Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Umbrella Academy seasons 1-4.
Summary
The Umbrella Academyjumps between characters, storylines, and timelines during its four-season run, andsome outings of the Netflix series succeed better than others at crafting their narrative.The Hargreeves siblingsremain the focal point ofThe Umbrella Academyfrom season 1 to season 4, but their repeated resetting of the universe allows the show to constantly explore new territory. Whether the series is bringing them back in time or upgrading their superpowers, viewers almost always have something fresh to look forward to. That mostly works in the show’s favor, though there are downsides to it.
With the Hargreeves serving as the running thread between seasons,The Umbrella Academypaints an overarching picture that strives to connect their individual adventures. At times, this works to the show’s advantage — and at others, it doesn’t succeed.The Umbrella Academyhas highs and lows, just like any TV series, making some seasons more compelling than others. Overall, it’s a fun journey with a great cast of characters and soundtrack. It does feel stronger at the beginning than towards the end, though.
The Umbrella Academy’s 16 Hargreeves Siblings Ranked By Power
The Umbrella Academy’s Hargreeves siblings are all powerful in different ways, but which of them prove to be the most powerful by the end of the show?
4The Umbrella Academy Season 4
Its Redeeming Qualities Are Overshadowed By Weaknesses
The Umbrella Academyseason 4 is the show’s final outing, and despite some redeeming qualities,it’s the weakest addition to the Netflix show by a wide margin. The fourth season picks up with the Hargreeves living without their powers in their newly reset timeline. When they find Marigold, Ben slips it into their drinks, and they quickly find themselves on the road to another apocalypse — and it’s one even their upgraded powers can’t stop. They’re forced to take a much bigger stand at theend ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, and their combined sacrifice is controversial.
While the overarching themes ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 are admirable, the execution doesn’t do them justice.
On the one hand,there’s something touching about the Hargreeves going out as genuine superheroes, and this gives them an emotional send-off. It’s also fitting that they’re the ones responsible for the broken timeline and recurring apocalypses. After all, they continuously fail to blend neatly into the universe. However, while the overarching themes ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 are admirable, the execution doesn’t do them justice. The way the Hargreeves' story ends deems their entire journey pointless, and there are all kinds of issues with how the finale unfolds.
There are many unanswered questions and plot holes inThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, which doesn’t have enough episodes to properly address everything it needs to.Jennifer’s origin story and connectionto Ben could be better explained, and things like Sloane’s whereabouts andAllison’s redemption aren’t addressedat all. Subplots like Klaus repaying his debt andLila’s baffling affair with Fivealso feel wholly unnecessary, taking time that could have been better used elsewhere.
The Umbrella Academy’s Series Finale Isn’t The Ending Netflix’s Show Deserved
The Umbrella Academy season 4 brings the beloved Netflix series to a close, but its disappointing ending doesn’t do the story or characters justice.
Gene and Jean are highlights ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, and humorous action sequences like the fight in New Grumpson make season 4 feel likeThe Umbrella Academyat its best. Unfortunately, such elements of the final outing aren’t enough to save it. There’s a reason why season 4 has thelowest Rotten Tomatoes scoreof the entire series. Whether you love or hate the Hargreeves' fates, there’s too much that’s off about their final adventure. Sadly,The Umbrella Academyseason 4 fails to give the show the ending it deserves.
3The Umbrella Academy Season 3
A Fun Ride That Doesn’t Reach The First Two Seasons' Heights
The Umbrella Academyseason 3 is much more fun than the final outing, and that’s likely why it boasts a 91% critic score onRotten Tomatoes. Reviewers are right to praise the show’s third outing, as there’s a lot to love about it. Thanks to its Hotel Oblivion story, the plot is as wild and thrilling as ever. It’s full of twists and turns that allow the Hargreeves to dive into action and utilize their powers. The emotional beats also utilize the talent ofThe Umbrella Academy’s cast, prioritizing the relationships between the siblings and their father.
WhileThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 has significant strengths, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the previous two outings. There are a few questionable choices when it comes to the characters, like Allison’s attempt to use her powers against Luther and frequent miscommunications for the sake of the plot.The Umbrella Academyalso fails to fully utilize the Sparrow Academy, which is disappointing after how it hyped up their introduction. Ben and Sloane are the only Sparrows who get the proper amount of attention, and the others mostly fall to the wayside.
WhileThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 has significant strengths, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the previous two outings.
The Umbrella Academyseason 3 comes close to season 1 in terms of quality, but the latter is just a bit better. It feels more accurate to the comics, and the characters don’t make as many dubious choices throughout its run. Still, the third outing is leagues ahead of the fourth. With its emotional ending, which sees the Hargreeves finally accepting the apocalypse and their fates,one has to wonder if it wouldn’t have made a more fitting finale to the Netflix series.
2The Umbrella Academy Season 1
A Strong Start To The Series (But Not Its Full Potential)
The Umbrella Academyseason 1 just surpasses season 3 as the second-best outing of the Netflix show.The Umbrella Academy’s first season is a strong start for the series, and it really showcases the adaptation’s potential. WhileThe Umbrella Academychanges plenty about the comics it’s based on, season 1 is arguably the most accurate to the source material. The characters' introductions are strong, and there’s a real sense of urgency when it comes to the looming apocalypse. The threat feels more high-stakes and fresh, as it hasn’t been done before.
The Umbrella Academyseason 1 also captures the familial tensions between the Hargreevesincredibly well, and Viktor’s storyline is a particular highlight. Although the characters come into their own during later seasons, the first one does an impressive job of bringing them from the page to the screen. Despite the cast being comprised of seven main characters, it balances them properly. It also lands the right balance of drama and humor, and the soundtrack strikes the perfect chord. Needless to say,The Umbrella Academyseason 1 would always be difficult to follow.
The Umbrella Academy’s first outing may be a high point of the series, but it isn’t the best season. Like any new series, the show is still finding its footing at the beginning. It manages this better than many other shows, but it’s still noticeable in certain moments and character interactions. The characters feel more natural after they’re established in season 1, andthe story falls into place better asThe Umbrella Academycontinues. Knowing characters like Lila will make an appearance later, it also feels as though something is missing upon a rewatch.
1The Umbrella Academy Season 2
The Very Best Of The Netflix Series
The Umbrella Academyseason 2 is by far the best outing of the series, improving on everything season 1 set up while working out any shortcomings.The Umbrella Academy’s sophomore season takes the Hargreeves back to various points of the 1960s, giving each of them their own narrative arc before reuniting them for another apocalypse. Although the main characters are separated for much of the second outing, it does a solid job of balancing their subplots and making each of them relevant to the overarching story.
Whether it’s Allison getting wrapped up in the civil rights movement or Klaus starting his own cult,each ofThe Umbrella Academy’s characters is fleshed out further through their season 2 journey. While the Hargreeves are great in season 1, season 2 takes all of them to the next level. It also paints a much more familial dynamic between the siblings, which is a joy to watch after their hardships in season 1. Viktor, in particular, showcases impressive character growth. And Ben’s sacrifice will tug at any viewer’s heartstrings, packing an emotional punch.
Although the main characters are separated for much of the second outing, it does a solid job of balancing their subplots and making each of them relevant to the overarching story.
The Umbrella Academyseason 2also tackles important social issuesthrough its various storylines, including racism and misogyny. Allison’s entire arc revolves around the segregation and civil rights movement that took place in the 1960s. And Viktor’s narrative highlights the struggles women faced when trapped in marriage, as well as the stigma surrounding LGBTQ+ relationships at the time. All of this gives season 2’s subplots more depth, bringing the entire outing together nicely.
The Umbrella Academy: Biggest Plot Holes & Questions After Season 4
The fourth and final season of The Umbrella Academy might have concluded the series, but it wasn’t without several absolutely glaring plot holes.
There are few issues withThe Umbrella Academy’s second outing, and that’s reflected in its positive reception. Season 2 boasts a high 91% critic score onRotten Tomatoesand an 88% audience score. It’s hard to deny how well that reflects on this outing, and it’s just a shame none of its follow-ups ever lived up to it.The Umbrella Academyseason 2 is the peak of the series, highlighting everything viewers love about it.
The Umbrella Academy
Cast
The Umbrella Academy is based on the comic book of the same name created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Hargreeves — collectively known as The Umbrella Academy — were born with superpowers, and their adoptive father utilized their abilities. However, as they grew older, the siblings grew apart as they dealt with their trauma. They are brought back together after their father dies and Five returns from the future with grave news: The world will end, and The Umbrella Academy has to stop it before it happens.
