“The Umbrella Academy”: A tale of destructive, super siblings destined to save the planet despite their troubled pasts and odd-ball powers

BY ANNABELLE ROSA

The conventional superhero is defined by a devanar smile, tights and cape to match, as well as the ability to pursue the path of the good and just. The reality of humanity is that things aren’t necessarily so black and white, therefore, it seems the narrative of the superhero— or even simply the hero— has adapted to be representative of gray morality. The average movie-goer can more easily sympathize with a troubled character, thus these narratives have gained popularity in recent years.

In the case of the Netflix series “The Umbrella Academy,” siblings Vanya, Luther, Allison, Diego and Klaus are by no means average in their abilities or their upbringing. Raised by the eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves, these siblings were adopted due to the strange circumstances of their birth.

The creative work behind the show was genius as it played upon this X-Men-esque plotline that displays the way that a superhero academy may very well fail if these superhumans are children without comprehension of how the world actually functions or how to be less selfish in their actions.

One day in 1989, 43 infants, whose mothers had shown no signs of pregnancy at the beginning of the day, were born into the world. The children were also unique due to the fact that they possessed superpowers. Hargreeves adopts seven of these children and educates them as members of the Umbrella Academy, a school created entirely for the grouping of these seven “siblings.” Years after their disbandment, the siblings are pulled together again by the death of their father. This also brings about the reappearance of their long lost brother, Number Five, who appears through a cosmic vortex of sorts.

The narrative quickly goes into an impending apocalypse as well as discourse among the super siblings and the powerless Vanya.

The genius of the show comes in many forms, specifically in the storyline itself. It is based on the comic written and created by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Ba.

In terms of the show, elements of the first two arcs are combined in the first season. Ultimately, this contributes to the fact that the show has its own identity separate from the comics, allowing for a different perspective on many of the characters, plotlines and stylistic choices of the story.

The one weak point of the show is that it takes a while to establish the Hargreeves family as individual characters.

Regarding the casting of the show, there was a clear departure from the comic’s original depiction of the characters. One of the most notable performances was Aidan Gallagher’s portrayal of Number Five, a middle-aged man trapped in the body of a 13-year-old due to a few miscalculations regarding time travel. Gallagher was incredibly ept in his performance as he was capable of presenting a sense of adult-like maturity as well as carrying a very anarchist and almost childish sarcasm. Other notable performances include Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, Mary J. Blige as Cha-Cha and Ellen Paige as Vanya Hargreeves.

The creative work behind the show was genius as it played upon this X-Men-esque plotline that displays the way that a superhero academy may very well fail if these superhumans are children without comprehension of how the world actually functions or how to be less selfish in their actions.

The cinematography was also well-executed. Perhaps the most interesting choice for the filming process actually came from the scene in which the Hargreeves children all indulge in a bit of a dance break to the song “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany. The camera slowly pans out, creating a dollhouse effect and allowing the audience to take a look at the quirky way each of the siblings take advantage of the calm before the storm.

The Netflix original has been renewed for a second season which elicits both enthusiasm and speculation as to what the next installment will hold.

The soundtrack for the show is also fabulous as it pulls upon several songs from the 1980s as well as songs from alternative genres. There are songs that set the tone for particular scenes. “Run Boy Run” by Woodkid sets up 13-year-old Five’s initial trip to the future and “Istanbul” by They Might Be Giants helps frame a fight scene with Five after he is first introduced to the audience.

Other songs toy with being more upbeat in regards to the narrative like “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen and “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader. Of course, the show ends with the song “Hazy Shade of Winter,” a cover by creator Gerard Way that emphasizes the uncertainty to follow in the next season.

The one weak point of the show is that it takes a while to establish the Hargreeves family as individual characters. The audience is immediately drawn to Five, Vanya and Klaus as a result of the fact that they’re given emotional depth, but Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) and Diego (David Castaneda) aren’t necessarily developed until much later in the show. Luther (Tom Hopper), as well, seems to escape character development for the time being.

The Netflix original has been renewed for a second season which elicits both enthusiasm and speculation as to what the next installment will hold.

Photo courtesy of The Beat