The Umbrella Academy Season 4: 8 Major Problems With The Series’ Finale

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As a dedicated fan who has been following The Umbrella Academy since its inception, I must say that the final season was a bitter pill to swallow. Having invested countless hours into the series, I expected a satisfying conclusion that tied up loose ends and provided closure for the characters we’ve grown to love. However, it seems that the writers had other plans.

The Umbrella Academy, a Netflix series, ended on a disappointing note due to numerous narrative problems in its final season. The series, which had been expected to end with a satisfying conclusion, was largely weakened by the decision to reduce the episode count to six instead of the standard 10. The lack of payoffs for established threads weakened the ending and aspects of seasons 1-3. The series’ inability to stick to its landing was disappointing, as it was one of the few Netflix original series to finish its story, which was undercut by season 4’s numerous problems.

1. The Hargreeves siblings’ deaths

In a heart-wrenching twist that left me reeling, The Umbrella Academy’s finale saw the Hargreeves selflessly giving up their lives to mend the fractured timelines and prevent apocalypses. However, in hindsight, this noble sacrifice seems to rob the series of its purpose, for their actions inadvertently shattered the universe they had fought so hard to save, tainting their past triumphs with an emptiness that echoes through every victory, leaving me with a sense of hollow fulfillment.

In simpler terms, the extra seasons of the series seem unneeded because they delay revealing the truth about the Hargreeves’ actions and personal lives. This delay causes much of what happened in earlier seasons to be forgotten in the rewritten timeline. Eventually, Five and his siblings figured out the truth and made sacrifices, which adds to a feeling that these additional seasons were unnecessary.

2. Lila and Five’s romance

In Season 4, the storyline focused on an unforeseen romance between characters Five and Lila, who found themselves stranded in a multidimensional subway system for seven years. Their earlier bond was more like that of siblings, so the sudden romantic turn seemed abrupt. The progression of their relationship was primarily depicted through a sequence of scenes, which didn’t make the plot twist feel as organic or well-developed.

In simpler terms, the interdimensional train played a significant role in the climax of the series and Five’s understanding of his and the Hargreeves family’s requirements. Yet, the relationship between Five and Lila introduced unnecessary tension, which negatively impacted their character development and diverted focus from storylines that required more emphasis in the last season.

3. Klaus never learned how the original Ben died

Through the Jennifer Incident, The Umbrella Academy discovered that their original member Ben had passed away. However, Klaus was absent during this event and thus remained unaware of the truth about Ben’s death before his siblings were erased from existence. Interestingly, Klaus shared a stronger bond with Ben compared to his siblings, as they only experienced him as a child, while he interacted with an adult ghost version of Ben for many years.

In the fourth season, rather than discovering the actual circumstances surrounding Ben’s demise, Klaus found himself preoccupied with settling debts for Quinn, attempting to free himself from her grasp, and even struggling against confinement within a coffin. It would have added authenticity to his self-sacrificing act at the end of the season if the rest of the Hargreeves siblings had revealed the truth about Ben’s death to him earlier.

4. The Abigail Hargreeves twist

In the fourth season of the series, Abigail Hargreeves, disguised as Sy Grossman, initiated a catastrophic finale to reset the primary timeline. However, this surprising turn of events was not fully realized due to Abigail’s limited screen time and insufficient character development, making her deception and betrayal less poignant for both the audience and other characters.

1. It might have been more effective if Abigail had appeared more often in season 4 or throughout the series, as her secret manipulation and its repercussions could have been explored more deeply. Unfortunately, Reginald’s revelation only added to the confusion. The Hargreeves siblings were unaware of Sy Grossman’s true identity, and their connection with Reginald remained incomplete, which weakened the emotional resonance of their final scene on the bench.

5. Ben’s season 3 mid-credits scene was never addressed

In the final episode of The Umbrella Academy’s third season, there was a post-credit scene showing a sharp-looking Ben traveling by subway, sporting glasses and engrossed in a book. This brief glimpse was a hint for Ben’s future storyline in season 4, but that thread didn’t continue in the fourth season. The reason behind this scene being added at the end of season 3, as well as its intended purpose, remains puzzling.

In season 4, Ben’s mode of public transportation differed significantly from the multiverse subway system used by Five and Lila over seven years. Although the mid-credits scene might have hinted at this, it could be confusing because Ben had no prior experience with the subway. The show, renowned for its uniqueness, unfortunately stumbled into a common trap by including a credits scene suggesting something that ultimately didn’t materialize in the series.

6. Sloane’s fate was never revealed 

Sloane, a member of the Sparrow Academy and married to Luther, was never revealed in season 4. Despite being with the Hargreeves in Reginald’s reset timeline, she was ignored in the final episodes. This lack of resolution made season 3 and her relationship with Luther feel meaningless. Luther’s Umbrella Academy season 4 story suffered from her absence, as giving up on finding Sloane seemed inconsistent with his determination. Sloane’s memory was wiped from existence in the end, but her fate should have been clearly addressed before this.

7. The Umbrella Academy’s ending felt rushed

The last season of The Umbrella Academy struggled with a fast-moving plot because there were fewer episodes, leading to incomplete story arcs and insufficient time for character development. Important characters like Jennifer, Dr. Gene Thibedeau, and Dr. Jean Thibedeau did not receive enough attention, making it challenging for viewers to connect emotionally with their stories or care about their outcomes.

In order to adequately portray the Hargreeves’ voyage, The Umbrella Academy season 4 required a traditional span of ten episodes. These episodes would encompass demonstrations of their powers, the rescue of Jennifer, and their own individual escapades. Extra episodes could have been utilized to address other plot points and thereby create a more intricate narrative.

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2024-08-19 10:53