In Gen V season 2, Cipher (Hamish Linklater), the new Dean at Godolkin University, urges Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) to embody the qualities of an Angelina Jolie film, signaling a shift in how he aims to mold the students under his control. This comparison, centering on the “Angelina Jolie Salt comparison,” highlights Cipher’s intent to transform superhuman students into formidable soldiers ahead of an anticipated human-supe conflict.
Understanding Cipher’s Comparison Between Two Angelina Jolie Roles
In the third episode of Gen V season 2, Cipher contrasts Marie’s current state with two distinct Angelina Jolie portrayals, emphasizing the path he wants her to take. He first likens Marie to Jolie’s character in Girl, Interrupted, in which Jolie played Lisa Rowe, a sociopath institutionalized for her dangerous and abusive behavior. This role reflects the troubled nature of Marie’s self-harm, used to activate her blood-controlling powers, an act Cipher observes as a “distasteful disorder.”
By comparing Marie to Lisa Rowe, Cipher equates her current vulnerability and psychological struggles to the chaos embodied in Jolie’s character from the 1999 film. In contrast, he urges Marie to become like Evelyn Salt from the 2010 spy thriller Salt, where Jolie plays a relentless and resourceful sleeper agent posing as an ordinary American woman.
Embodying Evelyn Salt means becoming a highly skilled, deadly operative—exactly the type of superhuman Cipher wants to create out of Marie, regardless of dissenting opinions about the movie’s quality, as referenced by Jordan Li’s dismissal of Salt as “a mediocre spy movie.” Cipher’s demand reflects his desire to turn Marie into a powerful weapon ready to survive and dominate in future conflicts.
Marie’s Crucial Role in Cipher’s Plan and Godolkin University’s Dark History
Marie’s importance extends beyond her combat abilities—her very birth ties her to the university’s hidden agenda. After her encounter with Cipher in episode 3, Marie uncovers that she was born through the intervention of Vought, arranged by her parents to conceive a child, which places her at the center of Project Odessa.
This project was previously contested by Thomas Godolkin (Ethan Slater), the university’s founder, but it appears Cipher, previously known as Dr. Gold, has been a long-standing figure in it, even having delivered Marie at birth. Notably, Cipher appears unchanged by time, hinting at otherworldly powers beyond his role as Dean.
If Cipher’s claims hold true, Marie was engineered specifically to surpass powerful supes like Homelander (Antony Starr), possibly born with the capacity to kill him. This raises the stakes dramatically, positioning her not only as a student but as a potential turning point in the human-versus-supe conflict looming over the series.
What Cipher’s Ambitions for Marie Mean for the Future of Gen V
With Cipher’s intense focus on molding Marie into a lethal asset comparable to Angelina Jolie’s Evelyn Salt, the coming episodes of Gen V promise escalating tension and danger. As Cipher pursues his vision of superhuman soldiers, Marie stands at the crossroads of her own identity—caught between human flaws seen in Girl, Interrupted and the ruthless efficiency Cipher demands.
Her transformation could shift the balance of power within the superhuman community and beyond, especially if she indeed carries the power to rival or surpass Homelander. The shadowy past behind Project Odessa and Cipher’s enigmatic identity entwine closely with Marie’s fate, making her journey pivotal for the unfolding narrative.
New episodes of Gen V season 2 continue to premiere on Prime Video every Wednesday, promising further revelations about Cipher’s true objectives and Marie’s evolving role.
