10 best fantasy and science fiction shows of 2023

7. Gen V

I’ll admit, when I heard that The Boys was doing a college spinoff, I was nervous. Was Amazon’s subversive superhero show spreading itself too thin?

Those fears were for naught. I binged Gen V over the course of the two days because it was not only a good spinoff, it was just great in general. I might have even liked it more than a regular season of The Boys if I’m being honest. It still has all the raunch, humor and commentary from the main show, but by focusing on college students figuring out their lives, Gen V allows for an even deeper layer of thematic resonance with how these young adults navigate their powers. Gen V explored ideas of self-harm and self-acceptance in ways that I didn’t expect, and it was surprisingly powerful.

Of course, it’s entertaining as hell, too. The cast is excellent, from Jaz Sinclair’s reluctant hero Marie to the gender-shifting supe Jordan Li (London Thor and Derek Luh) to an absolute standout performance from Lizzie Broadway as Emma Meyer. There are some great action scenes, including a finale that’s on par with anything from the mothership show. And yes, there are even some very good cameos from The Boys stars as well. For fans of the franchise, this show delivered.

Gen V totally won me over, to the point where I’m eager for its second season even though the idea of an expanding The Boys cinematic universe has me on edge.