Photo Credit: Netflix Media Center
By Emiree Campbell
Adapted from Gerard Way’s comic book, the Netflix Original series The Umbrella Academy is both chilling and nerve-wracking.
Developed by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater, The Umbrella Academy revolves around an interesting family of American superheroes who all struggle with their interpersonal relationships and mysteriously striking superpowers.
The show starts with women around the world giving birth on the same day which is creepy and odd due to the fact that none of the women were pregnant beforehand. The main characters of the series are seven of the children born from this odd event, who soon after they are born are adopted by the very rich Sir Reginald Hargreeves.
After discovering that most of the children have unusual abilities, Sir Hargreeves decides to become a mentor to the children. Instead of being a loving father, he teaches them how to use their powers so that they could form a superhero group called The Umbrella Academy
After discovering that most of the children have unusual abilities, Sir Hargreeves decides to become a mentor to the children. Instead of being a loving father, he teaches them how to use their powers so that they could form a superhero group called The Umbrella Academy. You can assume this to be true because he does not bother naming them instead he refers to them by numbers ranging from oldest to youngest.
Luther Hargreeves, “Number 1”, is the oldest whose power is super strength and he also struggles with his outer appearance. Diego Hargreeves, “Number 2”, bears a great affinity for knife throwing and he struggles with the idea of love. Allison Hargreeves, “Number 3”, can alter reality and influence people by saying the words “I heard a rumor” and struggles to keep her family together. Klaus Hargreeves, “Number 4”, can communicate with the dead and is emotionally detached from reality, struggles with sobriety, and is still discovering himself. “Number 5” or “The Boy” has teleportation powers and disappears for a great length of time before returning with devastating news about the future. Ben Hargreeves, “Number 6”, had the ability to shapeshift but suffered a terrible fate while on a mission. And lastly, Vanya Hargreeves, “Number 7”, surprisingly does not have any powers, or so we are told.
Though the series begins with the children forming The Umbrella Academy it mainly focuses on them as adults after they have grown apart. They reconnect after learning that Sir Hargreeves has died and they are forced to face a new threat.
While Netflix has only released the first season, it is clear that the family has a lot of secrets that are slowly coming to light as the series progresses but, will they be able to work out there differences and save the world? Will the family be successful?
You’ll just have to watch and see!
