I don’t know about any of you, but this editor had no idea that the second season of Netflix’s the Umbrella Academy was dropping this week. The Umbrella Academy, based on the comics by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, follows a group of 7 ‘siblings’ (it’s complicated) and their journey through space and time.
Each of the Hargreeves siblings has a different super power. Their mission is simple: to stop the impending apocalypse and save the world.
As easy as that might sound, they are constantly working against an organization known as the Commission, whose sole job it is to protect and maintain the proper timeline. In the Umbrella Academy, time is less than linear– think Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5. Episodes are constantly jumping back and forth in time, but luckily it’s fairly simple to follow.
The other complicating factor is that, in both seasons 1 and 2, the Hargreeves family seems to be the cause of impending doomsday. What’s the saying about people always ending up in the same situations? No matter where (or in this case, when) you go, there you are.
Not convinced you want to watch this binge-worthy Netflix original yet? The show features a star studded cast, including names such as Elliot Page (Juno, Inception, X-Men: DOFP), Kate Walsh (Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, 13 Reasons Why, the Perks of Being a Wallflower), and Mary J. Blige (9-time GRAMMY award winner, philanthropist, and decorated singer-songwriter).
In this editor’s humble opinion, however, the true star of the show is now 16-year old Aidan Gallagher. Cast as Five Hargreeves, or Number Five, at the ripe old age of 13, Gallagher’s performance is absolutely stellar. The nuance in this young actor’s performance seems to be one only acquired with time and seasoning. This makes Gallagher well suited for the role of Five, given that he is a 58-year old man trapped in his 13-year old body.
All of this said, you really have to watch it to see what all the hype is about. If not for the artfully-written story and incredible acting, give it a watch for it’s expertly-crafted and extremely ironic soundtrack. Filled with nostalgic hits and fantastic covers of well-known songs, I promise it doesn’t disappoint.
