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Gender shifting superhero on “Gen V” finds love

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This is a medium close-up shot of a young man and woman sitting together on the floor in what appears to be a dimly lit arcade or utility room. The man on the left has curly brown hair and is wearing a grubby, olive-green jumpsuit and work boots, with his knees drawn up. He is looking intently at the woman, and his hand rests on his knee. The woman on the right has chin-length blonde hair, which looks damp or slicked back, and is wearing a dark blue t-shirt. She is sitting with her knees drawn up as well, looking back at the man, and appears to be holding a small object or wrapper in her hands. Both appear dirty or bruised, suggesting they may have been through an ordeal. The background is cluttered, with a dark arcade game or machine behind them, and a movie poster on the far left that partially reads "GHOSTS OF HANOI."
Asa Germann and Lizze Broadway in Gen V (2023) (Photo by Brooke Palmer/Brooke Palmer/Prime Video - © Amazon Studios)
This is a medium close-up shot of a young man and a young woman standing close together and holding hands, facing one another in a dimly lit indoor setting. The man on the left has short, dark, curly hair and is wearing a dark, patterned collared shirt. He is looking directly at the woman with a serious expression. The woman on the right has long, straight blonde hair and is wearing a chunky-knit, light-colored cardigan. She is also looking intently at the man. Their hands are clasped between them, creating a focus point for the intimate and slightly tense moment. The background is dark, with vague shapes of shelves or furniture, suggesting a private, enclosed space.
Maddie Phillips and Chance Perdomo in Gen V (2023) (Photo by Brooke Palmer/Brooke Palmer/Prime Video – © Amazon Studios)

A romantic relationship between a gender-shifting superhero and a blood-bending badass is the dynamic dating duo taking over The Boys spinoff series, Gen V.

Harnessing the power to move blood at her will, Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) spent season one in a will-they/won’t-they situationship with Jordan Li (London Thor and Derek Luh). Wondering why they need two actors? Jordan’s super ability involves changing from male to female, to be bigender.

Both Thor and Luh bring a connected depth that really sells the illusion, and a lot of queer fans are happy to see the characters back in season 2, which is airing now on Amazon Prime.

The college action-dramedy follows the next generation of superpowered people in The Boys universe, which is based on the acclaimed comic series turned streaming franchise. Season 2 begins with our ragtag group of college kids on the run from evil professors and their secret, nefarious facility, The Woods.

Aforementioned blood-bender Marie is on the lam and ends up meeting with her fellow classmates in Weehawken, New Jersey. Much like Alexander Hamilton, their journey to Jersey is not without a showdown. Old friends are exposed as foes, someone almost dies, and you learn the in-universe explanation as to why one main cast member is no longer with us.

A main member of the cast and rising talent, Chance Pedermo, tragically passed away during filming from a motorcycle accident. This installment is dedicated to him. The show addresses his loss with a “For Chance” title card at the start of the new season.

This is a dramatic, profile-view medium shot of a young Black woman standing on an elevated platform, possibly a stage or fighting ring, in a dimly lit, ornate interior space. She has long, dark, braided hair and is looking intensely to her right. She is wearing a maroon athletic outfit that includes a long-sleeved, cropped top and matching high-waisted bottoms, with some sparkle or sheen on the fabric. The environment is dark and atmospheric, lit primarily by blue and red stage lighting. She is standing behind a metal railing, which separates her from a crowd of spectators visible in the dark background. The architecture behind the crowd suggests a grand old building with arched doorways and warm lights from candelabras or similar fixtures, creating a stark contrast with the cool, vibrant light focusing on the woman.
Jaz Sinclair in Gen V (2023) (Photo by Jasper Savage/Prime – © Amazon MGM Studios)

Gen V is more than just a superpower show that isn’t afraid to turn up the violence. The characters are rich with wants and needs, flaws and all. An overarching mystery is underway that connects the crew to something truly sinister, all while dodging the looming wrath of a new Dean (Hamish Linklater).

Jordan Li can switch between male and female presenting genders whenever they want. They also developed sonic blasts and super strength that are effective in battle. Jordan’s identity, bouncing between the binary, is uniquely explored as Marie learns to love every part of them.

The series pokes fun at right-wing media’s absurd interest in gender, and has a new character try to define Jordan’s identity. Jordan shuts that down real quick and makes fans proud by standing firm in themselves.  

Jordan has an interesting arc in the first season. They confront their parents about why they preferred a certain gender version of them over the other. They are also one of the strongest fighters at Godolkin University, making them one of the most formidable heroes around.

Specific shoutout to actress Lizze Broadway. She can grow big or super tiny, but that comes so secondary to her fun personality. She’s observant, snarky at people who deserve it, and always calls out BS. She is a fan-favorite for sure. Her struggle with an eating disorder ties directly into her power usage, thinking she needs to vomit as the only way to change her size.

She learns to grow and shrink based on her inner confidence, but still struggles with returning to that quick pinch solution. It’s a great metaphor for self-love and exploration of bulimia on a scale that audiences can understand. Not to mention, she leads a team of quirky rebels this season! We love to see it.

This is a medium-wide shot of a business meeting or presentation taking place in a modern, professional, and well-lit conference room. The room has white paneled walls with horizontal slits and a dark blue circular rug defining the center area. In the center, a large screen on the back wall displays a gold and red crest with the text "SUPERHERO BRANDING" below it. Three main figures dominate the center: a clean-cut white man on the left, wearing a white shirt, vest, and tie, seated on a table edge and smiling toward the group. A young Black woman sits opposite him in the center, wearing a dark, casual outfit with a loose jacket and combat-style boots, looking toward the man. A woman in a light-brown suit jacket and pants stands in the background on the right. Several other people, all casually dressed, are seated around white, curved tables on the sides of the room, some appearing to be listening while others look down at a laptop or pad.
Shelley Conn, Jaz Sinclair, and Derek Wilson in Gen V (2023) (Photo by Brooke Palmer/Brooke Palmer/Prime Video – © Amazon Studios)

The show touches on many real-life themes that eerily, yet accurately, reflect the pressures of college life, how corrupt fame can be, and has plenty of fantastical elements to elevate those hard-hitting moments even further. People get thrown into metal bars or have their spines broken; truly, nobody is safe.

It’s action-packed and full of fun, boasting impressive VFX that doesn’t make you cringe. There’s the signature toilet humor that The Boys defaults to (exploding butts in episode one had my eyes rolling), but when the show is good, it’s good.

Gen V has many moments that hold a mirror to our society today. It showcases violent protesters and how violent powers clash with that (crowds get eye lasered, folks.) There’s a trad-wife parody that mirrors the recent rise online of women against feminism, who brag about being subservient wives all day.

Either mainstream or minute, the show isn’t afraid to point out how truly weird society has gotten in the last few years. Once this era passes (hopefully), I know Gen V will be a fun time capsule into the misdirected anger plaguing America in the 2020s. And Jordan Li’s relationship with Marie Monreaux will be one for the queer history books.