The Best Theories About Starlight’s Gen V Season 2 Team Ahead Of The Boys S5

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Gen V season 2, episodes 1-3.Starlight’s presence in Gen V season 2 has looked promising ever since she featured in the official trailer, and after seeing her first appearance, it has only created more hype. While she may not be a continuous part of the spinoff going forward, the hero undoubtedly made a major impact, especially having hinted that she was working with others to take down Vought.

After saving Marie from Dogknott, Starlight heavily encouraged the promising young supe to investigate Odessa and find out what it is. Her mission already suggested Gen V season 2’s story would impact The Boys season 5, but when she frequently used the term “we“, Marie rightfully questioned her about this, yet Starlight mysteriously kept who she was working with a secret.

She even replied, “I can’t,” meaning whoever her unknown allies are must be a big deal. As a result, Marie and Starlight’s Gen V season 2 interaction creates all sorts of possibilities about who the former Seven member could be working with, and there are already numerous theories that may explain why she is so cautious about revealing her team’s identity.

Although most of The Boys‘ central heroes were captured by Vought, the show has featured several other big names who could be helping Starlight. Firstly, A-Train may have decided to aid his former Seven teammate after removing his tracker and fleeing Vought, since he had already begun his redemption arc in season 4.

We last saw him assisting The Boys before running to freedom, but his return always looked likely, making him a great candidate to work with Starlight. Additionally, he may not be the only former Seven member on this new team, as Queen Maeve also has plenty of reasons to join this war against Homelander.

Her former relationship with the Seven leader means she’s probably seen more of his atrocities than most, and although she no longer has her powers, her insight would still be incredibly valuable. Stan Edgar is another wildcard that may be working against Vought after the former CEO was kicked and blacklisted from the company.

The trailers have already revealed that Stan Edgar will appear in Gen V season 2, and while it first appeared as though he would be acting alone, he may silently be part of Starlight’s attempt to fight back against the corrupt organization. Ironically, his replacement could also be involved in the resistance.

Ashley Barrett’s loyalty to Vought got her nowhere throughout the series, and she had to take Compound V just to save her life. Therefore, with her gaining powers, she may opt to help Starlight put an end to all the chaos, indicating that the hero may have potentially assembled a whole team of familiar faces.

Starlight Working With Butcher After The Boys Season 4 Is Unlikely But Possible

Throughout The Boys, Starlight and Butcher have butted heads repeatedly and rarely see eye-to-eye, yet they may be forced to work together to take down Homelander and his powerful supe army. They have had instances where they got along, particularly while rescuing Hughie in season 2, proving they can coexist for a meaningful cause.

Given that they both want to put an end to the war and save their allies, it doesn’t seem out of the question for the duo to put their differences aside and form another temporary alliance. How things would play out after defeating their common enemy is another question entirely, but Starlight may have decided to trust Butcher one final time.

Unfortunately, while it would be great to see these two working together again, it just feels a bit too unlikely. Butcher’s new powers make him more unhinged than ever, and he seems even less empathetic, suggesting he may try and take on Homelander alone, seeing Starlight as a distraction rather than a potential ally.

Likewise, Starlight has watched Butcher become more of a liability over the seasons and appears to be completely done with him, meaning she’d be much more likely to turn to her exiled Seven members. Still, the two teaming up remains a possibility, even if it’s a long shot, and it would be a great reveal in The Boys season 5.

Cipher Could Have Ties To The Resistance In Gen V Season 2

Judging by the first three episodes, Hamish Linklater’s Cipher looks like Gen V season 2’s central villain; however, it could all be a facade, with the new Dean actually being an ally of Starlight’s. His sketchy behavior suggests he’s hiding several secrets, especially since he was at Elmira and was even present during Marie’s birth.

Clearly, he’s no regular supe, as his powers remain unknown, yet the fact that he is so interested in the Guardians of Godolkin, particularly Marie, hints at something deeper being in play. Time will tell what his true motivation is, but with Cipher looking determined to see Marie reach her full potential, his intentions may be good rather than evil.

Gen V’s story is making it seem like he wants Marie to be as powerful as Homelander to continue making supes stronger than humans, but if he is quietly connected to the resistance, he may actually see Marie as the world’s best chance of taking down Homelander.

While there isn’t anything that links Starlight to Cipher at the moment, it does make sense that he could’ve been the one to tell her about Project Odessa, and if he really is working with the franchise’s main heroes, it would make for an excellent twist.

Starlight May Be Talking About Starlighters, But There’s 1 Problem With That

Image via Prime Video

Despite Gen V setting up a big team-up for Starlight, it’s possible she’s simply working with a group of Starlighters. The support she has from a large section of the public means some would be brave enough to step up and help her research Vought’s biggest secrets in an attempt to take them down once and for all.

This would give The Boys season 5 even more characters to kill off, as these Starlighters would be disposable, but there is one problem with this theory. Gen V put a heavy emphasis on Marie’s question and Starlight’s response, which would make the reveal that it was just some regular civilians helping the central hero feel a little lackluster.

The spinoff intentionally suggested that whoever is aiding Starlight is worth protecting, even from Marie, so it surely can’t just be some unnamed supporters. As a result, Gen V‘s tease is much more likely to be someone who already has a major part in the franchise, and this mystery looks destined to play a big role in The Boys‘ final season.

Release Date

September 28, 2023

Network

Prime Video

Directors

Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum

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  Lizze Broadway

  Emma Meyer / Little Cricket