Gen V Season 2, Episode 7 Review: ‘Hell Week’

If there is one thing Gen V continues to prove time after time, it’s that God U is never chaos-free — at least not for long. Gen V Season 2, Episode 7 takes the chaos from both seasons and multiplies it by ten.

I felt like I knew enough about this universe to guess the shocking and unraveling things happening in the Gen V universe. Homelander, as we know, is no longer our biggest threat — but somehow, the puppet master prevails, and there are far more dangerous forces than just that.

This week’s episode sets us up for the finale — which, yes, I am sad about. I felt like this season went by too fast. But this episode redefined what the show was about. I feel like relationships are about to be broken and people are going to die, 100%. Alliances? Hardly know them. Power in the world of Vought isn’t about who’s the strongest; it’s about who’s behind it all — who’s doing the controlling.

The Return of Thomas Godolkin

I feel like my whole world was turned upside down this episode. The episode, named “Hell Week,” is the perfect definition of what it feels like. It brings us all back to the start of Episode 1: Thomas Godolkin. I’ve been curious about him for a while, and while I had my theories — that proved correct — I had a feeling he was in Cipher’s body. He was the puppet master behind it all.

If you aren’t scrolling on TikTok, you might have had no clue that Thomas Godolkin, played by Ethan Slater, is Cipher. But if you’re like me, you saw that one coming. The burnt man haunting earlier episodes had me stumped at first, but now it’s clear — he’s the puppet master, not the helpless victim. At times, I found the theatrics grotesque, but I know what show I’m watching. Cipher’s body, like many others, was merely a vessel under Godolkin’s control, and when Marie heals him, she unknowingly revives not someone who can help but rather a monster

The Power of Control

We have to sit for a second and truly think about how powerful Godolkin is. He can control not only Cipher but others through Cipher’s body — all while not even being close enough to do it. They released someone far more powerful than they could imagine. He can control multiple supes at once, and it’s insane to see. But why not control Marie? Why not do the work for her? Marie definitely has a surprise waiting for her, and I’m not sure I’ll like it.

This twist didn’t feel random. It didn’t feel like something I didn’t already suspect. There were clues — Cipher’s mannerisms, Jordan’s comments, and the whispered name — all make sense now. I have to applaud the writers. They planted clues I didn’t catch until now. It wasn’t an explosive clue dump but rather one that felt natural.

It raises the stakes for The Boys universe, depending on how Episode 8 goes. I doubt they’ll be able to take down Godolkin. He wants to control Homelander — someone already powerful. Sister Sage is a daunting presence in Gen V and a prominent one in The Boys. It shifts this world into something of an army. Godolkin doesn’t want the “weak,” those whose powers are useless in his eyes. Control is everything to him. Homelander might be the strongest supe they know of, but he won’t be in control — not this

Storylines Collide

Answers are being exposed, and storylines are colliding — something I love about shared universes. It all makes sense in the long run. No strings left untied. Marie’s guilt is eating at her. She knows what she’s doing is wrong, but she feels she has to do it — like she owes herself. Seeing her lift almost everyone off the ground was insane to watch. I was like, okay, Marie, but then I was like, oh, it’s okay for you to do it, but not Cate? Yeah, we’ve lost the plot.

I truly see Cate finding that middle ground — she wants to get on their side again and have them trust her. Don’t worry, Cate, I trust you.

Polarity being healed? Yeah, Marie, you can heal Cate — clearly you just don’t want to.

Speaking of storylines, Annabeth’s powers are clearly something she’s had for a while. She knew her parents were going to die, but she didn’t know the nightmares were real. Those nightmares probably happened, and the guilt that eats her alive is something Marie can understand — but doesn’t.

Final Thoughts

By the end of Episode 7, Gen V is more than what we’ve seen from the beginning. People are evolving. People are going to die. Now we know what Godolkin wants — the world’s most powerful supes. He wants a dream team.

Now I think about a few of our favorites — Emma, for one — and I don’t know if Godolkin will see her powers as something worth keeping. She can’t fully control them yet, but if and when she does, she’ll be powerful.

The stakes are higher, and the sneak peek for the next episode has me scared for all the supes — and perhaps a few of my favorites. Control over truth is a powerful theme in this episode, and power will decide who emerges victorious. Who wins a fight isn’t important anymore — control will decide that, and we have plenty of contenders.

More Thoughts

I for sure thought Greg was being controlled… maybe not?
Greg and Sam fighting over Emma? I am here for it — she deserves to be fought over.
Marie has gone off the rails, and I’m scared for her in this last episode — and for The Boys final season.
Jordan’s death feels a little too real right now.
Polarity? He’s healed. Marie is a powerful supe.
Will Marie extract the Compound V from Godolkin? Will she find out she can?
We still haven’t seen Annabeth’s vision — I still think it’s going to happen. Will Marie resurrect herself?
There’s a lot we haven’t seen from the trailer, a lot from the finale.