Top 15 Moments from ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 2

The Umbrella Academy Season 2 takes the show to another level and a new time. The second season uses the first as a launchpad for elevated action sequences, bigger character-driven moments, and a whole lot of fun. 

Through the ups and downs that come with rewriting history, the Hargreeves family experiences more than a handful of memorable moments. Here are the top 15 moments, in chronological order, from The Umbrella Academy Season 2:

1. The 1963 Apocalypse (Season 2 Episode 1)

This is such an entertaining way to start the season.

This action sequence doubles as a plot device because it shows how each family member’s powers evolve over the years. It ignites enough confusion and suspense to keep viewers wondering how and why The Umbrella Academy is fighting Soviet forces.

It sees the family fighting alongside each other cohesively, which is rare for this group. While this opener is stressful for obvious reasons, it’s hopeful. It helps viewers believe the Hargreeves family can pull off the impossible together. 

It also has a great needle drop with Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” but great needle drops aren’t unusual on this show. 

2. Luther Apologizes to Vanya (Season 2 Episode 2)

This seems like a less significant moment amongst all the other major ones of Season 2, but this is a huge step for Luther. It’s a step towards mending his relationship with Vanya too.

Luther is known for putting too much pressure on himself. Reginald designating Luther Number 1 doesn’t help that much. Because of that, Reginald’s deep-seated manipulations are hard to shake.

Luther could have easily withheld his apology since Vanya couldn’t remember him. Instead, Luther takes responsibility for his mistakes. This marks a new beginning for Luther, one where he doesn’t let his father’s judgement cloud his conscience. 

3. It’s Like Yogurt (Season 2 Episode 2)

This moment is so special that it’s sealed with a pinky swear.

Diego brings some peace to Lila by telling her that sometimes things are impossible to understand, like yogurt. Diego’s vigilante lifestyle and The Umbrella Academy’s pacing don’t always lend themselves to quiet moments like one. In that sense, this is the calm before the storm.

Lila and Diego have quite the tumultuous relationship throughout Season 2. This is as pure as these two can be. It takes place before The Handler can pop their bubble. 

4. Allison Leads a Sit-In (Season 2 Episode 3) 

This is one of the most impactful moments of the season. It becomes even more so in retrospect. During a later episode, we learn that the women at Odessa’s take Allison in when she lands in the segregated 1960s. 

It is with Odessa’s support that Allison gets the votes she needs to lead the sit-in without Raymond. Allison knows how important this sit-in is with JFK’s visit happening on its heels. Allison could have used her powers to rumor everyone into moving forward with the sit-in, but she doesn’t have to do so.

It’s enough that Odessa sides with Allison in this moment. Sisterhood is enough.  

5. Paint (Season 2 Episode 3)

It’s a treat to see Klaus and Dave reunite in the 1960s.

The word “paint” will never sound the same again. Klaus and Dave transform paint into a new term of adoration. Some may argue that Klaus’s intervention in Dave’s past is selfish, others may argue in favor of its heroics.

Either way, it’s difficult to argue against this being one of the most memorable moments of the season. 

6. Vanya Saves Harlan (Season 2 Episode 4)

This is a huge moment for Vanya because it proves she can use her powers for good. Despite her father and her siblings believing otherwise, Vanya uses her powers to save lives rather than end them.

Moreover, it’s special because Harlan and Sissy are just as much Vanya’s family, if not more so thanks to her memory issues, as her siblings. Vanya fights for her family when she saves Harlan, and that sets a precedent for what’s to come.

7. Baby Pogo (Season 2 Episode 5)

It’s baby Pogo. What else is there to say?

He wears little pajamas, goes to space, and draws pictures. It’s an adorable montage that surely makes us hope there will be more Pogo, baby or otherwise, in a potential third season.

This doesn’t entirely make up for Pogo’s unfortunate death last season. It is a nice distraction from the chaos of the season, though. 

8. Family Reunion (Season 2 Episode 5)

Though this reunion happens later in the season than some us would have preferred, it meets expectations for what a reunion of the entire family would look like. The anticipation of the reunion pays off when your heart swells from seeing the siblings together again.

This moment captures so many details that make the scenes when they’re all together so fantastic, like Vanya and Allison’s bond and Five’s persistence of keeping everyone on track. It’s a brilliant way to set up a semi-united front before the dinner with their father.

9. Family Dinner (Season 2 Episode 6)

Earlier in the episode, Diego calms Luther’s nerves by renaming The Umbrella Academy “Team Zero,” where there aren’t any comparisons based on rank. It makes their reckoning with Reginald pack an even bigger punch because the siblings are on the same level for once.

Somehow, Reginald finds a way to tear them down without even knowing them. It’s heartbreaking and unfortunate.

Ultimately, they prove their father wrong by saving the world. They’re heroes, albeit unconventional ones, whether Reginald thinks so or not.

10. Vanya and Sissy Plan a Future (Season 2 Episode 7)

Vanya deserves an epic love story, and she finds that with Sissy Cooper.

It’s unfortunate that the rules of time travel ultimately keep them apart. The future they imagine with each other where they can run away from all the bigotry to a safe place is a utopia they’re never granted.

That sad reality doesn’t lessen the truly beautiful impact of this moment. Vanya always searches for love in any place she can find it, and that sentiment isn’t foreign to Sissy. They’ve found a missing piece of themselves in each other, and that’s what love should be.

11. The End of the Commission’s Board of Directors (Season 2 Episode 7)

The Umbrella Academy is no stranger to extremely graphic scenes. Five killing the entire Board of the Commission is a standout moment of this caliber. It’s paired with Tony Joe White’s “Polk Salad Annie,” which makes the moment even more amazing and, honestly, bizarre.

It’s a perfect reminder that Five is a skilled assassin and will go to great lengths to protect himself and his family.

12. Ben Possesses Klaus (Season 2 Episode 7)

The Umbrella Academy’s characters love to make jokes about Klaus’s powers, but this moment proves how useful they are. Not only that, but Ben gets to literally live through his brother and roll in the dirt with the love of his afterlife.

Plus, Diego shares a few minutes with Ben after believing it impossible. Klaus did lead his siblings to believe Ben didn’t follow them to Dallas, after all. Even when the world’s ending, those few minutes means everything. 

This proves that The Umbrella Academy doesn’t rely on super cool, action sequences. It’s also interested in telling compelling, character-driven stories.

13. Paradox Psychosis (Season 2 Episode 8)

The entire sequence where both Fives, portrayed by Aidan Gallagher and Sean Sullivan, is equally disturbing and hilarious.

Both Fives are so many steps deep into paradox psychosis that Luther has no option but to watch it all unfold. It’s a testament to both Gallagher and Sullivan’s ability to play Five so well.

Viewers and Luther believe they’re both Five despite him being in two different bodies.

14. The Rest Is Gravy (Season 2 Episode 9)

Ben finally going to the light after 17 years as a ghost is one of the most powerful moments from the series to date.

Though bittersweet, it’s a nice end to Ben’s arc since it’s all on Ben’s terms. He chooses to enter Vanya’s mind, an act that is otherwise believed to be impossible, to save her and subsequently save the world.

Ben’s final moments are spent in the arms of someone he loves who loves him back, and that’s impossible to overlook.

15. The Umbrella Academy vs The Commission (Season 2 Episode 10)

It’s only fitting to end this list with the final epic showdown of Season 2. The season leads us to believe an apocalyptic fight against the Soviets is in Hargreeves family’s future, but that doesn’t come to play.

Instead, the show delivers a massive sequence that includes hundreds, if not thousands, of people from the Commission, the Handler, and Lila.

It’s a massive feat that could have fallen flat but does the exact opposite. It’s impossible to look away from the action because it’s cool but also because there’s excellent character work woven into the punches. For example, Lila’s true identity is revealed during this scene.

Most importantly, this moment sees the siblings fight as a team to protect their family. And stop the apocalypse, of course. That is the biggest win of The Umbrella Academy Season 2.

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What were your favorite moments from The Umbrella Academy Season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Umbrella Academy Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

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