The Umbrella Academy season 4: the end of the world…an underwhelming ending

The newest season of The Umbrella Academy aired this year in August 2024, after enticing us all with a shiver-inducing trailer. The melodic nostalgia of My Chemical Romance’s ‘The End’, a fitting song, plays while some of the show’s best scenes are revealed in a typically confusing montage. As a long-time lover of the show, I was ecstatic to hear it was being given one final run to round off the cataclysmic dynamics between the beloved Hargreeves siblings, with the addition of Ben from a neighbouring timeline.  Unfortunately, the trailer seemed to overhype the entire season, promising us the same kooky and unique aesthetic from season one which wasn’t delivered.

From what I could understand about the plot, the siblings had finally settled into their new, normal lives when they were once again brought together on a rescue mission to save a girl called Jennifer. She is the one thing our cutesy yet deadly couple Gene and Jean are looking for to bring about what they have called the ‘Cleanse’. Gene and Jean have created a widespread community-turned-cult, which remembers other timelines and their other lives that were ultimately destroyed by the actions of the Umbrella Academy. In seeking to start the Cleanse they hope to erase all other universes apart from the one ‘true’ universe. All in all, a very complicated yet, if done well, promising plot.

Unfortunately, I felt as though the ending was lacklustre and unsatisfactory. Questions were left unanswered, such as the origins of Jennifer and the Squid (who was Reginald Hargreeve’s wife), why he allowed the ending to occur so nonchalantly, and how the children of Allison, Lila and Diego could exist after everyone else had ceased to do so. 

I believe that this season missed every mark that made The Umbrella Academy exciting and fun to begin with

Season four opted for a six-episode run, severing the series’ ritualistic adherence to a ten-episode season. It almost felt as if they didn’t have enough plot to create a full season. The story seemed to have many plot holes and didn’t truly make much sense, and because of how far apart seasons three and four were released, it made it hard to remember old faces and references from past episodes.

Despite my initial feeling of disappointment, I admit that there were some aspects of the show I appreciated. Ben, whose character has been overlooked from the beginning, is finally given attention. Although he was from the Sparrow Academy, belonging to a different timeline, fans were finally brought into the loop when it came to the burning question of ‘how did Ben die?’.

I also enjoyed how the character of Jennifer was introduced, as she was briefly hinted at in season one via the drawings in Ben’s room. It was a doomed romance from the very beginning, and we were none the wiser. I thought that the irony of Ben’s importance was perfect: he was the beginning and the end of everything – a bittersweet realisation. However, as much as I liked seeing such an interesting and mysterious character being given the development they deserve, I found that making him a world-ending monster was a strange way to welcome him as one of the family, and the Umbrella Academy. It was like we had just gotten to know him before he was taken away again.

I believe that this season missed every mark that made The Umbrella Academy exciting and fun to begin with: 

There’s only so many times one can find ‘Baby Shark’ funny

The soundtrack was neither memorable nor catchy, unlike the first season. Songs such as ‘Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tiffany and ‘Istanbul (Not Constantinople)’ by They Might Be Giants from season one became the defining songs that made people think of the show. The show also had a running theme of dancing. It was something that unified the family and brought a sense of togetherness, which we missed this season. Music can make or break a scene, and this season’s signature song got old too quickly. There’s only so many times one can find ‘Baby Shark’ funny.

Furthermore, while Ben saw greater character development, the show seemed to forget about the rest of Hargreeves. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was shocked into disbelief when Five, who’s only ever truly been interested in his job and a mannequin, suddenly becomes infatuated with his brother’s wife. I deemed this a complete dismantling of a complex character.

Five is independent but not by choice. He has lived half his life alone in the aftermath of an apocalypse, and as such has not been exposed to relationships or complex emotions surrounding romance with humans, hence his love for Dolores. But when Lila and Five are stuck together for a mere seven years, he suddenly has the urge to pursue a romantic relationship, with his brother’s wife of all people. He doesn’t even flinch when he briefly sees Dolores in one of the timelines he visits, something that the old Five would never have done.

This was an unnecessary and poorly written relationship; the two characters had no spark and if anything seemed like siblings themselves. The relationship added nothing except the fracturing of brotherly trust and seemed opportunistic since Five’s actor, Aiden Gallagher, is now 20 and can act in romantic scenes. I also didn’t appreciate how fickle this plotline made Lila appear, suddenly abandoning Diego for Five after everything he’s done for her. 

The ending was underwhelming and far too quick

Another character who suffered this season was Klaus, played Robert Sheehan. Not only did the show not include enough of him, despite being a typical fan favourite due to his dry humour, androgynous fashion sense, and ambiguous sexuality, but they once again put him through hell. While I appreciate the show’s attempt to blend comedy, tragedy, and action, sometimes they take it too far. It was a hard watch to see him dragged back into the world of the undead knowing he wanted to remain sober. Moreover, when his powers returned it resulted in his sexual exploitation by other characters. It seems like Klaus can never catch a break, collecting new trauma every season.

The ending was underwhelming and far too quick, with Ben and Jennifer’s joint monster destroying the world and the Umbrella Academy with it. Once it was revealed that they were the reason for the end, it was only a matter of waiting until they were saying their final goodbyes. And once the credits started to roll, I felt robbed. After years of waiting for the grand finale, we were given something mediocre.

The end was saved slightly by the metaphorical and bittersweet post-credit scene in which marigolds sprout from a tree in a park where Lila’s family and kids are playing with Claire. A final symbol of family, unity, and restoration. Despite this, many fans found themselves questioning the deaths of the characters, and uncovering handfuls of plot holes that make the whole show seem incomplete. Ultimately there is a difference between a story coming to an end, and a story no longer being told. Their story may have ceased to be told, but it doesn’t feel like we got to see it truly end.