By Kirsten Wheeler

August 13, 2020

On Jul. 31, Netflix released the highly anticipated second season of The Umbrella Academy, the hit show adapted from the comic series created by My Chemical Romance lead singer, Gerard Way and comic book writer Gabriel Bá. Having been cast out by her siblings for being the only one without powers her whole life, Vanya Hargreeves (Ellen Page) is out for revenge when Harold Jenkins (John Magaro) manipulates her into discovering her powers that she had all along and turns her against the rest of the academy. Losing control of her powers, Vanya brings about the end of the world. But just before everything goes up in flames, Five Hargreeves (Aidan Gallagher) manages to use his powers to travel the Umbrella Academy back in time in a thrilling conclusion to season one. Now, after waiting a year and a half, fans could finally find out where, and when, the superhero siblings end up, and the consequences that follow.

Season two starts off right where season one left off, with their time jump taking them to Dallas, TX. However, they get separated from one another, each landing in between the years 1960 and 1963. What follows is essentially the main plot of season one: Five finds out that the end of the world is coming in a few days (which is induced by their time traveling escape). He has to find the rest of his family to try and prevent the apocalypse before it’s too late. And meanwhile the Commission, the agency responsible for regulating Earth’s timeline, is on the hunt for the academy for their disruptions.

Despite what is essentially a new version of an old plot, the show avoids seeming repetitive as a result of the intricate subplots and history that are weaved into the story. Allison Hargreeves (Emmy Raver-Lampman) becomes a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Diego Hargreeves (David Castañeda) sets himself on a mission to save President John F. Kennedy from being assassinated. Luther Hargreeves (Tom Hopper) is hired by a member of the mafia to fight in an underground boxing ring. Klaus Hargreeves (Robert Sheehan) accidentally starts a cult. And Vanya completely forgets who she is when she gets hit by a car and lives with a family on a farm.

Season two also stands out for its development of the main characters. A prominent example is with Ben Hargreeves (Justin H. Min), who had died before the start of season one, but would sometimes appear on screen with Klaus, the only one who can still see and talk to him due to his power of communing with the dead. While in season one his main purpose was occasional, quick witted banter with Klaus, he had a lot more screen time in season two, in which viewers got to learn more about him and he even becomes a significant contributor in his living siblings’ mission to save the world. There is also a noticeable progression in the team’s superpowers, which often reveal themselves unexpectedly in action packed scenes, increasing the level of excitement.

As enthralling as the season is, it isn’t perfect. One thing that was missing in this season was personality in the assassins hired by the Commission in Pursuit of the Umbrella Academy. In season one we were given the menacing yet endearing duo Hazel (Cameron Britton) and Cha-Cha (Mary J. Blige) who had clashing personalities and a hilarious dynamic. You couldn’t help but love them despite being antagonists of the story. Yet in season two we are given the Swedes: three Swedish brothers who hardly say a word and hardly do much for that matter. While they do appear in combat with some of the Hargreeves, they do little to actually deter them from their mission and are overall not very memorable. But this loss is made up with Lila, the spunky sidekick and adopted daughter of the Handler (Kate Walsh) who is trying to take over the Commission.

Season two of The Umbrella Academy really takes the show to new heights, with overall improvement from the first season. It is a certified quarantine binger.