Season 2 of Gen V has hinted at the villain’s potential for redemption, while Season 1 saw Cate betray her comrades and join Homelander’s supreme revolution.

While many intriguing characters were added in the spinoff series, each with special s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s of their own, very few were as memorable as Cate. Cate, who initially gave off the impression of being amiable and innocent, evolved into one of the primary antagonists of the show and even participated in the fight against the protagonists during the conclusion of Gen V season 1. She did sustain a significant injury, but compared to her old companions, she was in far better shape at the end of the season.

As Homelander showed up, he appeared to be impressed by Cate’s commitment to his idea, which led to her and Sam joining the enemy. They even made brief appearances in season 4 of The Boys, when her participation in the show’s finale signaled her official enlistment in Homelander’s super army. Although her behavior might indicate that she has gone too far, Gen V season 2 has already hinted at her comeback. The mind-controlling superwoman might have second thoughts and decide to turn against her pals, and the spinoff offers Cate the ideal excuse to do so.

Cate might receive a redemption arc in the second season of Gen V.

Gen V has already alluded to Cate’s potential for regretting her actions from Season 2.

Early trailers for Gen V season 2 strongly suggested that Cate would have a redemption narrative, even though The Boys season 4 seemed to indicate she was fully committed to Homelander’s objective. One of the most significant Gen V revelations from San Diego Comic-Con in 2024 was that Cate will allegedly exhibit regret for her deeds upon the spinoff’s return, demonstrating that she is not entirely evil. Even while her remorse doesn’t excuse her past actions, the fact that she feels guilty indicates that she still has time to change and act morally—especially considering how incredibly nasty the other major antagonists in the franchise are.

It’s not too late for Cate to change, as The Boys has already shown with characters like A-Train and Queen Maeve finding atonement for their previous transgressions during their time in The Seven. Her terrible past demonstrates how impressionable she is, and her former pals may likely win her over in the correct situation. With her mind control being so strong, Cate’s redemption arc could be crucial to defeating The Seven if she is able to see Homelander and Vought’s true colors and realizes how much harm they are causing.

In Gen V Season 2, Cate’s Brother Is The Best Way To Communicate With Her

Getting Back in Touch With Her Brother Could Make Sense for Cate

While Cate’s redemption could happen in Gen V season 2, it will take something drastic to get through to her. Thankfully, the show already has the perfect solution – her brother. Cate first found out about her powers when she went on a family camping trip that ended in tragedy. Her brother Caleb was constantly irritating her, resulting in Cate grabbing his arm before telling her to never come back, and he sadly didn’t. This incident was the last time the supe ever saw her brother, causing Cate to be locked in her room by her parents for several years.

Her traumatic childhood is a big reason as to why she is so damaged, and why characters like Indira Shetty were able to take advantage of her. Indira obviously saw the potential in Cate’s mind-controlling powers, hence why Godolkin’s former dean took Cate under her wing and manipulated her. Cate’s guilt over her brother left her needing a family since her own parents alienated her, which is why she found comfort with Indira, but if Caleb came back, it could change everything.

“Being allied with The Seven likely gives Cate a sense of fulfillment as spending time with like-minded people is probably where she thinks she belongs, but in reality, the group is only filling the void left by her brother’s disappearance.”

Getting the chance to reconnect with her brother would potentially help her see the error of her ways, and she’d no longer have to rely on other supes to feel valued. Being allied with The Seven likely gives Cate a sense of fulfillment as spending time with like-minded people is probably where she thinks she belongs, but in reality, the group is only filling the void left by her brother’s disappearance. Therefore, bringing the siblings back together would potentially snap Cate out of her supe revolution fixation, and help her get back on a more noble path.

How Gen V Can Use Cate’s Brother To Kickstart Her Redemption Arc

Bringing Cate’s Brother Back Could Help Expose Vought & Godolkin

In season 2, the return of Cate’s brother would be the ideal catalyst for the supe to begin her journey toward atonement. The duration of Gen V’s mind control is unknown, but it doesn’t appear likely to persist indefinitely. The probability of one instruction lasting this long seems improbable, especially since the main characters appeared to have recovered their memories and broken free from Cate’s abilities, since the spinoff has previously demonstrated that there are restrictions on how frequently she may utilize her s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s. Consequently, even though Caleb was still a young child when he vanished, it’s possible that he made an attempt to go home at some point.

Caleb couldn’t have survived on his own, and because no body was ever discovered, it’s likely that someone, probably Godolkin or Vought, discovered him and took him in. Just as Godolkin tricked Luke into thinking his brother Sam was dead, so too may Caleb have been with Vought all along, therefore using Cate as their ideal pawn might have been part of a larger scheme. The heroes telling Cate the truth should, in principle, win her over if Caleb is indeed alive and in Vought custody—perhaps even initiating the beginning of her journey toward redemption.

Knowing that Vought had been hiding her brother from her the entire time would make it difficult for Cate to be faithful to the school, probably leading her to re-join Marie and the other pupils. For those battling Homelander and Vought, having Cate’s abilities on their side would be extremely helpful, therefore her brother’s reappearance might be the best chance for Gen V to bring her back to life.