The first season of The Umbrella Academy ended on a big cliff-hanger, but then you don’t really get much bigger than the end of the world. At the close of the season, Five manages to send them all back in time, mere seconds before the apocalypse occurs. However, as we have learnt from the first season, Five isn’t usually entirely successful when using his superpowers. Season two sees the team sent back to the 1960s but not as a collective. Instead, they are scattered throughout time. They all land in the same alley but each in a different year. This is an immediately gripping start to a season as right from the get-go we have an interesting dilemma already facing the group. Add to this that Five sees yet another end of the world happening in seven days, and it already feels like the stakes are very high a few minutes into the opening episode.
Season two comes out guns blazing, throwing a lot at the audience and a good majority of it works really well. The visuals are impressive with pulpy, arresting colours, stylish cinematography and snappy editing. It is based on a series of comic books and that is clear to see from the quirky and offbeat tone the show has gone for. It also has one of the best soundtracks to any TV show. There are only two or three song choices that I wasn’t so keen on but the rest are fantastic. Naturally, this time around there is a selection of classic hits from around the decade the season is set in. However, there is still an eclectic mix with some catchy modern tunes included as well.
It is one thing to have a good soundtrack in a show but to use it effectively for the scenes is another matter entirely. The Umbrella Academy excels in this regard, using songs that either compliment or juxtapose the subject of the sequence. It is combined with the stylish editing and jazzy post-production effects very seamlessly, creating a satisfying and enjoyable viewing experience. It also fits in well with the tone of the show, which is all about showcasing the weird and the wonderful.
Talking of the weird and wonderful, season two matches the first season in terms of strange, and possibly even exceeds it. This works both in the show’s favour and to its own detriment. For the most part, I enjoyed the bizarreness of season two, particularly all the time travel material and the deadpan Swedish hitmen. It gives the show an edge and unique tone, setting it apart from a myriad of generic superhero shows. At the same time, it does feel like season two goes a little overboard with the surreal, especially in the last few episodes.
The hallucination sequence involving Vanya is arguably very good, but some of the other weird scenes such as one with a younger Reginald Hargreaves don’t quite work. Additionally, I found the ending to the season a little weak, the choice of twist not having the desired impact or effect that I was hoping for. It is a dual-edge sword, as the various intersecting storylines and character arcs provide a nice level of variety and keep the content fresh. However, it can become a little too convoluted and multi-layered, losing some of the season’s core focus.
As I mentioned before the setup for season two is one of its best features, as having the team broken up once again provides a good level of drama. It is a running theme in the show, carrying over from season one which serves for great continuity. It is cliché but it isn’t noticeable because it is executed so well. Furthermore, there isn’t a weak individual storyline of any of the central characters. Some are more effective than others, Vanya’s and Alison’s standing out in particular, but they all invested and interested me deeply.
This is hugely important because when they do eventually join back up again, you feel a collective investment in the whole group. Even Ben gets a decent amount of attention, a character who could have been easily overlooked. The individual storylines are mainly about character development and study but there are underlying themes that add another layer to the season.
The show tackles racism, sexism, religion, the psychiatric care system, crime, and politics. Although each character deals with one of them separately, they become intrinsically linked as the season develops. Having President Kennedy at the heart of it isn’t exactly breaking new ground, as it has been explored multiple times before, but The Umbrella Academy incorporates it so effectively that it gets away it. Jumping back in time in a show is always fascinating anyway, seeing the cultural differences. The setting of the 1960s has the added benefit that it is at a time when so much was occurring, giving plenty of material for the viewers.
It is important to stress that season two of The Umbrella Academy isn’t all about tackling big, serious issues. As with season one, there are plenty of laughs to be had along the way and if anything, the second season ups the humour even more. Naturally, Klaus brings a lot of the comedy, aided by Robert Sheehan’s inspired performance and the fact that the majority of his storyline is hilarious.
Luther is another character that has some of the best lines of dialogue, complemented by a fantastic physical performance by Tom Hopper. He doesn’t always say a lot but conveys his feelings through his facial expressions and body language. These two characters stood out the most in terms of light relief but there are other great little moments of humour dotted throughout the season. As well as being hugely entertaining, it goes hand in hand with the offbeat, quirky tone while stopping the show from becoming too serious.
There isn’t a bad member of the cast and they all have great on-screen chemistry, which is a crucial factor given the premise. Robert Sheehan and Ellen Page were my favourites but everyone delivers a great performance throughout. There are also some brilliant supporting performances from Yusuf Gatewood, Marin Ireland and Kevin Rankin, who all shine in their respective roles.
The problem that the second season runs into is in regards to its pacing. The first four or five episodes are excellent, balancing the character’s individual storylines with the overall narrative successfully. However, there is a slight dip in the middle of the season that affects the natural flow and rhythm. The issue is that the characters become far too interested in their own problems, as opposed to the approaching threat of the apocalypse. Admittedly, the first time it is used it works well. Seeing Five becoming increasingly short-tempered and irate, as his attempts to assemble them all together is both funny and relatable.
However, it soon becomes a recurring theme. While it shows how dysfunctional they are as a group, providing continuity with their characters it does start to not make sense. They don’t seem to take the threat of an apocalypse seriously and although the characters are deliberately silly at times, it becomes ridiculous that they don’t try harder to prevent it from happening. Fortunately, it does pick up in the later episodes and although I wasn’t keen on the ending, there is plenty of action and drama to kick things back into gear.
Season two of The Umbrella Academy builds upon the foundations laid in the first season, continuing to develop its characters effectively and retaining its unique tone and offbeat style. The new storylines and settings provide a decent amount of fresh content that keeps the show exciting and interesting. The season shines most thanks to smooth camerawork, slick editing and an incredible soundtrack. It has some of the best action sequences and its pulpy, visceral presentation makes it feel like it has jumped straight off the pages of the original comic books. The characters are deeply investing and the selected cast deliver engaging and entertaining performances. The pace is a little off in places and some of the plot points and twists don’t quite work. Overall though it is a fairly strong season and one well worth a binge-watch.
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