by Alice Micheli
Everyone knows of The Umbrella Academy as a superhero show with a twist. Adapted from the graphic novel concocted from the brilliantly twisted mind of punk rocker Gerard Way, it’s a show that aptly takes twists and turns and makes character choices that often have you looking at the TV with confusion, but in a ‘well, that was unexpected, but I kind of liked it’ way.
Going into season 2, fans were used to the crazy narrative and unbelievably unreliable narrators we had grown to love and expected this sort of thing to only get more intense with every episode that came by. So how could the show-runners possibly bring something new to the table when season 1 already had time travel assassins, serial killers, and a talking monkey? Well, strap in folks, cause I’m about to give you all a hint.
While all the Hargreeves siblings are our revolving protagonists, as with season 1, this one focuses much more on the old-man-stuck-in-a-child’s body unbelievable charismatic character of Five. Presenting like an unhinged young DiCaprio with the attitude of a curmudgeonly Deniro, Aidan Gallagher takes his character to the next level in this new season. He is the one that the audience will relate to most, as he is constantly frustrated by his unhelpful siblings who, just as with season 1, are too caught up in their own troubles to care about another impending apocalypse. So, once again it’s up to him to get them together and solve it. However, now he has an even bigger problem to avoid – that of the paradox.
With the siblings now stuck in the past, every movement they make, every choice they decide, and every milkshake they buy could end up having irrevocable effects on the future they worked so hard to save last season. However, it seems that Five is the only one who cares, and he is left to deal with his siblings’ after effects. All this to say, that if I was in his position, I think I would be bald from all the hair that had been pulled out.
However, through all the frustration, through all the ‘OH MY GOD’ing at the TV that happens, season 2 of the Umbrella Academy knocks it out of the park once again. Enhanced by its absolutely fantastic score and soundtrack, every episode introduces something special that will have you reaching to hit the ‘NEXT EPISODE’ button before it automatically loads. Full of color, character, and energy, the writers certainly didn’t hold back when it came to one-upping what they’d already presented.
Now that the audience has gotten to know the characters in play (well, those left alive anyway), you can tell that both the writers and the actors have decided to have fun with where they took them from here. Each character develops in a way that is believable, and yet still shockingly entertaining. Whether it’s becoming a cult messiah–or a farmhand–each storyline has something special that dissuades the disappointment of leaving one for the other. That is to say, there is no boring storyline, which ironically enough can be a bit much for some.
As I mentioned, this season is like last season, but on steroids. That also means that there are moments where you might feel so overwhelmed that you feel like you should take a break for your sanity – but you won’t because it’s just too good, and you NEED to know how it’s going to end. Let’s just say, this is how I ended up binging the entire thing on its release, only to look at the time and mentally chastise myself for the lack of sleep I ended up experiencing.
That brings me back to my favorite character, Gallagher’s Five. Constantly annoyed, he’s the audience. He feels what we feel, but he’s able to do something about it – no matter how futile. Gallagher’s performance is so brilliant that, although all the dissecting storylines had something to offer, I always wanted to see what he was up to, what he was doing. There’s a certain magnetism to how he’s been written that acts as the glue that holds this entire narrative together.
This, paired with the bursts of action and color that punctuate every episode make this season a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Old questions are answered however new, much more interesting ones are explored throughout its 376 minute runtime.
There are moments of joy–such as another memorable dance number–and there are moments of pure emotion that will have you reaching for your nearest tissue. There are also some action set pieces that are innovating and exciting enough, that you might even rewind slightly so you can experience it again.
All this to say, does season 2 of Umbrella Academy live up to its pilot season’s greatness? You won’t be surprised to read that I am fervently in the YES camp. I loved it, I highly recommend it, and if you decide to give it a watch, I think you’ll see where I’m coming from.
Grade: A+