It’s back to school time – to Godolkin Univesity, that is. Two years after it first premiered on Prime Video, Gen V is back for a second semester of blood, guts, and college shenanigans with our favorite budding “supes”. From the world of hit show The Boys, this spin-off centers on young superheroes (and supervillains) going to school at the Godolkin University School of Crimefighting.

By the end of Season 1, Marie Moreau and her ragtag crew were locked away in a high-tech, doorless research facility (slash prison) as punishment for defying Vought International, the corporation controlling the supes. Where do our crime-fighting Guardians go from here? Season 2 answers that question in the first five minutes.

Like its parent show, Gen V is an irreverent black comedy reflecting today’s divided times. This new season takes a darker turn, influenced by real-life events, but it’s still funny, brutal, and ridiculous in all the best ways. Here are five things you need to know:

1. Make Supes Great Again

While it’s been two years for us, Season 2 picks up just a few months later, as classes resume at Godolkin. The story also unfolds right after the events of The Boys Season 4, meaning the world has shifted dramatically since they last stepped foot in their dorms.

At the end of Season 4 of The Boys (spoiler alert!), martial law has been declared in America, and the unhinged Homelander and his army of supes have taken control of the country, pushing an anti-human agenda. “Make Supes Great Again,” they chant—a slogan that sounds all too familiar and is sure to make viewers cringe. Marie and our other main characters Jordan, Emma, Cate, and Sam must decide how they fit in this new world.

Fans of The Boys will be rewarded too, with plenty of cameos and appearances woven into Gen V.

2. New Faces, New Villains

Much of the Season 1 cast returns, but new additions promise to shake things up. Chief among them is Godolkin’s new dean, Cipher, played by Hamish Linklater. Is he as evil as he sounds or is he going to help Marie and her friends through this turbulent time in their lives?

He’s already changed the school’s curriculum to focus more on violence and militarism, so what does that mean for our heroes? It also seems like any mention of Cipher in history has been wiped out of the records. No one even knows what his powers are. Prepare for him to be a major force this season.

We’ll also meet Thomas Godolkin himself, the university’s mysterious founder, portrayed by Wicked’s Ethan Slater. Why did he create this school, and what secrets does it hide?

3. A Godolkin Mystery

As Marie and the rest of the gang settle back into another year at Godolkin, they begin investigating the school’s past at the insistence of new allies who believe the university is hiding something huge—maybe even a way to stop Homelander himself.

In the first three episodes, the mystery of Godolkin University is teased, and piece by piece we learn more about the secretive “Project Odessa” that links our main characters to why “God U” exists in the first place.

4. Still NSFW

Like Season 1, Gen V’s new season doesn’t shy away from blood, violence, and lots of nudity. Think The Boys meets a raunchy college comedy. If you’re coming for the action, there’s no shortage of that as bodies start piling up from the get-go.

Don’t be fooled by the younger cast; this is no family show. Exploding body parts, crude humor, and powers used in all the wrong ways are very much on the menu. Even with all this, though, it’s not just all butts and guts. Season 2 still holds up a mirror to society, tackling timely and unsettling themes, especially about America today, and makes some frightening but valid points along the way.

5. For Chance

One of Season 1’s leads, Chance Perdomo (Andre), tragically passed away in early 2024 following a motorcycle accident. His loss contributed to production delays, and the creators chose not to recast the role, instead reshaping the story around his absence.

Without spoiling details, the way the show addresses Chance’s death deeply impacts both the characters and the narrative. A somber tone lingers over the early episodes, underscored by the opening tribute: a simple but moving dedication—“For Chance.”

The first three episodes of Gen V Season 2 are now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes coming weekly.