The Umbrella Academy Review: Doomsday? More Like New Day (Season 2 Episodes 7-10)

In what may be the strongest TV finish of 2020, The Umbrella Academy wraps up all their loose ends and creates a new beginning nobody saw coming.

Going into this season we have low expectations of Vanya finding control of her angry/vengeful side. And yet, 1963 manages to mellow her out even when faced with uncontrolled disappointments.

The first half of this season really sets up a hopeful conclusion for Vanya which is why it’s disappointing for Diego to discover she is the trigger of doomsday. For once we are given a version of Vanya that people can believe in and can trust to not lose control only to have it seemingly ripped away.

Probably for the first time ever, Diego takes charge of what is probably the most surprising move ever. Normally, his reaction to Vanya being “the bomb” is anger and resentment but this time he fights tooth and nail alongside his siblings to save her.

What is supposed to be the trigger of doomsday, ends up simply killing a few agents and makes the Hargreeves family suspects for being Communists or Russian spies. Talk about the biggest 180 in history.

This is a great way of rewriting how we perceive Vanya from now on. 1963 mellows her out because this time around as she comes into her own she has the full love and support of her siblings.

Love truly does turn the tide. Ben’s love for Vanya is so great that he’s willing to give up his spiritual presence in order to save her — basically he sacrifices his life for hers.

The scene where they hug is hands down the saddest TV moment this year. Ben may have been dead this whole time but it never feels that way because of his connection to Klaus. For him to be officially gone is just too hard to handle.

If you need any more proof that Vanya is a changed person, you need only look at the final battle of the season. This is the moment she is seen as more than just a monster by the family she’s been so desperate to gain the respect of since Season 1.

If Season 1 is Vanya’s devolution then Season 2 is her redemption and evolution.

As I said before, 1963 is the best thing to happen to the Hargreeves family. They become an actual family in 1963 looking out for each other because they care not because they feel obligated.

Five got some harsh criticisms from me in the first two reviews of Season 2, but he sure made a believer out of me through his actions throughout the final 4 episodes.

Five’s evolution toward the center — not too selfish but also not 100% selfless — is worthy of even my praise. While he never gives up on his quest to get the family back to 2019 his motives do alter ever so slightly.

During the final battle, he could’ve time-traveled back a few seconds just to gain access to a briefcase and called the loss of his family a wash — something that isn’t too hard to fathom especially if it means getting one over on The Handler.

Instead, he uses his powers to travel back in time just enough to save each of his siblings by getting the drop on The Handler before she can get the drop on them.

On top of that, he is all about supporting Diego’s decision to allow Lila to join their family. That is character development at its finest.

In the review of The Umbrella Academy Season 2 Episodes 4-6, I mention that I felt the partnership between The Handler and Five would devolve into a game of double-crossing and backstabbing. While that assessment isn’t too far off the mark, it’s interesting to note who did more of the backstabbing.

It starts with The Handler going back on their deal of getting the Hargreeves back to 2019 by putting a time limit on the briefcase and doesn’t end until Five bends time and makes sure her actions to kill the whole family in the quest of power don’t come to fruition.

This shows the difference between the two because ultimately Five wouldn’t go back on a deal unless the original deal is harmful to his family — The Handler doesn’t care about anyone but herself.

While The Handler has always been about control, it’s unexpected that she would fall into the hunger of power so deeply. She could’ve easily made the Hargreeves siblings her friends instead of her enemies and maybe things would’ve worked out a little differently for her.

After all, Herb never hated any of the siblings he came in contact with — Five and Diego — and that works in their favor in the long run.

Without Herb’s friendship with Diego it’s quite possible the siblings may have never gained access to a briefcase to travel home.

I just feel awful that Lila went all this time not really knowing who she is or what her mother (The Handler) was really like. It seems as though every timeline is going to have a version of Season 1 Vanya, broken and confused about who they really are all because the parent they trusted lied to them.

It begs to question, in the end, is Lila better off dead or does she deserve to be a part of a family like the Hargreeves? That’s a tough question to answer because while everyone deserves a second chance, is Lila the type of person who can put aside years of tutelage under The Handler?

Ultimately, the answer is probably not. All of that is hardwired into her brain.

The Umbrella Academy is phenomenal at making us look at our relationships and decide if our actions are hurting someone else. Much like Vanya for most of her life or Ben and his connection to Klaus or even Lila and her mother.

All of these are good examples of how what we believe is doing the right thing may cause long term harm. The siblings thought they were doing the right thing by excluding Vanya but in the end, it tore them all apart — especially Vanya.

Ben thought he was doing the right thing by avoiding his final fate and latching himself to Klaus, but look at all Klaus suffers as a result. That’s why he ultimately could sacrifice his “life” for Vanya because he knew he isn’t just saving her he is also saving Klaus.

In the end, Allison is right. Their time in 1963 made them different people — better more compassionate people.

Further Thoughts:

• How did their actions in 1963 alter the timeline so drastically that in 2019 they aren’t Reginald’s children anymore, and it’s not The Umbrella Academy but The Sparrow Academy?
• I wasn’t really expecting Lila’s double-cross of sorts when she took Diego preventing him from reaching the portal in time.
• Can we discuss how Harlon continues to have special abilities even after Vanya takes away whatever part of her powers she gave him? That is so sweet and makes me smile a little.
• Luther and Allison shippers RISE!!!!! Luther was able to bring Allison back to life by kissing her!!!
• Poor Elliott he deserved so much better! I will constantly lament about that because it’s so devastating.
• I’m curious to find out if Klaus will have an easier time of staying sober now that he knows he wasn’t at fault for Ben sticking around for so many years.

What did you think of these episodes of The Umbrella Academy? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And be sure to catch up on our review of The Umbrella Academy Season 2 Episodes 4-6 right here!

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The Umbrella Academy is currently streaming on Netflix.

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