Riccardo 
The fourth and final season of Netflix’s hit superhero series “The Umbrella Academy” has arrived, bringing the Hargreeves siblings’ chaotic journey to a close. While fans eagerly anticipated this last installment, the question remains: Was this season truly necessary, or simply an exercise in fan service?
A Truncated Farewell
Season 4 of “The Umbrella Academy” consists of just six episodes, a significant reduction from the usual ten-episode format of previous seasons. This shortened run immediately raises concerns about pacing and character development. With less time to wrap up complex storylines and character arcs, the season risks feeling rushed and incomplete.
Familiar Faces in New Situations
The season picks up six years after the events of Season 3, with the Hargreeves siblings living powerless lives in a new timeline. We find:
- Diego (David Castañeda) working as a postman and struggling to provide for his family
- Viktor (Elliot Page) bartending
- Luther (Tom Hopper) attempting a career as a stripper
- Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) pursuing acting
- Klaus (Robert Sheehan) living a sober life
- Ben (Justin H. Min) recently released from prison
- Five (Aidan Gallagher) working undercover for the CIA
While it’s interesting to see these characters in mundane situations, this setup feels like a rehash of previous “fish out of water” scenarios the show has explored before.
The Return of Powers and Apocalyptic Threats
Predictably, it doesn’t take long for the siblings to regain their powers and face yet another world-ending threat. This quick return to the status quo feels like a missed opportunity to explore the characters without their abilities for a more extended period.
New Villains, Familiar Dynamics
The introduction of The Keepers, a conspiracy theorist group led by Gene and Jean Thibedeau (played by real-life couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally), adds some fresh energy to the series. However, the overall dynamic of the Hargreeves facing a new apocalyptic threat feels all too familiar at this point.
Unresolved Mysteries and Fan Service
Season 4 attempts to tie up loose ends and answer long-standing questions, such as the circumstances of Ben’s death in the original timeline. While these revelations may satisfy curious fans, they sometimes feel forced or anticlimactic after years of buildup.
Character Development vs. Plot Progression
With only six episodes, the season struggles to balance character development with advancing the plot. Some characters, like Viktor, receive meaningful arcs and dialogue. Others, however, feel shortchanged or reduced to caricatures of their former selves.
Nostalgia and Greatest Hits
The final season leans heavily into nostalgia, referencing previous seasons and the original comics. While this approach may please longtime fans, it can feel exclusionary to casual viewers and doesn’t necessarily contribute to a strong, cohesive narrative.
The Bittersweet Ending
The series finale attempts to provide closure for the Hargreeves family and their tumultuous journey. While emotional and potentially satisfying for some viewers, the ending’s effectiveness is somewhat undermined by the rushed nature of the season as a whole.
Was Season 4 Necessary?
Examining the fourth season of “The Umbrella Academy,” it’s difficult to argue that it was strictly necessary from a storytelling perspective. The show had already explored multiple apocalypses, time travel scenarios, and alternate timelines. Season 3 could have served as a natural endpoint, with the siblings losing their powers and adjusting to a new reality.However, the desire to provide fans with a proper conclusion and tie up loose ends likely drove the decision to produce a final season. In this sense, Season 4 functions primarily as an extended epilogue and love letter to the show’s dedicated fanbase.
The Pros of Season 4
Despite its shortcomings, the final season of “The Umbrella Academy” does offer some positive elements:
- Closure for long-time fans
- Answers to lingering questions about the Hargreeves’ past
- Strong performances from the ensemble cast
- Entertaining new villains in Gene and Jean Thibedeau
- A chance to say goodbye to beloved characters
The Cons of Season 4
However, the season’s flaws are significant:
- Rushed pacing due to the shortened episode count
- Rehashing of familiar plot elements and character dynamics
- Uneven character development
- Over-reliance on nostalgia and fan service
- Missed opportunities to explore new narrative directions
The Legacy of The Umbrella Academy
As the series comes to a close, it’s worth considering the overall impact and legacy of “The Umbrella Academy.” The show has been praised for its quirky tone, strong ensemble cast, and willingness to embrace the absurd elements of its comic book source material. It has also been noted for its diverse representation and exploration of family dynamics.However, the series has faced criticism for its convoluted plots, reliance on apocalyptic scenarios, and sometimes uneven pacing. The final season, while attempting to address some of these issues, ultimately reinforces many of the show’s strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion: A Farewell to the Hargreeves
In the end, “The Umbrella Academy” Season 4 feels like a victory lap for a series that has cultivated a dedicated fanbase over its run. While it may not have been strictly necessary from a narrative standpoint, it provides an opportunity for fans to spend a little more time with characters they’ve grown to love.The shortened season and focus on fan service result in a finale that may satisfy die-hard fans but could leave casual viewers feeling underwhelmed. As with many long-running series, the challenge of crafting a satisfying conclusion proves difficult to overcome fully.Despite its flaws, “The Umbrella Academy” has left an indelible mark on the superhero genre, offering a unique blend of dysfunctional family drama, time-travel hijinks, and apocalyptic stakes. While Season 4 may not reach the heights of earlier installments, it serves as a fitting, if imperfect, farewell to the Hargreeves siblings and their chaotic world.As we bid goodbye to “The Umbrella Academy,” fans can take solace in the knowledge that, much like the show’s characters, the series has weathered its share of ups and downs, ultimately delivering a memorable and offbeat addition to the superhero television landscape.
