The Umbrella Academy season 4 mistreats Klaus – and that’s not all it gets wrong

As a devoted fan who has journeyed with The Umbrella Academy since its inception, I must confess that season four left me feeling a tad disappointed and somewhat heartbroken. Robert Sheehan’s performance as Klaus was nothing short of exceptional, but his character, along with others, deserved better than the hasty and chaotic plot development.

The Umbrella Academy season 4 spoilers below.

In simpler terms, “The Umbrella Academy” ends its run with season four, unfortunately not soaring as planned. Initially, it’s pleasant to find the Hargreeves siblings avoiding another catastrophic, apocalyptic predicament. Instead, they seem to be dealing with more everyday challenges.

Rather than witnessing them strive for a normal existence, we found ourselves observing their everyday lives, almost ordinary, yet filled with anticipation as we knew tranquility would not last forever.

The uncertainty about encountering turmoil freshened up the recurring pattern of apocalypse, rinse, and repeat. And even as troubles arose, the intrigue remained captivating.

As a devoted fan, I must say this diverse group of individuals, who once seemed fragmented and emotionally limited, grappling to find unity following a six-year leap, feels remarkably changed. Now, each member appears more grounded, operating independently yet steadily amidst their personal lives.

As you progress beyond the midpoint of the series, it becomes evident that the narrative contains inconsistencies and the concepts introduced lack adequate development due to time constraints. This is particularly noticeable in the character arc of Klaus (Robert Sheenhan), which unfortunately doesn’t come as a shock.

Throughout prior seasons, Klaus’s potential wasn’t fully utilized, and this pattern persisted all the way up to the final episodes.

It’s shockingly unfair that throughout all seasons, we haven’t fully witnessed this character’s immense power, even though we glimpsed it in brief instances. In season one, he united forces with ghost-Ben (Justin H Min), harnessing Ben’s abilities to vanquish villains, and again in season three when he found himself within the realm of the dead alongside Luther (Tom Hopper).

In season four, he had his final chance to showcase his talents, but instead, the series misused his exceptional abilities. They made him a tool for facilitating illicit activities like sex work, using his powers to bring back the deceased, with his body serving as the medium.

That was the most effective use of his gifts this season: ghost prostitution.

Instead of making light of the situation, it could have been more realistic if the series delved into the emotional turmoil and sorrow his predicament would cause. However, what we got was an attempt at humor, disregarding the gravity of the experience.

As a devoted fan, I found it astonishing to witness a shift in Klaus’ character this season. Contrary to the brief encounters and fleeting relationships of the “Hello-Goodbye” addict we first encountered in season one, he presented himself as an entirely different person this time around.

He remained pure, rehabilitated, and utterly dedicated to his sobriety until the program unwittingly triggered the influences that had initially led him to substance abuse.

The series’ haste is palpable in this scenario: they failed to develop Klaus to a stage where he could voluntarily embrace his gifts, allowing him the freedom to decide for himself about consuming substances, be it marigolds or other items.

It was impossible to handle the consequences properly following his power’s resurrection within just six episodes. These episodes instead heaped additional pain upon him, misused his abilities, and subjected his character to physical strain. The creators attempted to distract viewers by presenting humor, implying that they thought we would overlook these issues due to his comedic portrayal.

Robert Sheehan is truly outstanding, I must say. His portrayal of Klaus was extraordinary, filled with warmth and affection, yet it left us yearning for more depth for the character. Such a captivating role deserved an even richer narrative.

Lila (Ritu Arya) and Five’s (Aidan Gallagher) captivating relationship was unfortunately cut short due to the hurried pace of the season, as it turned out to be a compelling and emotional narrative.

At a quick look, it seems quite unsettling, evoking a sense of discomfort. Maybe it was the inescapable association of Five with his Umbrella Academy uniform combined with the mental image of Lila side by side, which creates an entirely new layer of unease.

Although he wasn’t the elderly man disguised in a young body we met in season one, he has since transformed into an even more aged individual stuck in a youthful frame. His spirit seems to complement Lila’s particularly well.

For seven years, I found myself inexplicably stuck alongside Five, thanks to the enigmatic subway that seemed to hold our return at bay. This unusual experience proved to be a delightful, heartwarming, and intriguing journey for me. As we navigated through this shared predicament, I witnessed aspects of both characters unfold that were far from ordinary.

I can’t help but feel disappointed that our favorite duo barely had a chance to explore their changed dynamics, having been abruptly pulled back into the heart of an impending apocalypse. The series failed to provide them enough room to navigate the complexities of their newly discovered emotions. As a gamer, I couldn’t help but wish for more episodes that delved deeper into their personal journeys amidst the chaos.

The depth of their characters in that plotline was diminished due to limited screen time given to Diego (David Castañeda) and Five, which hindered the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of their situation. Instead, their interactions frequently escalated into heated arguments and immature retaliations, even as the world teetered on the edge of oblivion. While this conflict was predictable, it restricted character development, preventing them from evolving and gaining a deeper understanding of each other, for better or worse.

In the chaos that followed the revelation of the truth, my conversation with Lila stood out as a precious gem. It was intense, uncomfortable, heart-wrenching, and despite the speed at which things unfolded leading up to the series finale, it provided me with a rare and poignant insight into who my wife truly is – a woman I barely knew after so many years.

Last season had a higher number of overlooked incidents due to the rush. Regrettably, Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) and Luther weren’t given much screen time. We didn’t catch even a whisper of new developments this season except for one instance where Allison used her mind control (without her signature catchphrase). Unfortunately, both Allison’s life and Luther’s character remained unremarkable, and they didn’t receive any significant character development.

Although Victor (Elliot Page) had an imperfect storyline this season, it was still one of the strongest among them.

As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but feel exhilarated when Viktor finally stood face-to-face with Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), the man who earned the title of the worst and most toxic father of the year. This long-awaited confrontation, reminiscent of a boiling pot since season one, was not only satisfying but also served as a monumental victory for a character who had been crushed by rejection and isolation. It was a moment of triumph that validated Viktor’s struggles and pain throughout the series.

Witnessing Viktor exude self-assuredness and confidence was quite a satisfying, full-circle moment. Unfortunately, it seemed to clash slightly with the flow of events depicted in the storyline.

It seemed like The Umbrella Academy had foreseen that Viktor deserved this particular plot point, yet struggled to weave it organically into the narrative at appropriate moments, resulting in its placement in the most practical spots rather than seamless ones.

It was more satisfying, I think, when Hargreeves ultimately validated and acknowledged Viktor’s worth. Even though Viktor no longer required his father’s approval to flourish, this moment seemed like part of the healing process for him.

Despite the overall flawed and immature feel of the series, Jean (Megan Mullally) and Gene (Nick Offerman) were simply outstanding. Their peculiar relationship and intensely intimate bond, which they portrayed as cult leaders, brought depth to their characters. The chemistry between Offerman and Mullally was undeniably enthralling, leaving viewers yearning for more of their on-screen presence. If you’re craving more of them, I recommend checking out Parks and Rec.

Unfortunately, if you’re hoping for a satisfying conclusion to a series with immense promise, you may find yourself feeling unsatisfied instead. While the actors were exceptional, the narrative fell short.

The central narrative involving Jennifer and Ben, which forms the basis of the story, was just as puzzling and unsatisfying as understanding why Hargeeves were always responsible for the end of the world, despite there being 35 other individuals with powers born on October 1st, who seemed to be exempt from this rule. However, Sheehan clarified during an interview with Digital Spy that there simply wasn’t enough space to delve into what happened to the other 35 individuals. The question of whether Jennifer and Ben needed to be sacrificed for the world to exist, or if they played a different role, remains unclear.

Truly unfortunate, as the current season was longing for additional real estate to conclusively end a show that initially captivated us with its charmingly eccentric portrayal of individuals with extraordinary powers.

The Umbrella Academy seasons 1-4 are available to stream now on Netflix.

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2024-08-08 14:19