Gen V season 2’s story is clearer after San Diego Comic-Con, but the direction The Boys spinoff plans to go in is a huge disappointment after season 1’s cliffhanger. There were many big announcements for The Boys franchise at SDCC, including the reveal of a Vought Rising spinoff and Gen V‘s return window. Gen V season 2 was also among the TV shows to get a trailer at Comic-Con, though the initial footage hasn’t dropped online yet. Gen V season 2’s first look offers insight into what the next outing is about — and it’s honestly a bit disappointing.

Gen V season 1’s ending sets high stakes for a follow-up, with Marie getting blasted by Homelander and waking up in a mysterious room with her friends. The finale makes it seem as though they’re being held captive at some unidentified location. And since only Cate and Sam appear in The Boys season 4, the show maintains an air of mystery around their fates. Sadly, this is undone in the Gen V season 2 trailer. The footage confirms that the next outing has nothing to do with this mic-dropping final scene — and that things return to “normal” in the new episodes.

Gen V Season 2’s Story Update Is Hugely Disappointing After Season 1’s Cliffhanger

It Seemed Like The Finale’s Twist Would Be More Important

Gen V season 2’s Comic-Con trailer answers the biggest Marie question on the heels of season 1: does she manage to escape the prison she and her friends wake up in? The footage reveals that, yes, Marie and her friends find their way out of the strange, doorless room they wake up in — though Cate is the one who facilitates this. She leads her friends out of their imprisonment and returns them to Godolkin University, confirming that The Boys spinoff will maintain its original premise during its sophomore season.

Gen V season 1’s ending certainly makes it seem like their captivity is a huge deal, and The Boys season 4’s silence surrounding it further fuels that notion.

This revelation is pretty disappointing after Gen V season 1’s cliffhanger, which suggests the spinoff will go in a different direction for its heroes. Most viewers assumed Gen v season 2 would see Marie and her friends trying to escape from Vought. Gen V season 1’s ending certainly makes it seem like their captivity is a huge deal, and The Boys season 4’s silence surrounding it further fuels that notion. As it turns out, Gen V‘s cliffhanger won’t play such a large role in the second season. That changes the stakes, and not necessarily for the better.

Gen V Season 1’s Ending (& The Boys Season 4) Teased Higher Stakes For Marie & Her Friends

It’s Hard To Be Worried About Them After The Season 2 Trailer

With all the mystery surrounding Gen V season 1’s ending, the series teases higher stakes for the second outing — stakes it doesn’t look like it will deliver on. The students’ circumstances in the finale seem life-threatening, as it’s clear they’re being silenced by someone. With Homelander showing up at Godolkin moments before, the spinoff sets Vought up as a villain yet again. And while Vought is still likely to antagonize Gen V‘s main characters, it will be at a distance. There will be no grand escape; the trailer even eliminates the concern that they won’t get out of the prison room.

With all the mystery surrounding Gen V season 1’s ending, the series teases higher stakes for the second outing — stakes it doesn’t look like it will deliver on.

Knowing that the kids return to Godolkin diminishes the power of Gen V season 1’s ending, and it makes it feel less pressing to pick up season 2. It’s not that Gen V season 2 won’t be exciting; there will undoubtedly be interesting threats to overcome. But the trailer makes viewers significantly less worried about the characters, confirming they’ll be fine when season 2 opens.

Season 2’s Story Means The Spinoff May Not Overlap That Much With The Boys

Godolkin Drama Will Likely Take Center Stage

The other reason Gen V season 2’s story is disappointing after season 1 is that it may not overlap with The Boys very much if the students are back at Godolkin. Sure, there will be cameos from the main show — The Deep is already confirmed for a Gen V appearance — and probably references to Homelander’s government takeover. But if Marie and her friends return to school, they won’t be taking on Vought directly. Had they remained in Vought’s clutches, they would have seen the fallout of The Boys season 4’s ending up close.

Even if Gen V’s characters get wrapped up in The Boys’ central conflict while at Godolkin, a major crossover between the series isn’t likely to happen until the finale. The story details revealed at San Diego Comic-Con suggest Godolkin drama will take up most of the next outing. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel a bit trivial after Gen V‘s big cliffhanger. Perhaps The Boys spinoff will throw another curveball, though, upending expectations once again on the heels of the trailer.