying. Elsewhere, Golden Boy imagines young Sam (Cameron Nicoll) asking for help.

Marie breaks down sobbing. In a flashback, Annabeth accuses Marie of killing their parents. She calls her a “monster.” Back to the present, Marie tells herself that she isn’t a monster. Golden Boy enters Brink’s office. Marie enters the office to find him burning Brink alive. She denies seeing anything. He tells her that she knows nothing of the Woods before concocting a story of how Brink fell asleep with a burning Camel in his mouth. She agrees to keep it a secret before fleeing. After turning his body into an inferno, he chases her until Jordan stops him. A fight ensues and ends with Golden Boy strangling Jordan. Outside, Marie tells Andre that Golden Boy killed Brink as he emerges from the building. Golden Boy whispers into Andre’s ear. He ascends toward the sky before exploding into tiny pieces. The episode ends.

 

Gen V Review

The show starts out strong, then the pace slows to a crawl before picking back up. I question the need to reveal Marie’s powers through menstrual blood. A laceration would have been preferable.

The dialogue may be confusing for those unfamiliar with “The Boys.” The story is bogged down by irrelevant, cringeworthy, and agenda-laden content.

The main cast does a great job bringing their characters to life. However, they’re not always convincing or believable. The episode is packed full of ads that are only sometimes cleverly embedded into the script.

The cinematography and editing are on par.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more Gen V recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds online awareness, click the link to learn more.