As a long-time fan of The Umbrella Academy, I must say that season 4 left me feeling quite perplexed, much like the timelines our beloved characters navigate. The new powers, particularly Lila’s lasers, felt somewhat out of character and reminiscent of Homelander from The Boys – a surprising twist indeed!
At long last, the much-anticipated fourth and concluding installment of “The Umbrella Academy” has arrived on Netflix, leaving fans somewhat bewildered. After an agonizing wait of close to two years for solutions to our problems and answers to our questions, we find ourselves with even more questions and complications. The season 3 finale saw the Hargreeves siblings losing their powers and residing in a timeline where the Umbrella Academy was never formed. Instead, it was the Sparrow Academy who took on the role of the child superhero team responsible for safeguarding this reality. As we embark on season 4, six years have passed since the events of season 3 unfolded.
In the final season, the siblings find themselves temporarily devoid of their powers, followed by a swift return. The apocalypse looms over them yet again, much like previous seasons, yet the conclusion and character choices diverge from past events. The series came to an end in what seems to be its only feasible way, but the journey leading up to it is unlike anything we’ve seen before. There are several standout moments throughout this final season, but some aspects have left fans feeling uneasy.
6 Marigold Isn’t What Gave Luther the Monkey Body
When Sparrow Ben (Justin H. Min) deceives the rest of the family into drinking concoctions with Marigold, they all fall ill and experience amplified manifestations of their former abilities. Luther (Tom Hopper), however, regained his strength but also reverted to his monkey form. Though this twist could have been used for comedic purposes throughout the brief season, it didn’t seem to cohere or contribute anything fresh to Luther’s character development.
Marigold is what grants the Hargreeves siblings their special abilities, but it isn’t linked to Luther’s unique physical transformation, which was instead triggered by an experimental serum administered by Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) following a near-fatal mission. This serum caused Luther to develop ape-like characteristics and increased his superhuman strength. Consequently, when Luther regained his monkey-like body after consuming marigold, some viewers found themselves perplexed.
There might have been traces of the serum in his genetic makeup that could have reacted with the marigold, potentially causing a transformation back to his ape-like form. Yet, this possibility is neither explored nor confirmed in any way within the given context. We can only speculate whether the serum was still present or if the marigold could activate dormant remnants of the serum.
After Luther’s physical form and abilities disappeared at the end of season 3, several viewers speculate that he might regain them using the original substances that granted him those attributes.
5 Umbrella Ben Is Left Behind
At the conclusion of season 3, a post-credit scene shows an individual resembling Ben (Justin H. Min) traveling solo on a subway in Korea. Although it isn’t explicitly mentioned, hints suggest that this could be the original Ben from The Umbrella Academy.
In comparison to the Ben from the Umbrella Academy, the Ben from the Sparrow Academy is markedly more aggressive, sarcastic, and boasts a distinctively different style. His attire differs, and his hair is styled in a spiky fashion. Meanwhile, the Ben spotted on a Korean subway sports a hairstyle reminiscent of Umbrella Ben’s slicked-back look and flashes a smile as he glances up from his book.
Given that Sparrow Ben appeared in season 4, it strongly suggests that the man on the subway during season 3 was actually Umbrella Ben, as Sparrow Ben had served a four-year prison sentence and returned to the Umbrellas right after his release, making it very improbable for him to have been on the subway in season 3.
In essence, the plot thread hinted at in the post-credits scene didn’t develop in Season 4. This could have provided essential clarity and emotion, which were somewhat lacking in a season that was brief and somewhat puzzling.
4 Multiple Characters Sidelined or Not Present
Among the many curiosities surrounding The Umbrella Academy‘s fourth season, fans have been eagerly wondering: “What happened to Ray and Sloane?” In the final season, neither character made an appearance, leaving fans puzzled as there was no explanation or even a hint given for their sudden disappearance. Luther, played by Justin Cornwell, occasionally mentions Sloane (Genesis Rodriguez), but never discloses why she’s absent. He only expresses his longing for her or his regret over not fighting harder to keep her close. Ray (Yusuf Gatewood) is even less frequently mentioned in the series.
It’s hard to understand why Sloane and Ray were missing from the final season, as their stories seemed unresolved. By the end of Season 3, Luther chased after Sloane, but this plotline didn’t progress any further. Ray’s life revolved around his daughter Claire (played by Millie Davis).
It’s almost unthinkable that he wouldn’t play some role in her life, given the unique circumstances under which they were reunited from different timelines and removed from the ’60s. The lack of their presence creates a significant gap that remains unsolved and an ongoing conflict that is left unresolved.
In addition, several key characters like Klaus (Robert Sheehan), who have captivated audiences since the debut of the series, are significantly underutilized in the final season as they work tirelessly to avert the prophesied end times.
In essence, during the fourth season’s finale, his role is quite minimal. After regaining his powers from the marigold, he experiences a significant rift with his siblings for most of the series. He undertakes an unusual errand, conducting seances to settle debts and ends up being buried alive, mimicking the “Kill Bill” scenario, where he must struggle to free himself.
In newly unveiled cut scenes, Klaus is seen attending an AA meeting, where he reveals his deepest insecurities and struggles. Allison and Claire happen to listen in, leading to a touching moment of connection that could have given substance to Klaus’s actions this season. Regrettably, Klaus doesn’t significantly impact the main narrative this season, and his character risks becoming an exaggerated version of himself.
3 The Character Assassination of Five
Until recently, what Five (Aidan Gallagher) cherished above all else in life was his siblings. Despite devoting most of his existence to preventing the apocalypse, he was prepared to forfeit everyone and everything for his siblings. His family held the deepest significance for him. For 45 years, he found himself trapped in a future apocalyptic timeline, striving to return to them and find a means to protect them. However, by season 4, Five performed an action we never anticipated; he relinquished his pursuit of his family.
In The Umbrella Academy, the siblings frequently bicker and hurl jabs at one another. Yet, their disagreements seldom linger, as they quickly overcome their differences to protect one another. Above all else, family means everything, particularly to Five, within the Hargreeves clan.
In season 4, he not only ceased trying to rescue his family but also deserted them completely. Before discovering that the Marigold and Durango compounds triggered the Cleanse, he chose to navigate their predicament alone on the timeline subway, refusing to return until he gained knowledge about the situation.
In this new phase, there was a noticeable change in Five’s character, particularly in his tone. Previously, he was known for his sharp wit and clever comebacks, often outsmarting others. However, he frequently teased his siblings, albeit without any malice. This season, though, much of that humor and intelligence seemed to disappear, as Five became harsh and even hurtful towards his siblings, particularly Diego (David Casteneda), in ways that were uncharacteristic for a sibling.
2 Unexplored New Powers
Each time the siblings consumed the Marigold, it amplified their earlier abilities. Instead of instructing her targets to act through Allison’s “rumor” power, it transformed into telekinesis.
In the first season, Victor possessed an ability to transform sound waves and energy into physical power through his violin, ultimately leading to the apocalypse. However, in the final season, Victor became proficient at directing and controlling his powers with great precision. The nature of Klaus’ newfound abilities remains unexplored as he frequently separates himself from the rest of the family throughout the six episodes.
In the cast of eight characters, Lila’s (Ritu Arya) newly acquired abilities might just be the most peculiar. Previously, Lila could replicate any powers that other characters had, which included boosting Viktor’s explosive capabilities and time traveling with Five. Interestingly enough, in season 4, she seems to have developed an ability to emit lasers from her eyes, a power strikingly reminiscent of Homelander in The Boys. The origin and function of this new power are left unexplained and it is seldom seen in action during the final season.
As a movie critic, I found myself yearning for more as I watched the siblings, Allison and Viktor, exhibit their freshly acquired abilities sparingly throughout the film. The scarcity of these powers left me longing for a deeper understanding of their capabilities. Intriguingly, the plot unfolded with the siblings vanishing from existence to thwart the impending doom of the world. It left me questioning, had they ever truly needed these newfound abilities at all? With their disappearance, there was no chance to delve into or cultivate these powers further.
1 An Abrupt Romance That Could’ve Worked if Done Right
Perhaps the biggest upset of the final season of The Umbrella Academy was the out-of-the-blue romance between Lila and Five. Considering Lila was married to Diego and had three children with him, the romance seemed forced and unnecessary to most fans.
Initially in the season, Lila and Diego appear to have a disagreement, yet the series fails to provide an explanation for their discord. However, by episode five, it’s hard not to notice a developing situation between Five and Lila.
Lila and Five embark on a journey using the time-travel train to prevent Ben from encountering Victoria Sawal (Jennifer), thus halting The Cleanse. Unfortunately, their mission doesn’t go smoothly, and they find themselves stranded on an endless subway train, unable to return to their timeline. For seven long years, they navigate the chaotic web of time periods, while for the rest of the Hargreeves, it feels like just a few hours have passed.
After spending several years scavenging for food like rats in Subway tunnels and battling cold temperatures, they choose to inhabit an alternate reality. That’s when Five and Lila initiate their romantic relationship.
If the writers had approached it differently, this scenario might have been more acceptable to fans. Five wouldn’t deliberately harm his brother by entering an affair with his wife, and Lila wouldn’t cease her efforts to reunite with her family. However, the portrayal of both Five and Lila in the story was off-base from the start, leaving a bitter taste for viewers.
From a film enthusiast’s perspective, I believe the writers could have made this new romance more believable by delving deeper into the conflicts between Lila and Diego, perhaps through heartfelt dialogues or poignant flashbacks. Alternatively, they could have subtly hinted at feelings growing between Five and Lila in earlier seasons, allowing their connection to gradually unfold rather than abruptly introducing it in the penultimate episode. Lastly, it would have added intrigue if one of the other Fives from Max’s Diner had taken the place of the real Five, preventing him from attempting to save his family from the Cleanse.
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2024-08-23 01:32