Netflix’s freshest comic book adaptation, The Umbrella Academy, is back in action with its second season, and its weird and wacky tone continues to ramp up with a killer soundtrack, explosive super-powered fight scenes, and dysfunctional-family angst galore. If you’re interested in apocalyptic mishaps and chaotic sibling dynamics, you’ve come to the right place. Musical dance numbers included.
Season two picks up just moments after the first season’s explosive finale, when the six, sort-of seven, super-powered Hargreeve siblings diverted the apocalypse by travelling back in time. Unfortunately, the time travel is a bit wonky and they each end up alone, scattered across the early 1960s. And even more unfortunate, it seems they brought the apocalypse with them.
The splitting up of the siblings is what sets this season’s narrative apart from its predecessor. Their story-lines are strong on their own, and only grow stronger as they interweave. The vibrant 1960s setting is integrated well, but the actual plot — 10 or so days until the end of the world, something they’ve done to alter the timeline has caused it, how will they stop it, ooh, aah — is not so different from the first season nor is it particularly different from a majority of superhero/time travel tales. But The Umbrella Academy shines through its zany characters and the beautifully dysfunctional sibling dynamics between them.
Each of the characters get up to different things during their time alone, to varying degrees of chaos. Klaus, whose power allows him to commune with the dead, sort of accidentally starts a cult (along with his ghost-brother Ben). Mind-controller Allison is left without use of her powers but makes an impact by joining the civil rights movement. Vanya has lost all her memories — a bit of a cop out — and is now chilling on a farm. Diego, the resident Batman-wannabe, is in a mental hospital after going around telling everyone the president is going to be assassinated. Luther, who has all the muscle and none of the brains, gets involved in an underground fight club. Lastly, there’s Five, the de facto leader of the group. He’s the oldest, youngest, smartest, and snarkiest. He’s the time-travelling assassin who got stuck in his 13-year-old self’s body, and once again, he is the standout role in the show. Actor Aiden Gallagher makes you believe he truly is a worn-out old man rather than a teenager. It’s up to Five to bring the Umbrella Academy back together, but it won’t be easy because they are all stubborn and depressed.
The plot is well-paced and well-structured, continuously jumping around in time, without getting confusing. With the looming apocalypse, a new mystery begins to unravel and weave all the sibling’s stories together. Some subplots are better done than others, but they’re each given the time to develop and contrast. New threats emerge, and old ones return, though the charismatic season one villains Hazel and Cha-Cha are replaced by three dull Swedish guys who suck at their job. While they have somewhat good screen presence, very little time is dedicated to them. They remain a weak link, but it allows more time with the Hargreeve siblings, which is this show’s strength. The Swedes serve their purpose as an occasional obstacle for the characters, and it’s enough. Thankfully, we do have one returning villain who absolutely shines, and is a genuine, compelling threat throughout.
The humour is particularly on-point this season, as the show seems to have settled into its nonsensical tone. Of course not every one-liner lands, but I found myself continuously laughing out loud at the ensuing high jinks. Things that were sorely underutilised in season one are picked up and run with — like Klaus’s relationship with his dead ghost-brother Ben. Things that were not so great — ahem, vague incest, ahem — are dropped. Not all the new high jinks are great though. There are a few developments that feel irrelevant in the long run. There are some strange character decisions. Plot twists! There are so many plot twists! Some are great! Some come out of nowhere and punch you in the face. It’s a mixed bag.
I feel like this is one of those shows that you’ll either love or hate. You’ll like the characters or you won’t. You’ll enjoy that every fight scene is set to an upbeat song or you won’t. You’ll dance along with the characters when they start to jam for no reason, or you won’t. You’ll throw logic out the window as the time travel gets more and more complicated, as timelines undo and interlock and fold over each other, or you’ll get a headache.
Obviously, I love it. I love it to the point where I don’t care if the writing gets sloppy; I don’t care if the CGI looks terrible (it’s mostly good — but there are some moments…); I don’t care if there are weak subplots or boring side characters. The pure chaotic energy this show exudes is so much fun and so worth watching. Plus, you can’t help but dance to the soundtrack.
My final rating for The Umbrella Academy Season 2 is a freshly-made pizza with my favourite toppings out of 10.
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