In a world rife with comic book adaptations and superhero stories,The Umbrella Academystill manages to break the mold. Newcomers might have trouble keeping up with the metric tons of lore, family dynamics, and plot lines, but this season contains most of the payoff fans have been waiting for.
Season 3, like the first two seasons, was developed for Netflix by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater. Fans of the comic will recognize the loose adaptation of eachseries of Gerard Way’songoing franchise as the inspiration for a season of the show. The first season coveredThe Apocalypse Suite, the second coveredDallas, and the third finally takes the Hargreeves family toHotel Oblivion.
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The third season ofThe Umbrella Academypicksup right where season 2 left off. The Hargreeves are back in the modern-day, convinced of their success, only to find a new family of superheroes in their family home. Fans are quickly introduced to the Sparrow Academy, another group of seven superheroes that Reginald Hargreeves gathered after his brush with his first take on the idea in 1963. After a confrontation with their replacements, the original Hargreeves lie low at the elegant Hotel Obsidian. The family is prepared to go about the rest of their lives until a new apocalypse rears its ugly head. The duel between theHargreeves families is setagainst the backdrop of a third end of the world, which the heroes will have to continue trying to stop.
The returning cast is stellar as always. Every member of the Umbrella Academy is in top form as they reprise their beloved role. Perhaps the most publicly notable aspect of the season was Elliot Page’s public transition between seasons. Fans of the show and the performer will be excited toknow that Viktor Hargreevescoming out is an extremely wholesome subplot that is dealt with early and elegantly.
Returning star Justin H. Min portrays a different take on his character Ben, taking much more of the spotlight than usual and handling it very well. Robert Sheehan is a font of charisma and genuine pathos as always. Aidan Gallagher gets to embody a deeper range of emotions than he did in previous seasons. Tom Hopper gets to play the heart of the group in a very charming subplot. David Castañenda takes Diego in several interesting new directions. Emmy Raver-Lampman is a standout, pushed through an incredible emotional ringer throughout this season and selling most of it through pure tone and expression. Fans of the characters will be ecstatic to see them again, and it’s hard to say anyone gets a short stick here.
The newcomers, consisting almost exclusively ofthe Sparrow Academy members, are also very well handled. Justin Cornwell portrays Marcus with the upstanding leader energy Luther always tried and failed to embody. Britne Oldford imbues Fei with knowing confidence and overwhelming menace. Jake Epstein and Cazzie David don’t get as much to do as some of their siblings, but their powers and attitudes are fun to watch. Epstein really has to strain to act under the pound of prosthesis he’s under, but he looks appropriately horrific. Genesis Rodriguez as Sloane gets a heftier share of screen time than most of her siblings and instantly becomes akey part of the cast. Colm Feore returns as Reginald, but he’s in far more of this season, and he’s really taking the character for a long-awaited walk. Fans will get to see him in a ton of new lights, and Feore is excellent in each.
The biggest problem with the season is how much is going on from moment to moment. Some might have trouble following all the connected plot elements. With almost twenty main characters each of whom has distinct relationships, backstories, and character dynamics with each other, a lot is going on. Throw in the previous two seasons' lore, events, and loose ends, and the series is a bit overstuffed. This isn’t uncommon among shows that run three seasons, and not every element gets paid off perfectly, but most of the narrative can be easily followed. The show may benefit from binge-watching. One wonders howviewers taking in all three seasonsin a brief period might fare with the information. But, when the biggest complaint one has about a show is that there’s too much good stuff packed in, that should be a badge of honor.
The Umbrella Academyseason 3 is fantastic superhero television. Intricately tied in with its predecessors without being repetitive. Full of detail without being confusing. Action-packed without being stupid. Emotionally moving without being depressing. It’s a perfect continuation of the series and fans will be thrilled. The gripping emotional family drama,chaotic sci-fi superhero action, and the lovable cast of characters all remain as solid as ever. If this is the end ofThe Umbrella Academy, it may not be the most climactic conclusion, but it does feel like the most appropriate.
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