The Umbrella Academy (TV series)
The Umbrella Academy is an American superhero streaming television series based on the comic book series of the same name created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, published by Dark Horse Comics. Developed for Netflix by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater, it revolves around a dysfunctional family of adopted sibling superheroes who reunite after the death of their adoptive father to uncover the mystery surrounding his death and the impending apocalypse.
Premise:
In 1989, on the same day, forty-three infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven of these children are adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who creates "The Umbrella Academy" and prepares them to save the world. However, the family fractures during their teenage years and the team disbands. Years later, the six surviving members reunite upon the news of Hargreeves' death and must work together to solve the mystery surrounding his death while dealing with their fractured relationships and the looming threat of a global apocalypse. Each season presents a new apocalyptic scenario and explores the siblings' attempts to prevent it, often jumping through time and encountering alternate realities.
Characters:
The core characters are the seven adopted Hargreeves siblings, each identified by a number and possessing unique superpowers:
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Luther Hargreeves / Number One (Tom Hopper): Possesses super strength after a serum administered following a near-fatal mission transformed his upper body into an ape-like form.
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Diego Hargreeves / Number Two (David Castañeda): Has the ability to manipulate the trajectory of projectiles, particularly knives.
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Allison Hargreeves / Number Three (Emmy Raver-Lampman): Can control reality by uttering the phrase "I heard a rumor..."
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Klaus Hargreeves / Number Four (Robert Sheehan): Communicates with the dead and can temporarily manifest spirits.
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Number Five (Aidan Gallagher): Can teleport through space and time. He lacks a given name.
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Ben Hargreeves / Number Six (Justin H. Min): (Deceased in the present day, but appears as a ghost) Possessed the ability to summon eldritch tentacles from another dimension.
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Vanya Hargreeves / Number Seven (Elliot Page): Initially believed to be ordinary, Vanya possesses the ability to convert sound into destructive force, making her the most powerful of the siblings.
Other notable characters include Sir Reginald Hargreeves, Pogo (an intelligent chimpanzee), and Hazel and Cha-Cha (time-traveling assassins).
Production:
Development began in 2011 and went through various iterations before being picked up by Netflix. Principal photography for the first season began in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in January 2018. Subsequent seasons were also filmed primarily in Ontario.
Reception:
The Umbrella Academy has received generally positive reviews from critics, who have praised its cast, visual effects, and unconventional storytelling. The series has been particularly commended for its handling of complex themes such as family dysfunction, mental health, and trauma. The show has also been commercially successful for Netflix, prompting renewals for multiple seasons.
Seasons:
- Season 1 (2019)
- Season 2 (2020)
- Season 3 (2022)
- Season 4 (2024) - Final Season
Awards and Nominations:
The series has received several awards and nominations, including Emmy Awards, Saturn Awards, and GLAAD Media Awards.
Spin-offs:
While no direct spin-offs have been announced, discussions about expanding the Umbrella Academy universe have been ongoing.