There is still overlap between the shows, with Gen V using several characters from the main series. The Boys season 4 will likely feature Gen V characters as well, given Gen V season 1’s ending sets up The Boys season 4. The Boys universe has grown significantly with the addition of Gen V, with the spinoff helping develop the world-building while introducing new major storylines. With the franchise now expanding into a multi-series story, both shows have individually found their own personality and characteristics. These often make one show feel better than the other and vice versa, creating multiple reasons to enjoy each one.

10 The Boys: The Boys’ Parodies Make The Show Funnier

The Boys Has Frequently Parodied Other Brands And Franchises.

While Gen V still takes shots at real-life figures, The Boys became notorious for its ability to parody other franchises. The Deep’s “Imagine” parody in The Boys was a highlight for the show, mocking the celebrities who sang that very song during COVID-19. The Boys also poked fun at Kendall Jenner’s infamous Pepsi advertisement, with A-Train having his own version of the ad. Outside the more obvious ones, some of the characters in the show themselves are parodies of Marvel or DC heroes. All these gags and parodies elevate the show’s humor and make it more memorable as a result.

9 Gen V: Gen V Provides More Creative Superpowers

The Show Expands On Old Powers And Introduces New Ones.

Despite The Boys establishing many of the superpowers that exist in the universe, Gen V takes this to a new level. Marie’s blood powers were some of the most impressive in the show, but they also helped explain Victoria Neuman’s powers from The Boys, which were a bit of a mystery. Andre and Jordan Li’s powers were also new to the universe, while Cate and Rufus’ abilities could alter people’s minds. This resembles Mesmer’s powers from The Boys season 1, but Gen V explores them in more detail. Gen V shows students with a variety of different abilities and is overall more creative and expansive than The Boys in terms of powers.

8 The Boys: There Is A More Personal Connection Between The Protagonists And Antagonists

The Protagonists Have A More Intimate Conflict With The Villains.

From the very outset, The Boys establishes a connection between one of its main characters, Hughie, and one of its villains, A-Train. Although this conflict isn’t always present, it gets Hughie involved with the events of the show and helps create the story in the first place. Mother’s Milk’s personal grudge with Soldier Boy is also explored in season 3 and Starlight’s issues with Vought and The Seven are also key to the show. The biggest personal rivalry is between Billy Butcher and Homelander. The feud between Butcher and Homelander will continue in The Boys season 4 and has been arguably the biggest story in the series.

The more intimate connections between The Boys‘ protagonists and antagonists make for a compelling narrative. Finding out whether characters can get revenge and closure becomes an integral part of the plot. Gen V somewhat lacks this. Sam has the biggest personal connection with the villain of the show after being kept in the Forest and Cate is the only other character that has a deep connection with the main antagonist. There are other personal storylines like Marie finding her sister and Andre’s relationship with his father, but this doesn’t have a direct impact on the show’s main villains in season 1.

7  Gen V: Gen V Is More Graphic Than The Boys

The Spinoff Pushes The Limits Of What The Series Can Get Away With.

Given how much The Boys pushed the limits, Gen V surpassing it is a big deal. While “Herogasm” was supposed to be The Boys at its most outrageous, the series already had more gross and graphic moments, like the infamous season 3, episode 1 opening scene, yet Gen V still eclipsed this. The Boys‘ obsession with explosions is present in Gen V as shown through Golden Boy’s death, which is still nowhere near as bad as Marie exploding Rufus’ penis. A scene with Emma shrinking to pleasure a man also proves how graphic the show was willing to be and managed to outdo the main series in this department.

6 The Boys: The Boys Has Better Non-Supe Characters Than Gen V

Most Of The Boys’ Main Characters Don’t Have Any Powers

Whereas Gen V‘s strongest characters are all supes, most of The Boys‘ best characters are regular humans. The likes of Starlight, Homelander, Kimiko, and Black Noir are all great characters, as are many other supes in the main series. However, the core group of The Boys, which started with Hughie, Billy Butcher, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie, are all without powers. Hughie and Butcher did take Temp V but are just regular characters trying to find other ways to take down characters stronger than them. This dynamic of powerless people trying to take on someone as powerful as Homelander helps elevate the show and is one of its best components.

5 Gen V: The Protagonists Of Gen V Are More Powerful

Gen V’s Central Characters Are All Supes

The Boys‘ non-powered main characters are great, but that also makes Gen V‘s main characters something fresh. After three seasons, the regular human-against-superhero dynamic had become common in the universe, meaning protagonists with powers were a welcome change. Some of Gen V‘s supes could become more powerful than Homelander, making them even more interesting. Watching some become true heroes that want to help while others fall into a more supe supremacy ideology creates a group full of powerful characters that are hard not to get invested in. Knowing their power can get them in or out of trouble helps keep the plot unpredictable and their intentions unclear.

4 The Boys: There Are Bigger Stakes In The Boys

The Show’s Characters Are Taking On Bigger Challenges Despite Their Vulnerability

With the main characters in The Boys sharing little power, it makes their task of taking down Vought and Homelander much harder. The help of Starlight, Kimiko, and, for a period, Soldier Boy helped, but they were still underpowered most of the time. Having these relative nobodies with nothing but their wits facing off against The Boys‘ strongest characters confirms how big the stakes are in the show. One wrong move could cost any character their life as most supes could easily kill them. The Boys constantly puts its characters in danger and these high stakes make the show so compelling to watch.

3 Gen V: The University Setting Provides Gen V Something Unique

Godolkin University Gives The Franchise A New Perspective.

Godolkin University acts as a fresh new location to further explore the world of The Boys. With many children being exposed to Compound V and gaining superpowers, a university setting is a logical one to explore. Gen V‘s Compound V story highlighted how hard it was for some students to hear the truth about the substance. While The Boys revealing Compound V to the world seemed like a victory in the main show, it clearly has its side effects here. Seeing students learn how to use their powers and how controlled they are by the university and Vought helps explain why heroes end up the way they do.

2 The Boys: The Boys Has Better, More Menacing Villains

Homelander Is The Franchise’s Best Antagonist

While the secrecy and manipulative nature of Indira Shetty made for a strong antagonist in Gen V, she pales in comparison to The Boys‘ villains. Stormfront and Soldier Boy were intimidating threats that caused numerous problems. Stan Edger and Victoria also work as hybrids, clearly having their own dangerous agendas yet having some goals that align with The Boys’. However, Homelander is by far the best villain in the franchise. He is one of the most entertaining characters in the whole series and an all-time great villain. Homelander’s unhinged nature makes him scary, yet he has insecurities and complexities that make for intriguing yet uncomfortable viewing at times.

1 Gen V: Gen V’s Characters Are More Sympathetic

The Characters In Gen V Are More Redeemable Than The Boys

Gen V‘s characters are much easier to root for than those in The Boys. Marie and Hughie have almost opposite stories, with Hughie seeking revenge after his girlfriend was killed by a supe, while Marie looks to find redemption after accidentally killing her parents. Whereas Hughie grows more like the people he hates, Marie tries to put her past behind her and move on. When it comes to The Boys, some members are more redeemable than others, yet they actively try and hurt those who have wronged them. Gen V‘s characters are more heroic, trying to uncover Godolkin’s secret. Even Cate and Sam have sympathetic backgrounds despite them losing their way, proving sympathy is something Gen V does far better than The Boys.