The article contains spoilers for The Umbrella Academy season 4.
Summary
The Umbrella Academy’s low Rotten Tomatoes score ends an impressive streak for the Netflix series. Since season 1’s debut in 2019,The Umbrella Academyhas been among Netflix’s most popular and well-received original shows, with all three seasons receiving fresh critical scores on Rotten Tomatoes.The Umbrella Academyseason 4 endingwas expected to bring a triumphant conclusion to the series as it culminated the journeys of the Hargreeves children.
As perRotten Tomatoes,The Umbrella Academyseason 4 has received a critical score of 61%, the lowest Tomatometer score yet in the series' history. This score is currently based on 28 reviews and will likely continue fluctuating, particularly throughout the show’s debut weekend on Netflix. The audience reception also marks a rotten series-low at a dismal 17% based on 500+ reviews, following fresh scores for seasons 1 and 2, and 55% for season 3. Check out all the seasons' Rotten Tomato scores below:
1
77%
85%
2
91%
88%
3
55%
4
61%
17%
Why The Umbrella Academy Season 4 Rotten Tomatoes Scores Are So Low
Critics Take Issue With Several Narrative Problems
The consensus fromThe Umbrella Academy’s final season reviews is that it suffers from poor pacing, retreading overly familiar ground, and delivering an unsatisfying conclusion. With only six episodes instead of the usual ten, the pacing for season 4 was inevitably going to feel different due to the reduced episode count. Critics felt that the pacing was not only different but weaker overall, which is a disappointing result for the culmination of the entire series.
Most consistent in the negative reviews is the sentiment of an unsatisfying ending, an outcome made more disheartening byThe Umbrella Academybeing one of the few Netflix original series in recent years to have an ending instead of being prematurely canceled.
Retreading familiar storylines is not unique to season 4, asseasons 1 to 3 all revolved around the Hargreeves children trying to stop a different apocalypse in a different timeline. The charming chemistry ofThe Umbrella Academy’s castand the rewarding character development of each member of the dysfunctional family made it easier to overlook this repetition in seasons 2 and 3. By season 4, these strengths may no longer be enough to justify the repetitive story beats.
What Happened To Every The Umbrella Academy Character Between Seasons 3 & 4
The Umbrella Academy season 4 has a six-year time jump at the beginning, and a lot happened to the Hargreeves between seasons 3 and 4.
Most consistent in the negative reviews is the sentiment of an unsatisfying ending, an outcomemade more disheartening byThe Umbrella Academybeing one of the few Netflix original series in recent years to have an endinginstead of being prematurely canceled. There is a sense that season 4 proves the Hargreeves siblings have overstayed their welcome and that their stories from previous seasons are not done justice. While the overall reception forThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 may change, it is off to a record-low start.
Why There Is A Major Difference Between The Umbrella Academy Season 4’s Critical And Audience Scores
Audiences Struggled More With Certain Story Decisions.
Despite the critical and audience scores being the worst yet for the series,there is a significant difference between the critics' barely fresh 61% and the audience’s severely rotten 17%. The poor audience reviews are based on some of the same issues critics had, including the rushed pacing and a lack of fulfilling closure. Other issues relate to some of the specific narrative decisions made in season 4, particularly in the case of the surprising romantic relationship that developed between Five (Aidan Gallagher) and Lila (Ritu Arya).
The series was unafraid to be bleak at times, butThe Umbrella Academy’s ending may have been too dark of a note to end on, despite the positive consequences of the characters' actions.
Lila and Five’s relationship proved to be a deeply divisive choicethat defined much of the story in the final season. It was particularly difficult to accept given the romantic history between Lila and Diego (David Castañeda) in seasons 2 and 3, and Five and Lila previously had more of a brother-sister bond. The dynamics between all three characters altered in a way that was not well-received and that took precedence over many other important characters and storylines.
The Umbrella Academy’s Broken Rotten Tomatoes Streak Was Inevitable After Netflix’s Controversial Decision
The Umbrella Academy is getting more negative feedback than usual, but season 4’s broken Rotten Tomatoes streak was inevitable after 1 choice.
The ending may even be more divisive than Lila and Five’s relationship, with Lila andthe Hargreeves siblingschoosing to sacrifice themselves and be erased from all history to save the universe. The series was unafraid to be bleak at times, butThe Umbrella Academy’s ending may have been too dark of a note to end on, despite the positive consequences of the characters' actions. If the reception toThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 does not significantly change, it will alter the once positive reputation of the popular Netflix series.
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.
