Umbrella Academy (Spoilers Ahead)

This is to take our discussion out of the Netflix thread to eliminate extra discussion there. Tag spoilers for now?

No tags needed!

I really enjoyed it!

I enjoyed this show far more than I thought I would. I'm simultaneously surprised and not at all surprised that the guy from My Chemical Romance was one of the creators.

“You just Patrick Swayze’d me!”

I read the comics and, although my recollection of the details is basically nonexistant, I recall thinking they were pretty great. Gerard Way has also recently overseen a whole line of comics at DC that were all pretty good, and I read the first volume of his Doom Patrol comic and liked that too. Similarly, Max Bemis is another singer/songwriter who I think is in the same musical ballpark as Way who turns out to be a surprisingly excellent comics writer.

I've watched the first two episodes so far and think the show is pretty good but not great. There's some stylistic stuff that isn't landing for me the way I think it's supposed to. Five's fight in the diner in the first episode that's set to "Istanbul" feels like a scene from so many other shows, but the action just felt a bit blah and the use of Istanbul just seemed like a gimmick. I mostly like the performances (Klaus is obviously supposed to be grating, but he grates in a way that I don't think is nearly as charming as intended), and think a lot of the design looks really good.

The fact that I have read the comics but can't remember hardly any details about it makes this an interesting watch. I have vague guesses as to where things are going, but am not sure I'm remembering anything right. I may dig up the paperback to re-read it after I finish watching the series--I assume the first season will complete the story of the first volume?

I'm a couple of episodes in and enjoying it, though I'm not sure anyone else in the fam would like it. It can go from thought provoking and unique to "sh*t, that's disturbing." in ways which remind me of the Deadpool movies. It doesn't do so as often and not in an irreverent way, but it'll dip down there without flinching.

From what I can guess the first season is the first volume. Skimming Wikipedia page that seems to be the case just based on the plot.

The music is for the most part enjoyable. I didn't really feel the jive for where "Istanbul" was placed, but otherwise, I liked every other place there's been music.

Also, I appreciate the ever-changing opening sequence. I prefer that so much more.

Dominic Knight wrote:

From what I can guess the first season is the first volume. Skimming Wikipedia page that seems to be the case just based on the plot.

The overarching “apocalypse” story is from the first volume, “Apocalypse Suite,” but they fill it out with a lot of details from volume 2, “Dallas.” Both volumes only equal 12 issues total so there wasn’t a ton of content to pull from. If they do a season 2 it will likely be mostly content from volume 3, “Hotel Oblivion,” which is still being published.

I loved the song at the end.

Spoiler:

Time, time, time
See what's become of me...
Time, time, time
See what's become of me
While I looked around
For my possibilities
I was so hard to please
Look around
Leaves are brown
And the sky
Is a Hazy Shade of Winter
Hear the Salvation Army Band
Down by the riverside
It's bound to be a better ride
Than what you've got planned
Carry a cup in your hand
Look around
Leaves are brown
And the sky
Is a Hazy Shade of Winter
Hang onto your hopes my friend
That's an easy thing to say
But if your hopes should pass away
Simply pretend
That you can build them again
Look around
Grass is high
Fields are ripe
It's the springtime of my life
Seasons change with their scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won't you stop and remember me
Look around
Leaves are brown
And the sky
Is a Hazy Shade of Winter
Look around
Leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground
Look around
Leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground
Look around
Leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground

And did I imagine it or were Hazel and donut lady swept into a time vortex before being roasted?

The Bangles version of that song was better

And did I imagine it or were Hazel and donut lady swept into a time vortex before being roasted?

Yeah I got the impression they used the time travel bag to split.

Clumber wrote:

The Bangles version of that song was better

Yeah, well, I cut it some slack because it was the creator of Umbrella Academy singing.

Clumber wrote:

The Bangles version of that song was better

The Bangles version of anything is always better.

I'm so happy to see Umbrella getting so much love here. My wife and I binged it in a couple of days and it's one of the best shows we've watched together in a long time.

It really threads the needle. It's like a bad comic book movie, but it's so good. I know nothing about the source materials so I have so many questions, can't wait for season two!

It helps that the guy who plays Klaus is a bit of a big deal here in Ireland. He was in a very popular show here called Love/Hate, it's nice to see him doing well.

Spoiler:

Something small that I noticed was that 5 left Dolores back in the exact place and state that he find her in after the apocalypse... So nothing he did involving her changed the future in any way. I know things changed for the family, and for the glass eye, but I thought it was interesting that Dolores would still be waiting for him in the future.

BadKen wrote:

And did I imagine it or were Hazel and donut lady swept into a time vortex before being roasted?

I don't think you imagined it:

Spoiler:

The Handler had a briefcase, and I think there was a quick shot of Hazel looking at it in the ventilation. That's how I interpreted that anyway.

Cool. Those two are a cute couple.

I still think Klaus is my favorite character. The actor nails that manic addict mess of a character, and after seeing him in interviews, it's quite a transformation.

BadKen wrote:

Cool. Those two were a cute couple. And I still think Klaus is my favorite character. The actor nails that manic addict mess of a character, and after seeing him in interviews, it's quite a transformation.

You should have seen him in Love/Hate. Completely different character. He was in a UK show called Misfits too, and, again, played a completely different character. He seems to be very talented. I really enjoyed Klaus' development over the course of the series. For a lot of it I was wondering what he brought to the table. Turns out he brought a lot!

I also thought Vanya's story was amazing. Specifically, about what Alison did to her when she was a child.

Spoiler:

I was thinking about how Alison told Vanya that she believes herself to be ordinary. I know the father's intention was that she'd believe she didn't have super-powers, but my guess is that she applied that belief to every aspect of her life.
Remember how the first chair told her something along the lines of, you should be more that third chair by now, you obviously lack the talent? But then her powers unlock and suddenly she's worthy of first chair? I think basically she lived her whole life believing that she was mediocre, so she ended up being mediocre in every aspect of her life. What an amazing origin story for a "villain". No matter how long she stuck at things or how hard she tried, she never rose above ordinary, AND she grew up surrounded by superheroes. That's a lot of reasons to be angry.

I wonder what she'll be like at the start of season two. Presumably she'll remember everything from season one, so will she still be angry enough to bring about the apocalypse??

I don't think Dolores is the same because I THINK she was a full manneqin before Hazel and Cha-Cha started firing at him in the store and it cut her in half.

In regards to Vanya, IMO she could not get over those humps with the musical talent and relationships because the pills she was taking eliminated/clamped down all emotions from her.

My fiance and I watched this together over the past week or so and our feelings are definitely...mixed. Neither of us had ever heard of the comics, much less read them.
I was taking it semi-seriously at first, but by the last couple of episodes I had definitely shifted into "yelling commentary at the screen whenever the characters/writers made poor choices" mode. Some selections from my tirades:

Spoiler:

Everything with Vanya towards the end seemed kind of silly. Why would Luther think that locking Vanya up in a crazy isolation room that psychologically scarred her as a child is a good idea when she has a crazy power she can't control that waxes and wanes with her emotional state? None of the other characters think this is a good idea, but they just go along with it anyway?
That being said, why does Vanya completely lose it after being locked in there for like half a day, and having lost it why does she turn into a homicidal maniac? It's not like everyone with a troubled childhood goes around murdering randos the moment they feel powerful.
That being said, once Vanya does go off the rails, why does everyone continue listening to Luther? He literally makes the worst choice possible in like every situation.

Spoiler:

Speaking of Luther, why does everyone give his and Allison's creepy relationship a pass? Yes ok they're not related by blood, but they are crushing over each other super hard in the last couple of episodes and nobody bats an eye.
Also the scene in the final episode where Allison gets mad at Luther for having lost his virginity with the rave girl fell super flat for me--lady, you were literally married and have a child. Why are you getting all weird because your brother lost his virginity? And seriously, why are all of the other siblings chill with this?

Spoiler:

And finally, I never understood what the hell Leonard Peabody's motivation for trying to kill the group was. He wanted to have powers and be one of the group, but daddy Hargreaves tells him to get lost, a bunch of people laugh at him publicly, and then he murders his crappy dad and goes to jail for a while? How does that connect back to the rest of the Hargreaves kids at all? And accepting that he does want to murder them all, what the hell was his original plan? Continuously go through the trash until he found something that was somehow useful to him? How long had he been dumpster diving before he found the notebook with the info about Vanya?

I realize the source material is a comic so I'm meant to just accept some things at face value, but there was so much to nitpick here my viewing experience completely shifted to the "poke fun at everything" side of the spectrum.
That being said, we both found the overall story kind of intriguing and enjoyed the experience of making fun of the characters' choices, so we'll probably be watching the second season if/when it's released.

And accepting that he does want to murder them all, what the hell was his original plan? Continuously go through the trash until he found something that was somehow useful to him? How long had he been dumpster diving before he found the notebook with the info about Vanya?

He had been stalking them. He spotted Klaus dumping stuff out of the box and went fishing to see what he had dumped.

karmajay wrote:

I don't think Dolores is the same because I THINK she was a full manneqin before Hazel and Cha-Cha started firing at him in the store and it cut her in half.

I thought that too, but when you see her post-apocalypse she looks very similar to how she looks after she gets shot up.

It's probably not important, because the glass eye (and other things) definitely did get changed, but I thought it was interesting that they showed 5 bringing her back to the place where he found/will find her post-apocalypse.

Loved the first season. I found the characters Hazel and Klaus very enjoyable and their story arcs and evolution were my favorite.

Can't wait for the 2nd season.

In the post apocalyptic scene where Number 5 is pulling the wagon through different seasons, Dolores is indeed just the upper torso sitting in the wagon.

I'm glad it wants to get renewed, however obviously that hasnt' happened yet. Solid news to find out today after a busy morning packing.

EDIT: Nevermind the over-eager article.

Woo!

Wait, article updated. Number 5 actor says no renewal yet.

BadKen wrote:

Woo!

Wait, article updated. Number 5 actor says no renewal yet.

Which would make sense that they hadn't renewed it yet. Apparently Netflix gives shows a few months to determine if they should get renewal given how much activity has been going on for One Day at a Time.

I liked it. It played with superhero and dysfunctional family tropes in a way that I enjoyed. I am looking forward to more.

Finished watching this over the weekend. It grew on me a lot, especially Klaus--for the first few episodes, I felt he was kind of a lazy collection of "outrageous" tics, but he did develop much more thoughtfully.

It's funny how little of the plot I could recall, despite having read the two volumes of Umbrella Academy probably around 2010 or so.

Spoiler:

I remembered that Vanya was secretly special, I remembered the imagery of her and the white violin, I remembered that Luther had a gorilla body, and that's pretty much all I knew. I also remember something with the UA kids at the Eiffel Tower, which I think they obliquely referenced in dialog but we did not see.

I was surprised that the season did not end with a bit more finality, and I agree with some of WellAdjusted's criticisms about some of the decisions Vanya makes. But overall, this was fun.

Question that feels like it should be easier to answer than it is: what city is this set in? I'm sure it's filmed in Canada or something, but am I right that they never actually indicate where Reginald's mansion is located? NYC seems like a natural assumption, but visually it could be any reasonably large city. I think it's implied to be on the east coast (I believe there's talk of Allison's daughter being across the country in LA ), but I don't recall ever hearing or seeing an obvious reference to the location of the city.

I agree about Klaus. He ended up being by far my favorite character of the show, though he started out being my least favorite. I’m very interested to see more of his backstory and character depth in future seasons.

Whew. That cliffhanger woulda really pissed me off if there was no season 2.

Nice! I would have been so disappointed if it hadn't gotten renewed. I can handle waiting till Feb '20 too.

Yay! Very excited for this.

I'd love to see more Dark Horse stuff. The Sin City reboot is still in the works and so maybe we'll see that come to Netflix since Umbrella Academy had so much success.