Historically, TV shows that run out of material from their source often struggle. “The Umbrella Academy” has faced this challenge, especially in its fourth season. This season, moving beyond the introduction of the Sparrows, loses much of the charm from Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s original comics.
Season 4 starts with a six-year jump in time. The Hargreeves are now without their powers and adjusting to normal life. Viktor (Elliot Page) is happily running a bar in Canada, dating various women, while the rest of the Umbrella Academy isn’t doing so well.
A new group called The Keepers, led by Nick Offerman’s Gene and Megan Mullally’s Jean Thibedeau, believes they are in the wrong timeline and that a major “cleanse” is coming.
The problem with Season 4 is that it might have worked better as Season 2 or if more seasons were planned. As a finale, it offers very little closure. Instead of bringing the characters together, it separates them into odd pairings, forgets past events, and feels disjointed.
Season 4 of “The Umbrella Academy” Ignores Everything That Came Before
The actors’ chemistry helps, but it isn’t enough to make up for the lack of a cohesive story. Despite the cast’s charm, the final season struggles with fewer episodes and fails to deliver a satisfying ending.
In a final season, you’d expect the show to resolve lingering plots and bring the story together, possibly with some nostalgia and reunions. However, Season 4 is the least cohesive of the series. It introduces new pairings and sidelines or isolates other characters rather than revisiting old bonds.
The show seems to ignore significant events from previous seasons. For instance, Reginald (Colm Feore) turned against the Hargreeves to resurrect his wife Abigail (Liisa Repo-Martell). Luther (Tom Hopper) lost his wife Sloane (Genesis Rodriguez) when the universe reset.
Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) betrayed her family to get her daughter Claire and husband Ray (Yusuf Gatewood) back. The new season either forgets these events or tries to rewrite character dynamics, which weakens the story and forces it to start anew.
Season 3 ended with Ben (Justin Min) on a train in South Korea, hinting at future events. Season 4, however, ignores this hint. Instead, Ben is seen getting out of prison for a crypto scheme. The show never revisits the train or this version of Ben, making it seem like an abandoned plot thread.
Another confusing change is how Season 4 rewrites character dynamics. Allison, who was close to Luther and Viktor, is now paired with Klaus (Robert Sheehan), presenting a deep emotional connection that feels forced. The season ignores previously established relationships and creates new ones without proper buildup.
Season 4 also misses the chance to address the Hargreeves’ relationship with their father. Instead of facing him in an important way, Reginald Hargreeves is pushed to the sidelines and is suggested to be a good person without any substantial reason.
The Umbrella Academy’s strength has been its chaotic yet fitting story. While earlier seasons were strong, Season 4 feels off-track.
It doesn’t revisit important ideas like the Commission or focus on the family’s conflict with their father. Instead, it shifts to a new plot involving The Keepers, making the story feel disjointed. The characters who once had deep, interesting relationships are now paired in ways that feel forced.
Season 4 of “The Umbrella Academy” highlights that when the focus moves away from the Hargreeves, the story struggles to hold together.
