In The Umbrella Academy, we’ve come to understand Marigold as the source of the Hargreeves’ powers. Season 4 explores Marigold more deeply and introduces its counterpart, Durango.
This season explains how these mystical elements were created and their impact, including the twisted multiverse and the Cleanse that everyone feared during the final season of The Umbrella Academy.
Marigold and Durango Can Cause the Cleanse
Marigold is described as the essence of the universe and the source of the Hargreeves’ powers. In Season 1, Marigold appeared as tiny golden particles that briefly touched their mothers, resulting in super-powered children.
In Season 4, it is shown as a powerful golden elixir, which Ben (Justin H. Min) tricks the group into drinking. Showrunner Steve Blackman tells THR that this concentrated shot was like an overdose, causing a severe and unpredictable reaction in the Hargreeves.
Season 4 also reveals that Abigail Hargreeves (Liisa Repo-Martell) created Marigold. This creation shattered the original timeline, creating alternate timelines in the multiverse and leading to the formation of Durango, Marigold’s counterpart.
The two elements balance each other, so when Marigold was released into the universe and into the mothers, Durango was released in the same way. It is shown that if Marigold and Durango came into contact, it would cause an extinction-level event called the Cleanse. The Cleanse doesn’t just destroy the world; it wipes out all alternate timelines, leaving only the original universe.
What Is The Jennifer Incident?
Ben Hargreeve’s death from the first season has always been a mystery, even to the Hargreeves siblings, who were misled about the cause. Season 4 reveals their memories with the help of Reginald (Colme Feore) and shows a flashback to a mission in their younger years.
Reginald had ordered them to seize a weapons shipment but told them not to look inside. Young Ben opens the container and finds Jennifer (Victoria Sawal) inside and helps her out.
Jennifer had Durango in her body, so their contact began the Cleanse process. Reginald stops this by shooting both of them in the back of the head, leading to the “Jennifer incident.” This incident is why Ben is drawn to Jennifer in Season 4, and their contact during a car accident restarts the Cleanse.
In this timeline, the Hargreeves and Reginald cannot stop the Cleanse in time. Five (Aidan Gallagher) realizes the benefits of the event and persuades the other siblings to give up their Marigold to restore the original universe and save the world one last time.
Why Are Marigold Flowers in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Post-Credit Scene?
After the emotional farewell to the superheroes, The Umbrella Academy ends with a serene scene of the original timeline, where Marigold and Durango are gone, and no apocalyptic threat remains.
As the camera shows familiar faces now living normal lives, Reginald’s voice says, “On the twelfth hour of the eighth day of August 2024, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary occurred. You might say, it was just a normal day.” But was it?
The series finale includes a post-credits scene with eight vibrant marigold flowers blooming at the base of a tree, with golden specks around the petals. This might hint at a sequel or spin-off, suggesting Marigold may return to the original timeline.
It could also symbolize the eight Hargreeves siblings, serving as a symbolic farewell. Despite being erased from history, the Hargreeves family seems to be alright, leading back to Allison’s (Emmy Raver-Lampman) poignant words, “maybe we’ll see each other again.”
The Umbrella Academy is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
