Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Gen V Season 2 Episode 6.
Gen Vis more than a spin-off of The Boys, as the two concurrent series are deeply connected. More than existing in the same world, each new season of one show impacts the other’s storyline, like The Boys Season 4’s focus on the supe virus that Gen V introduced, or Gen V‘s exploration of the impact of Homelander’s (Antony Starr) control. Even more directly, Gen V Season 2 has already brought back several familiar faces, including Annie (Erin Moriarty), Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), Firecracker (Valorie Curry), and The Deep (Chace Crawford), and this week’s episode adds Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) to the list.
As the former CEO of Vought International and adoptive father of Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), Stan has been a major part of the original series, making his Gen V cameo all the more significant. In a surprising twist, he might actually be a hero this time, but Stan remains an ambitious and calculating character who may be more dangerous than he seems. He may say all the right things, but he is always looking out for his own self-interest, which just happens to include stopping Homelander and anyone else who may be working with him for now.
‘The Boys’ Proves That Stan Edgar Is a Formidable Opponent
First appearing in The Boys Season 1, Stan proves to be both a ruthless businessman and a devoted father. Considering his prominent role at Vought, Stan has undoubtedly made some questionable choices, like covering up Homelander’s worst actions and hiring Stormfront (Aya Cash). Yet he also stands in firm opposition to Homelander, using his position to keep the leader of the Seven in his place whenever possible — at least, until Homelander takes action against him, leaving him disgraced and removing him from Vought. Through his antagonistic relationship with Homelander, Stan proves himself a dangerous man to be on the wrong side of; after all, few can last against such a powerful enemy. But Homelander isn’t the only villain Stan interacts with. As the father of Victoria Neuman, he worked with her for a while, and their past brings out a different side of him. However, despite their love for each other, Victoria betrays him, leading to his downfall and suggesting that he successfully instilled his own ruthlessness in her.
However, Stan isn’t an outright villain. He has shown willingness to negotiate with Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and his team; in The Boys Season 4, they take him out of prison to help them locate the supe virus that Victoria has stolen. The Boys establishes very clearly that Stan’s defining character trait is his own self-interest, which motivates him to even turn against Victoria in Season 4 before her death. His intelligence and ambition put him somewhere between a hero and an outright villain, making him an interesting choice to bring into Gen V, where the heroes aren’t yet fighting Homelander himself, but the Vought-run institution of Godolkin University.
Stan Edgar Plays a Helpful Role in ‘Gen V’ Season 2
Regardless of his history, Stan Edgar leans more toward heroism than ever when he appears in Gen V. Still on the run from his recent escape from prison, Stan might be expected to be less in control than he usually is, but that isn’t the case. He enters the story suddenly when he and his granddaughter, Zoe (Olivia Morandin), show up to save Marie (Jaz Sinclair) and her friends. After they are attacked by Vikor (Tait Fletcher), Marie is backed into a corner, but Zoe kills the threat just in time. And, just as importantly, Stan is one of the few people who can actually bring the group somewhere safe. He takes the team to a bunker made to hide out from supes, offering his seemingly endless resources for their use, which is a huge help to the kids who are dangerously close to recapture.
But Stan does even more for them, using his vast knowledge of Vought history to help them piece the truth together. He also explains Project Odessa more clearly, revealing that Homelander is also a product of the experiment, which further ties him and Marie together. His information helps the students realize the identity of the man Cipher (Hamish Linklater) is keeping alive, which was one of the questions they had no answer to. Through his knowledge and willingness to help Marie, Stan gives the heroes a push and encourages Marie to use her incredible power, building her confidence. Though Stan doesn’t do anything for the good of humanity, the positive impact he has in Gen V is hard to ignore.
‘Gen V’ Season 2 Hints That There Is More to Stan Edgar’s Plan
Though Stan undoubtedly helps Marie, Gen V hints that he has a plan that has less to do with what’s happening at God U. Stan tells Marie in no uncertain terms that whoever survives the coming conflict will reshape the world, hinting at his larger plan because, in character with the man The Boys introduced so long ago, none of this is out of the goodness of Stan’s heart. He doesn’t have an expository speech to tell the audience exactly what he’s thinking, but Stan had a plan when he sought Marie out. He even admits that he wanted to make a deal with her, hoping to offer her power once he is back in control of Vought in exchange for her help, but to regain the power he held, Stan will need to displace Homelander himself.
When it comes to allies, Marie cannot be picky, and Stan’s willingness to help her against Cipher and ultimately, stop Homelander from his path of destruction, puts him on the right side, at least for now. However, Stan isn’t exactly reliable. His time leading Vought established the unrest that has taken hold, so he isn’t the best person to hand control back to. Perhaps more notably, he has cut deals with and covered scandals for the worst of them, including Homelander. He doesn’t even particularly care about the students whom he seems to have taken under his wing for the time being. While he may be one of the most influential and intelligent people in the world, Stan Edgar shouldn’t be fully trusted.
Gen V Season 2is streaming on Prime Video with new episodes on Wednesdays.
- Release Date
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September 28, 2023
- Network
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Prime Video
- Directors
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Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum
- Writers
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Craig Rosenberg
- Franchise(s)
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The Boys
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Jaz Sinclair
Marie Moreau
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Lizze Broadway
Emma Meyer / Little Cricket
