The last episode of Gene V season 2 has landed on Prime Video, and it’s sure to set the stage for an explosive fifth and final season of The boys.
Titled ‘The Guardians of Godolkin’ – it’s almost identical to last season’s finale, but I’ll grant it – Gene V season 2 episode 8 is full of story twists and cameos and gives some clues about The boys‘ last installment and Gene Vhis own future. It’s just a shame that all of that is shoehorned into what feels like a hastily arranged 45-minute episode.
Who Dies In Gen V Season 2 Episode 8?
Not many people, really. In fact, only two members of this season’s primary cast die in ‘The Guardians of Godolkin’.
The first of them is Doug. It is the real name of the human character who was puppeted by Thomas Godolkin for many years, as Doug reveals at the start of this episode.
As we learned in episode 3, a Godolkin-controlled Doug—under the alias Doctor Gould—was one of the scientists who created Marie as part of The Odessa Project. Given that Marie is around 19/20 years old in Season 2, Doug must have been Godolkin’s unfortunate lackey for over two decades. For more details on this Cipher/Doug reveal, read my post about Gene V Season 2’s true villain is revealed in its seventh episode.
Anyway, in an attempt to save Doug’s life – he was beaten pretty badly by Polarity, Jordan, Sam and Greg in last week’s episode – Polarity drives Doug to a doctor he knows. Polarity does this because after Marie healed Godolkin of his injuries last episode, she is too weak to use her biokinetic powers to heal Doug’s wounds as well.
Unfortunately for Doug, on their way to the home of Polarity’s allies, the pair are ambushed by Black Noir II. Black Noir II cuts through the roof of the car with one of his swords and stabs Doug in the heart. Without Marie, one cannot recover from such a deadly blow.
The only other casualty is Godolkin himself. He is killed by Marie, who uses her abilities to cause his head and upper body to explode when he is subdued by Polarity’s upgraded electromagnetic superpowers.
If it weren’t for Polarity’s last-minute intervention, however, Godolkin would have gotten what he wanted all along. That being, the ability to control Marie, use her to help him kill the Homelander and take control of Vought and the United States.
In episode 8’s opening scene, we find out how Godolkin survived the 1967 lab accident, how he got superpowers, and why he hasn’t aged a day after Marie heals him. Basically, he injected himself with V-1, aka the same anti-aging version of Compound V that Soldier Boy and Stormfront got, giving him the ability to control people and still look young despite being around 100 years old at this point.
Later in ‘The Guardians of Godolkin’ we also learn that he has already tried to possess Marie several times. However, she has been too strong mentally for him to do so, forcing Godolkin to slightly adjust his plan to beat 75% of Godolkin University’s (God U) Student Supe population.
Instead of exterminating them one by one, Godolkin establishes a new class in God U’s hero optimization room with a ‘promise’ to help participants unlock their true potential. Of course, it’s a ruse designed to enhance Godolkin’s mind control abilities. Pushing himself to control as many Supes as possible, he will train himself to possess one as powerful as Marie.
Long story short: Godolkin achieves his goal and finally manages to possess Marie and uses her to incapacitate his friends with her ability to manipulate blood. Fortunately, Polarity, who is immune to Godolkin (and, by proxy, a possessed Marie), arrives at the moment to stop Godolkin, release Marie from his spell, and watch as Marie puts a permanent end to Godolkin’s world domination.
Is there a mid-credits or end credits scene in Gen V’s season 2 finale?
No. Unlike last season’s finale, which featured a Billy Butcher star with a mid-credits stinger – remind yourself of that via my Gene V season 1 ending explained piece – there are no end credits scenes to stick to.
It’s not a big surprise. Sure, Gene V‘s latest season sets up events to come in its parent show’s final entry (more on that in a bit). But, it was incredibly unlikely that there would be more teasing for The boys season 5 when season 2’s final wrap-up finished. If you were holding out hope for a first look at The boys‘ last chapter, then you will be deeply disappointed.
Any cameos from The Boys in Gen V Season 2’s final episode?
Aside from the aforementioned Black Noir II cameo, yes.
Despite what I wrote above, ‘The Guardians of Godolkin’ does not end without giving a hint of what is to come The boys 5 – and it comes in the form of two other cameos.
The first of which is Annie January/Starlight. She made a brief appearance in season 2 episode 1; Starlight rescues Marie Moreau from Dogknot before convincing Marie to go back to Godolkin University (God U) to learn more about The Odessa Project.
Still, Starlight reunites with Marie and the latter’s friends, all of whom have gone on the run—again—after Godolkin’s death. Starlight hails them for putting an end to Godolkin’s master plan and asks the group if they want to join the resistance, to which Emma jokingly suggests that Starlight’s resistance should join forces with theirs.
I said there are two cameos, so who’s the other one? Asked by Sam how she found them, Starlight said she covered a 200 mile radius around God U, which only “took 30 minutes”.
There is only one Supe capable of covering that amount of ground in such a short time: the A-Train. Watch a performance by Reggie Franklin, who amusingly chastises the group for having this conversation in the open, before the screen fades to black.
A-Train’s performance is definitely an appealing moment. IN The boys season 4’s penultimate chapter, he fled the country with his family because A-Train, after leaking information about Homelander to the titular Supe-busting group, feared for his life and the lives of his loved ones. So until now it was unclear whether we would see him again before The boys‘ last season ended. Speaking of which…
How does Gen V Season 2’s final episode set up The Boys Season 5?
The boys season 4 finale and what we know so far about The boys Despite Season 5, ‘The Guardians of Godolkin’ is giving further clues about the main show’s final eight episodes.
At first, the number of Supes who are part of Starlight’s resistance just grew exponentially. The fact that they have a God-tier level Supe like Marie, who can go toe-to-toe with Homelander, on their side also continues to level the playing field for the upcoming battle.
Elsewhere, it will be fascinating to see how The boys 5 deals with the fallout from Godolkin’s death.
Sister Sage, who was named CEO of Vought by Homelander, wanted to bring the news of Godolkin to Homelander in a sensitive way. After all, telling the world’s most powerful Supe—one who is incredibly volatile and increasingly unstable—that a mind-controlling superhuman is back on the board would have to be done the right way.
Unfortunately for Sage, Godolkin announces himself to the world via ‘V’, Gene V‘s TikTok and Instagram-like social media platform. Considering Homelander phones Sage during Godolkin’s live broadcast—a call Sage declines—he won’t be happy about being kept in the dark about Godolkin’s return. Well, before Godolkin got his head stabbed by Marie. Nevertheless, I’m curious to see how Sage will get out of this mess and/or keep Homelander’s trust after it.
The other big question mark over Gen V2the ending is what will happen to Polarity and the rest of God U’s Supe students. Will they be rounded up by their fellow Supes loyal to Homelander, branded traitors to their kind and locked up in Elmira? Or will some of them also have escaped and lay low until called upon by Starlight and company to join the inevitable battle? I think we’ll find out The boys season 5.
Will there be a Season 3 of Gen V?
We don’t know. Much depends on how The boys 5 ends then until the finale airs, no one knows about Gene V returns for another season.
There is always a chance of that, mind you. No matter what happens in it The boys season 5’s final episode, Supes, Compound V, and Vought will all still exist in this universe. Well, as long as Billy doesn’t release the Supe-killing virus worldwide, every vial of Compound V isn’t destroyed and Vought isn’t shut down.
If one or more of the latter scenarios doesn’t happen, Amazon’s live-action retelling of The boys‘ graphic novel series will continue on one of the world’s best streaming services. And with several teenage and young adult Supes likely still populating it, plus former Vought CEO Stan Edgar’s ambition to regain control of the Supe manufacturing business, there’s no reason why Gene V‘s story cannot continue.
By chance Gene V season 3 is not greenlit, there will be other stories to tell as part of the satirical superhero franchise. Vought Risinga prequel starring Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy is currently in development. Meanwhile, a Mexico-set spin-off of The boys is reportedly also underway. With or without Gene Vthen the future looks bright for Prime Video’s first big TV hit.
