In August, The Umbrella Academy earned the most points of any Netflix series ever within a month at 253. The points system, which was implemented in February of this year, tracks a show's daily, weekly, and monthly performance. The Umbrella Academy also holds the longest streak at number 1 of any scripted Netflix series in Netflix's Top 10 category, a spot that the series held for 15 days. Season two premiered at the end of July, and clearly, Netflix viewers ate it up.
At a glance, The Umbrella Academy sounds like it would appeal to a highly niche demographic. It's a deconstruction of common superhero and found family stories, based on a comic by Gerard Way, the lead singer of My Chemical Romance, an alternative rock and emo band. So why, in an era where traditional superhero stories and franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe are at the peak of their popularity, is The Umbrella Academy, a series that's deliberately different, also appealing to mainstream audiences?
The Writers Listened to the Fans
While season one did fairly well on Netflix when it debuted, it wasn't without criticism. Namely, the tone was incredibly dark, even for a deconstruction of the superhero genre, and the characters were often difficult to sympathize with, although the unique story was enough to keep some people interested.
Season two actively addressed these criticisms. It lightened the tone without sacrificing emotional moments or the compelling story, and the Hargreeves' sibling relationships felt much more organic. Also, Vanya was given a female love interest, providing the series with its second example of positive LGBTQ representation, something else that many viewers had requested. Another reviled romantic plotline was neatly scrapped.
Fans were ecstatic, and word spread, with many new fans sitting through season one in order to enjoy season two, which is everything a good sequel should be: an improvement of the original work that adds new stakes to the story.
Additional Twists
Plus, who doesn't love time travel shenanigans? Avengers: Endgame, one of if not the most popular superhero movies at this time, also made use of time travel, with some fans flocking to the internet to joke that members of the Umbrella Academy would have ended the world before Thanos could.
Time travel and hints of extraterrestrial mischief have ensured that season two ended on a phenomenal cliffhanger, and new and old fans alike are buzzing with speculation. The Umbrella Academy has earned its boost in reputation, and it's an excellent watch for those of us that love action, killer soundtracks, the subversion of superhero tropes, familial bonding, and positive LGBTQ representation.
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