[SPOILER] Is Back On 'Gen V,' And It Means Big Things For The Final Season Of 'The Boys'

In a shocking twist you only saw coming if you [checks notes] watched the teasers for Gen V Season 2 officially released by Prime Video, on this week’s episode of the series, titled “Cooking Lessons” — and spoilers past this point — Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) is back in action. And not only that, he’s got clear plans in the works that directly feed into the final season of The Boys.

If you did miss that promo, then this is legitimately a shocker for a number of reasons… Not least of which that The Boys Season 4 sure strongly implied that Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) used her head-popping powers to kill off her former father figure in Episode 5 of that season.

However, as usual with these sorts of shows: bodies or it didn’t happen. And as the Gen V kids are on the run from Elmira Prison after the events of last week’s episode, they crash in to the hulking Supe Vikor (Tait Fletcher), who has been sent by Cipher (Hamish Linklater) to bring them back and/or kill them. Specifically, bring back Marie (Jaz Sinclair), and as for what happens to the rest of them… If they die, they die. Just when it looks like the kids are overpowered, Stan shows up with none other than Victoria’s daughter, Zoe (Olivia Morandin).

If you’ll recall, Victoria gave her daughter Compound V in Season 3, which was revealed in the Season 4 premiere to have given her a deadly case of tentacle mouth. She kills Vikor easily, and the kids head with Stan and Zoe to a safehouse.

Once there, the pretty magnanimous Stan makes them all frittatas, gets them settled, and explains a ton of backstory. Specifically, he lays out that the goal of Thomas Godolkin (Ethan Slater) was to create “god tier” superheroes, but there were only two successful results: Homelander (Antony Starr) of course, and… Wait for it… Marie. They’re the only two survivors of Project Odessa, and this news basically puts Marie on the same tier as Homelander. Sure we’ve seen her resurrect Annabeth (Keeya King) last episode, but this is a big leap to say she can go toe to toe with The Boys universe’s big bad… Right?

Regardless, Stan explains he shut down Odessa, and this causes Marie to head back to Godolkin University, to find out what Cipher knows about her origins. But that’s for next episode… Let’s jump even further forward and talk The Boys Season 5.

Stan Edgar Could End Up Back As Vought CEO In Season 5

It’s actually pretty wild that they just had Stan show up here in a random episode of Gen V, instead of in The Boys proper, but it is what it is. And it also points to likely what his role will be in the final season of the Prime Video series. Right now, Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie) is out as CEO because of some unnamed reaction to Compound V. Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), we now know, is in as CEO.

But Stan would stand for that. He’s going to be gunning for his job back, and looking to be king of the Vought castle when all the dust settles. Perhaps, and this is pure speculation here, his alliance with the Gen V kids points to a new willingness to work with the next generation of Supes, something that will serve the world going forward post-Homelander and Sister Sage — assuming they lose at the end of Season 5. That’s also assuming Stan or anyone else survives the season, but if you’re going to bet on anyone? Bet on Stan Edgar. There’s a new player back on the board, and he’s headed straight to Vought Tower.

Gen V Season 2 Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:

Gen V season 2 will officially premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 17. The season will be eight episodes long, with three dropping on premiere day.

Here’s the full list of episodes in Gen V Season 2, with premiere dates: