Fans of the Amazon Prime original Gen V may already know that the series recently premiered its second season. The explosive three-episode event, which kicked off on Wednesday, Sept. 17, highlighted an array of new and returning challenges for the students and staff of Godolkin University School of Crimefighting. One new storyline presented to faithful viewers sees fan favorite character Cate Dunlap severely injured, in a climactic scene that plays out similarly to a dramatic death sequence. This has led many fans to wonder if Cate is dead, or if she’ll die in upcoming episodes as a result of the trauma.
For now, we can confirm that the character is alive and well within the narrative, though what happens next is anyone’s guess. For those curious to learn more, be sure to read ahead as we outline the exact fate of Cate and the rest of the core cast. Needless to say, there will be spoilers ahead, so be sure to proceed with caution if you’re not caught up on Gen V season two.
Does Cate die in ‘Gen V’ season two?
The season two premiere of Gen V wastes no time throwing Cate out of the frying pan and into the fire. As the series kicks off, we see that she has become one of the “Guardians of Godolkin,” tasked with keeping the university safe as the country descends into a full-on civil conflict. In an ill-fated attempt to bond with Emma and Jordan, she frees them from their incarceration at the Elmira Center, with the stipulation that they corroborate Homelander’s propaganda.
Neither of Cate’s former classmates seems receptive to reconnecting with her after her betrayal in season one, and it soon becomes clear that the pair is working closely with Marie and the resistance. In a desperate bid to maintain control, Cate attempts to use her powers against Jordan, causing the latter to respond with a massive energy pulse.
The pulse slams Cate against a wall, absolutely shattering her skull, and leaving her knocking on death’s door. At this point in the series, she is still alive, though it seems likely that she’ll never be the same again. This injury isn’t just career-changing due to its severity, either. It also causes Cate to lose her powers, making her extremely vulnerable to other supes.
As you can imagine, this leaves her scared, bitter and furious with her former friends, setting the scene for Cate to turn fully evil. With no powers, she’ll have to make keen use of her own cunning as she aligns with figures like Dean Cipher and Homelander.
How does ‘Gen V’ connect to ‘The Boys’?
Though it should be clear for most viewers, Gen V is a spinoff series connected to the breakaway hit Amazon show The Boys. The narratives for these shows play out simultaneously, allowing fans to get alternate perspectives on canon events. While The Boys predates the existence of Gen V, the writers and producers have taken great care to ensure that the series stands on its own. Basically, you can watch the entirety of one without being aware of the other, and you should still be able to understand and enjoy most of the significant plot points, character dynamics and story beats. It’s generally recommended that fans watch the shows in chronological order, in order to provide a little added context, but it isn’t strictly necessary.
The largest piece of connective tissue that brings the shows together is the repeated character crossovers. Members of the famed superhero group “The Seven” often make cameos in Gen V, with some serving as aspirational tales for the younger characters in the show, and others serving as antagonistic forces. Largely, Gen V shows how the average citizen interacts with the world as Homelander rises to power in The Boys, which results in an authoritarian regime threatening to spark a civil war.
How did Victoria Neuman die?
One character crossover includes Victoria Neuman, who appears in just one episode of Gen V. Neuman is an aspiring politician in the series, seeking higher office while concealing her superpowers from the public. Her specific ability allows her to pop people’s heads clean off using telekinesis, as shown throughout several terrifying sequences in The Boys.
Neuman’s allegiances are quite muddled throughout the show, as she sometimes aligns with Homelander and sometimes works against him. During her final on-screen appearance, she even attempts to join Hughie and the boys in their crusade against tyrannical supes.
During this discussion, however, Billy Butcher is not convinced of her loyalty. Instead of letting Victoria Neuman join their social club, he lunges at her with a set of Venom-style tentacles. Several of Butcher’s friends try to stop him, but he overpowers them before ripping Neuman in half at the waist, killing her instantly.
The death scene takes place in The Boys season four finale and is quite gruesome. It also reveals that Butcher is still hopped up on temporary V, giving him inhuman superpowers at an exceptional cost to his health. This use of temp V further creates a divide in the shared ideology of the boys, forcing them to split at the seams throughout season five and beyond.
Who is Andre in ‘Gen V’?
Andre Anderson is one of the many supes highlighted in Gen V. He is portrayed by actor Chance Perdomo and appears in numerous episodes throughout both seasons. At the start, Andre is a junior at Godolkin University, learning to harness many of his exceptional powers. Like many other supes, Andre can exhibit superhuman feats of strength, exceptional healing and durability and heightened senses. His most unique power sees him manipulating magnetic fields, as he did in season one by saving a helicopter from crashing.
The first season concluded with Andre in critical condition after a harrowing run-in with Homelander. Unfortunately, actor Chance Perdomo passed away in real life between seasons, forcing the writers to retire this character at the start of season two. It seems likely that the producers of Gen V had larger plans for Andre in the future, since he was such a core character to the initial installment. Regardless, his character looms large over the entirety of the second season, forcing many of his friends and peers to reconcile their position in the wars to come.
What are Cipher’s powers?
Dr. Cipher is the newly appointed Dean of Godolkin and the primary antagonist of Gen V season two. His powers include superhuman strength, durability and heightened senses, as well as the ability to manipulate genetic code. He will likely be an invaluable asset to Homelander’s supe supremacy movement, as he maintains the ability to shift human gene sequences at birth.
This genetic ability hints at larger themes of eugenics and playing God, which are sure to be explored throughout the coming episodes. For now, very little is known about Cipher’s goals and motivations. He seems to be a charismatic and power-hungry individual, though we haven’t spent enough time with him to know for sure what his plans are.
How did Marie escape in ‘Gen V’?
Marie is another core character from Gen V, who was narrowly captured during the climax of season one. She managed to escape capture off-screen in between seasons by utilizing the confusion and chaos of her encounter with Homelander to her advantage. During the first episode of season two, she is living in hiding, along with several other supes who have been deemed enemies of the state by Homelander’s cronies.
Luckily, Starlight manages to locate her and implores her to continue her work on Project Odessa. After this heart-to-heart, Marie agrees to pack her bags and head back to Godolkin, where she conspires to continue working with Emma and Jordan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes are in Gen V?
Gen V boasts two seasons each consisting of eight hour-long episodes. The entire first season is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, along with the first three episodes of season two. New episodes are slated to air weekly on Wednesdays, until the thrilling season two finale on Oct. 22.
Where can I watch season two of Gen V?
All new episodes of Gen V will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The streaming service is also the home of other shows within the shared cinematic universe such as The Boys, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Vought Rising and The Boys: Mexico.