Dean Cipher's Dark Agenda Revealed By Hamish Linklater

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Gen V season 2, episodes 1-3.Hamish Linklater breaks down Dean Cipher’s dark motivations in Gen V season 2. The new season of The Boys spinoff series reveals that Cipher is in charge of Godolkin University after Dean Indira Shetty’s death in season 1.

In Gen V season 2, episodes 1-3, Cipher is particularly focused on finding and then training Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair). Meanwhile, he also manipulates Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips) and pushes a fiercely pro-supe and anti-human agenda.

While speaking with ScreenRant‘s Joe Deckelmeier, Linklater was asked about how Cipher wants to reshape Godolkin University and what his vision is for the students. Linklater’s response reveals Cipher’s ultimate agenda and how Marie factors into it. Check out his comments below:

He’s trying to make a master race out of a master race. That’s his idea, and his tool is going to be Marie. He thinks she’s the one who’s going to give him supremacy over the other supremacist, Homelander.

With Cipher already feeling like he’s two steps ahead of everyone else, Linklater was also asked whether his character sees the students, Vought, or Homelander (Antony Starr) as his biggest threat.

Well, you’ve always got to be careful of Homelander. That’s rule No. 1. Then these pesky kids, they’re a problem too. I don’t know Polarity. He doesn’t know that Polarity is actually going to be the biggest problem for him.

Along with his motivations, Linklater explains how Cipher and Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas) represent two ends of cautionary tales about the consequences of unchecked power.

Well, we do, we represent that. But I think Cipher thinks that he’s going to figure out the workaround. I mean, frankly, if he can build Marie into as powerful a creature as he thinks he can, then she’s going to take care of whatever these side effects might be of these superpowers, and then his army’s really going to be strong.

What This Means For Gen V Season 2

Cipher’s pro-supe and anti-human stance seemingly makes him the perfect leader of Godolkin and a fitting instrument for Homelander. Linklater’s comments prove otherwise, though, as he emphasizes that Cipher wants to use Marie so he can have supremacy over Homelander himself.

For now, Cipher is being careful not to tip off Homelander, and that includes making sure that Cate does not contact him. While this threat is obvious, Polarity presents a different kind of danger that Cipher underestimates, and Linklater confirms this will become the biggest problem for the dean in later episodes.

After the death of Andre Anderson (Chance Perdomo), Polarity is determined to get justice for his son’s death and hold Cipher accountable. At the moment, Cipher is heavily focused on Marie and not paying enough attention to Polarity.

Unlike Polarity, though, Linklater also hints that Cipher is going to find a workaround for the toll of using too much power. Such a workaround probably will not come from Marie, though, as she is too smart and principled to allow Cipher to manipulate her.

Homelander looking at Marie in Gen V season 1 finale

Linklater’s chilling performance has already been one of the best parts of season 2, and his comments make me even more intrigued to see where his story goes next. Part of that intrigue will be seeing what his powers are in Gen V, as even the other characters do not know what they are.

I am also intrigued by Linklater’s remarks about Polarity, and their eventual confrontation will be incredibly emotional. As for the comments about Homelander, I would not be surprised if he appears later in Gen V season 2 and kills Cipher after learning about the dean’s plans to usurp him.

Release Date: September 28, 2023
Network: Prime Video
Directors: Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum
Writers: Craig Rosenberg
Franchise(s): The Boys