The Umbrella Academy Season Finale Isn’t Perfect But Is A Bittersweet End
It’s the end of the road for the Hargreeves siblings as they come back on a rescue mission after five years of normalcy. With newest enemies Jean (Megan Mullaly) and Gene Thibedeau (Nick Offerman) who run an underground group called The Keepers, the gang must figure out what their motive is and what they have to do with it. Will they gain their powers back? Can they fix the timeline? The Umbrella Academy season four answers all those questions.
I absolutely love this cast and it has been so great to see them progress throughout the series. Tom Hopper’s humor is unmatched and Elliot Page’s sensibility is a joy to watch. The chemistry between them all really makes the whole series work and you believe their characters as siblings. I enjoyed watching Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) grow her relationship with her teenage daughter Claire and Claire’s willingness to help her family. Each character goes through some type of personal journey whether it’s Viktor’s desire to stand up to Reginald (Colm Feore) or Diego’s (David Castaneda) realization of his marriage. Given the strained relationship between Viktor and Reginald, I relished in the fact that Viktor has come to a point in his life where he can openly talk about how Reginald treated him. I think it’s safe to say we all needed that moment to happen.
As always, the series continues to visually stand out with elaborate set designs and special effects which give it its classic charm. The slow motion action scenes, the close-up bullets, their powers, and the creatures are all phenomenal. I also loved watching the ridiculousness of the Hargreeves going on a mission while “Baby Shark” plays in the background. Normally, I’d cringe hearing the song, but in this case, it worked and I laughed. The soundtrack for every season has always been top tier and it’s no shock that season four has all the bangers that I will be listening to on repeat from now on… okay, maybe not “Baby Shark” though. The music sets the tone for every scene and it’s hit after hit throughout. Coupled with the ever so humorous sibling banter, it felt like a return to the earlier seasons of the series. I felt season three lacked something that season four brought back and I found myself hyper focused each episode the way I was when it premiered.
The one caveat I wish could have been explored more is Jean and Gene’s background. I wanted to know more about where they came from and how exactly they managed to create a widespread movement against The Umbrella Academy. I also felt like there were certain details that could’ve come off as a red flag for Jean and Gene, but didn’t so they never grew too suspicious of anyone in their movement. It felt out of character for them to be a bit naive, especially when they can be so ruthless, cunning, and smart.
Though I wanted an episode or two added for some additional context and fleshed out plot lines, the series finale brought back its roots that captivated me in the beginning and the final answers to its mysteries. Resolved conflicts and an incredibly bittersweet ending closed the chapter and I will remember The Umbrella Academy forever. Keep your eyes peeled at the end for some old characters you might remember and the symbolism that is the cherry on top.
The Umbrella Academy is out now on Netflix.
