What Is the Story About?
In a new timeline dictated by the family patriarch Reginald, the Hargreeves siblings no longer have their powers. There are new enemies – members of a mysterious group The Keepers – who believe in bringing about the ‘cleanse’ and the Umbrella Academy must come together one last time to rescue the world. Who has the last laugh?
Performances?
Elliot Page’s Viktor earns a satisfactory closure in the final season, as he gets his due from his father. The actor is consistent in the portrayal of his internal angst, matched with adequate intensity. Tom Hopper is enjoyable as the flamboyant Luther and it’s fun to watch a character that doesn’t take itself too seriously. David Castañeda, as Diego, the family man finding his way, makes a mark too.
Emmy Raver-Lampman handles the high-stakes drama efficiently and Robert Sheehan continues to have a blast playing the incorrigible Klaus. Beneath Aidan Gallager‘s (Five) boyish charm, watch out for his mature portrayal of a lovestruck kid who has a clear idea of his priorities. Justin H Min is impressive, reflecting the ambiguity and the indifference of Ben and Ritu Arya packs a punch with a meaty part.
While David Cross and Colm Feore do what’s expected of them, the show stealers are of course the real-life couple – Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally – as Gene and Jean – stringing together an attractive persona to their not-so-innocent characters.
Analysis
In the final and the shortest season of The Umbrella Academy spanning six episodes, the Hargreeves siblings need to confront The Keepers, a cult founded by a couple Jean and Gene, that pins its hopes on a world restoration through a cleansing act. While dealing with their existential and domestic crises, they hesitantly onboard a rescue mission and sort out their priorities.
Before their world-saving acts, the season offers a sneak peek into the mundane realities. Luther works at a strip club for livelihood while Allison keeps herself busy with low-brow commercials. Klaus is more particular about hygiene than ever before. Viktor is now a bar owner; Ben is back from jail after a crypto scam and Diego is a reluctant father and a delivery boy. Five and Lila, meanwhile, turn CIA agents.
Despite voting against consuming a dose of the marigold (that would help them get back their superpowers), a wild night takes a turn for the worse and they’re superheroes again. As a viewer, you get what you expect – a comic-book-style treatment of an apocalypse with a familiar blend of dark humour, action and family drama, leading to a grand, epic finale that promises a better tomorrow.
Yet, there’s nothing spectacular about this instalment – it’s headed towards a predictable destination with characters, whose quirks we’re well aware of, and the surprises are far too occasional to satiate your appetite. Beyond the larger-than-life jazz, what stays with you this season is the ordinariness of the siblings’ lives – dealing with parenting, career, livelihood and their need to rise above mediocrity.
The season digs deep into the complex sibling dynamics – showcasing why they despise and protect each other equally. While the drama around Diego, Lila and Five’s interpersonal relationships is absorbing, the lighter moments in the show come alive whenever Klaus is around – as he rises from a coffin, escapes death, outsmarts his debtor and interacts with the dead.
There’s an intriguing revelation around Ben’s death, why he finds himself drawn to Jennifer as the show captures the repercussions of their relationship on the world. The antagonism around Jean and Gene is alluring for its deceptive, sophisticated facade, beneath which lies their desperation to return to a correct timeline (through The Cleanse).
The Umbrella Academy is truly a one-of-a-kind show in the superhero space – an apocalyptic scenario is camouflaged in a flashy, relatable exterior with dollops of fun, family drama and action without compromising on the urgency of the storytelling. The farewell is entertaining and bitter-sweet. It doesn’t meet the tall standards of the earlier seasons but retains the spirit of the show nevertheless.
Music and Other Departments?
Jeff Russo and Perrine Virgile relish the show’s colourful ambience and its mood swings to deliver a solid score and an innovative album that employ cliches with taste. The cinematographers Michael Marshall, Fraser Brown and Neville Kidd create a compelling visual mood for the show, mounting a universe which has a character and personality despite the gloom in the theme. The duration – just under 6 hours – is apt, given the creators aren’t left with many layers in the material to exploit.
Highlights?
Entertaining, fast-paced screenplay
Delivers what’s expected
Sibling dynamics, dark humour
Drawbacks?
The hurriedness towards the ending
Doesn’t offer anything substantially new
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with reservations
The Umbrella Acadamy Season 4 Series Review by Binged Bureau