Gen V Season 2 Episode 4 “Bags” proves this series isn’t afraid to push its characters. Gen V has a special feeling you get after watching — you slowly realize this is not at all like other series you’ve seen, and the show isn’t afraid to push everyone to the utmost breaking point. Season 2, Episode 4 “Bags,” proves that in a gut-wrenching way.
I had to collect myself after the first three episodes, and after doom scrolling on TikTok, I’ve convinced myself Jordan will die and somehow this season will ruin me. After episode three, I already assumed Marie and Jordan would be pulled into the spotlight — quite literally. Dean Cipher scares me, like I’m not afraid to admit it. He is so creepy.
A staged fight was something I definitely saw coming after the trailer, but the result has left me confused and wanting the next episode right now. It’s equal parts spectacle, heartbreak, and unsettling feelings I can’t quite shake.
The Weight of the Dreaded Spotlight
Cipher has been a shadowy presence these past three episodes, and it only gets worse here. I am glad Cate has started to get over her fear of Cipher, even if not completely, because we needed her on their side. It breaks my heart to see Cate in the state she’s in, compared to who she was in season one — so I’m incredibly glad to see her change sides.
If you watched the ending of episode four, Cipher is somewhat of a puppet master. He pulls strings and, like I said in my last review, he feels like the eyes and ears of Godolkin. He also seems afraid — which makes me curious what he has to lose. His “solution” to Jordan’s public honesty is a fight broadcast to the world. Godolkin hates them, but Jordan, I could never hate you.
Cipher seems afraid, while Marie seems like this protégé he needs to be perfect — maybe to help him with something connected to his father in the hyperbaric chamber? It’s not like Marie and Jordan did anything wrong, especially with Jordan’s truth-telling, but Cipher needs control of the narrative everyone believes to be true.
That’s what makes this episode so unnerving. We don’t have a clue what Cipher truly is. I honestly thought he was human. He wants control so badly — maybe he is human, or maybe he’s a Supe who is dying like his father? The theories are running in my head. This fight isn’t really about strength, although Cipher paints it that way. It’s about image. Vought will go as far as it takes to make sure their version of the story is the only one people see, but the image is bleeding, and it’s slipping away.
Marie and Jordan at a Crossroads
I’ve had such a deep love for Marie and Jordan since season one, and that hasn’t changed. This episode belongs to them, though not in an obvious way. Their dynamic has been tested through guilt and loyalty, which becomes the emotional core of their fight.
I love that we’re seeing a deeper side to Jordan this season, even more than last. The world doesn’t understand them, and they’re terrified of being seen as their worst fear. But Marie doesn’t just see a teammate, she’s forced to fight — she sees someone she loves. Whispering “I love you” before the fight lands with real emotion, not humiliation, the way Cipher designed it. It made me love them even more, though I’m also even more afraid Jordan will die. I’d rather not dive too deep into that despair right now.
Jordan carries the weight of their choices. They spoke the truth to Godolkin, even knowing the shadow of power loomed over them. The fallout is deeper than expected. It isn’t just about Jordan anymore, but it is for them. Wrestling with guilt and fear while trying to stand their ground is powerful character work.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m loving Emma and Marie’s arcs this season. But Jordan is something else, and to understand them is to really get what makes Gen V so layered.
Secrets and Shadows
Emma stepping up surprised me, but I’m not mad about it. I love her character this season, and her leadership role is something I want more of. She’s done sitting on the sidelines, and she’s connecting with other Godolkin students who feel the same way. I also like the introduction of new students — not just because Stephen Kalyn plays one, though he feels 100% suspicious.
Cate, on the other hand, is still reeling from her powers. As I suspected, she can’t perform like before. I know we aren’t supposed to root for Cate after all she’s done, but I do hope she gets her powers back and truly reckons with the repercussions.
One of the biggest moments was finding out Cipher doesn’t have Compound V in his blood, yet he clearly has some kind of power. That flips the script. Midway through, I was questioning what he is and how he holds so much power over Godolkin. Beyond the man in the chamber — revealed as his father — we’re left wondering: who is Cipher, really? What is his power? For now, it’s clear his real strength is manipulation.
The Balance of Gen V
Like always, Gen V toes the line between grotesque humor and gut-level drama. (And yes, I’m still hating myself for not watching The Boys, but I’m also glad I didn’t — Gen V stands on its own.)
The goat exploding? Absolutely absurd and horrifying. But it works as a metaphor. Cipher doesn’t treat people as humans; they’re props in his perfect world, disposable and replaceable. Marie has to find her strength in that cruelty, without leaning on Cipher as some twisted Yoda.
The tonal shifts don’t always land smoothly, but they don’t undercut the weight of the main story either. The emotional core between Marie and Jordan grounds the episode — even if TikTok theories about Jordan’s death keep me spiraling.
Looking Ahead
“Bags” feels like a turning point. Cipher is no longer just a mystery, but the manipulator of the narrative. Cracks are starting to show, even if they aren’t obvious yet. Marie and Jordan’s relationship is being tested, their loyalty and love exposed to the public — but it remains intact. Cate and Emma are heading down paths that could make them stronger or break them.
If the first three episodes were about exposing the truth of Elmira and Godolkin, this one is about the cost of telling it. With secrets bubbling to the surface, Cipher’s power looming larger, and the cracks in Godolkin spreading, the rest of the season is set to get even uglier — and even better.
More Thoughts
- Jordan and Marie happen to be my favorite part of this series, hands down.
- Emma’s friend’s powers are interesting, to say the least, but they go to show a lot of the students’ insecurities around their own abilities.
- Where was Sam this episode?
- Jordan, you are ever so loved.
- Emma finding a way to shift between small and big is something I am so proud of her for.
- Jordan, please don’t die.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Gen V Season 2 Episode 4? Share with us in the comments below!
New episodes of Gen V stream Wednesdays on Prime Video.
