In the latest episode of Gen V, Marie Moreau’s world is completely overturned when a returning character reveals she shares a dark secret with the most dangerous supe in the world. “Cooking Lessons” sees the young fugitives on the run after their prison break, only to be offered shelter and shocking truths by former Vought CEO Stan Edgar, who unveils that Marie is one of only two successful subjects of a secret project that also created Homelander.
The Escape and a New Safe House
The episode picks up immediately after Marie used her blood-bending power to bring her sister, Annabeth, back from the dead. The group, including Jordan, Emma, and Cate, flees Elmira Prison with help from Sam, who busts through a wall to rescue them. They steal a prison van and take refuge in an abandoned library to regroup.
While hiding, tensions rise between the sisters. Annabeth, traumatized and resentful, blames Marie for the destruction in their lives and reveals her own secret: she has developed precognitive abilities, which she hates and cannot control. Meanwhile, their enemy, Cipher, is furious about their escape and takes out his anger on the burned man he keeps captive in his home.
The group’s hideout is discovered when Cipher mentally puppeteers Polarity to learn their location, sending his enforcer, Vikor, to retrieve Marie. Just as Vikor is about to capture her, the fight is interrupted by a surprising rescue.
The Return of Stan Edgar
Stan Edgar, the former head of Vought, arrives with Zoe Neuman, the daughter of the late Victoria Neuman. Zoe uses her terrifying supe power—tentacle-like eel mouths—to decapitate Vikor on the spot. Edgar offers the group safety, leading them to his heavily fortified underground bunker.
Edgar explains he built the bunker as a safeguard against Homelander. He tells Marie that her mother, Victoria Neuman, spoke highly of her before she died. Once inside the safe house, Edgar begins to unravel the mystery at the center of Marie’s life over a meal.
The Truth About Project Odessa
Stan Edgar reveals the existence of Project Odessa, a secret Vought initiative from the 1960s. The project was the brainchild of Thomas Godolkin, the founder of Godolkin University, who aimed to create “god-tier” superhumans. The process involved injecting Compound V into embryos during the blastocyst stage.
Edgar explains that only two subjects survived the brutal process: Homelander and Marie Moreau.
This revelation shatters Marie’s understanding of herself. She immediately rejects any comparison to Homelander, stating, “I’m not a fucking monster.” Edgar agrees, noting that unlike Homelander’s “abyss of deep need and sociopathy,” Marie possesses humanity, which is why she is in his bunker and not serving Cipher’s agenda.
The young supes then connect this information to the burned man in Cipher’s home, theorizing he is actually Thomas Godolkin, kept alive and tortured for decades to extract his research knowledge.
Cipher’s Disturbing Master Plan
While the group hides with Edgar, Cipher reveals his own plans. He tells Polarity that he intends to cull 75% of the student population at Godolkin University. His goal is not control, like Godolkin, but full supe supremacy, eliminating weaker supes to allow the strongest to rule.
In a moment of defiance, a debilitated Polarity manages to fight back against Cipher’s mental control. Using his metal powers, he blasts Cipher through a second-story window. While Cipher escapes, the act proves his control can be broken.
Fractured Relationships and New Alliances
Throughout the episode, strained relationships are tested. Marie and Annabeth begin a painful reconciliation. After Marie helps Annabeth through a panic attack, Annabeth slowly softens, sharing a childhood memory with Zoe about Marie splitting her Halloween candy.
“You are the danger,” Annabeth tells Marie, expressing her long-held fear and resentment.
Meanwhile, Sam and Emma have an honest conversation in the bunker. Sam apologizes for his past actions and expresses a desire to rebuild their relationship. Emma acknowledges his efforts but states they cannot go back to how things were, though she appears to be considering the possibility.
A New Path Forward
Overwhelmed by the revelation that she is a genetically engineered “god-tier” supe and determined to protect her friends, Marie makes a difficult decision. She secretly leaves Edgar’s bunker in the middle of the night, choosing to face the threat alone.
She is not alone for long. Cate follows her, stating her belief that Marie can help fix her damaged powers. In return, Cate believes she can use her own abilities to help keep Cipher out of Marie’s head. The two set off together into the night, leaving the safety of the bunker behind.
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