screenshot by K. Reyes courtesy of: tinyurl.com/yfgjkgdh
Bibliographic Information:
- Title: The Umbrella Academy
- Season 1. E.1 ~ First Episode title: We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals
- Created for television by: Steve Blackman
- Director: Peter Hoar
- Writers: Jeremy Slater; based on Dark Horse comic created by by Gerard Way & Gabriel Bá
- Release Date: February 15, 2019
- Distributed by: Netflix
- Running time: 57 minutes
Genre [Format]:
- Fantasy, Drama, Science Fiction, Black Comedy, Action, Adventure [Television Series]
Awards or Honor:
Nominated for 2 primetime Emmys +Winner of IGN People’s Choice Award Best TV Comic Book Adaptation +multiple nominations.
Interest Level:
Teens - adults. Common Sense media reports that adults say this is appropriate for the 14 and older crowd but the kids say it’s appropriate for 12 and older (The Umbrella Academy - TV Review, 2019).
Nominated for 2 primetime Emmys +Winner of IGN People’s Choice Award Best TV Comic Book Adaptation +multiple nominations.
Interest Level:
Teens - adults. Common Sense media reports that adults say this is appropriate for the 14 and older crowd but the kids say it’s appropriate for 12 and older (The Umbrella Academy - TV Review, 2019).
Plot Summary:
Seven babies, all born on the same day under strange circumstances (mothers who became pregnant and delivered within the day), are adopted by an eccentric billionaire named Reginald Hargreeves. He claims to have gathered them so they can save the world. To help him rear the children, he created a life-like 1950s housewife robot to be their mother. Hargreaves gives each child a number; but, their “mother” actually names each child: 1, Luther; 2, Diego; 3, Allison; 4, Klaus; 5 just five; 6, Ben; 7, Vanya. Each child has superpowers unique to them except for Vanya who is told from the time she can remember that she has no power. Instead, as an adult, Vanya writes a tell all novel that reveals everyone in the family’s superpower. Together the first six characters become members of the Umbrella Academy, sibling superheroes saving the world.
Then they grow up. Luther is sent to the moon on a mission by his father, Diego becomes a renegade crime fighter, Allison becomes a famous movie star, Klaus falls into a drug addicted haze most of the times, Five uses his power to time travel and ends up disappearing for several years, Ben dies in an earlier mission, and Vanya writes her novel and plays the violin in the symphony. All the kids have psychological issues that can be traced back to their upbringing and their emotional baggage must be dealt with when they meet up in their old home to pay their last respects to the recently deceased Sir Hargreeves, their father and founder of the Umbrella Academy.
Seven babies, all born on the same day under strange circumstances (mothers who became pregnant and delivered within the day), are adopted by an eccentric billionaire named Reginald Hargreeves. He claims to have gathered them so they can save the world. To help him rear the children, he created a life-like 1950s housewife robot to be their mother. Hargreaves gives each child a number; but, their “mother” actually names each child: 1, Luther; 2, Diego; 3, Allison; 4, Klaus; 5 just five; 6, Ben; 7, Vanya. Each child has superpowers unique to them except for Vanya who is told from the time she can remember that she has no power. Instead, as an adult, Vanya writes a tell all novel that reveals everyone in the family’s superpower. Together the first six characters become members of the Umbrella Academy, sibling superheroes saving the world.
Then they grow up. Luther is sent to the moon on a mission by his father, Diego becomes a renegade crime fighter, Allison becomes a famous movie star, Klaus falls into a drug addicted haze most of the times, Five uses his power to time travel and ends up disappearing for several years, Ben dies in an earlier mission, and Vanya writes her novel and plays the violin in the symphony. All the kids have psychological issues that can be traced back to their upbringing and their emotional baggage must be dealt with when they meet up in their old home to pay their last respects to the recently deceased Sir Hargreeves, their father and founder of the Umbrella Academy.
Author Background:
Writer Gerard Way is actually also a singer and songwriter for a rockband called My Chemical Romance (Lavender, 2019). He created the comic series of the same title which became the basis for the Netflix show that began its first season in 2019 and is now starting its third season. Gabriel Bá is a Brazilian comic book artist who is best known for drawing The Umbrella Academy (Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá’s blog, n.d.). He has a twin brother who is also a renown comic book artist.
Writer Gerard Way is actually also a singer and songwriter for a rockband called My Chemical Romance (Lavender, 2019). He created the comic series of the same title which became the basis for the Netflix show that began its first season in 2019 and is now starting its third season. Gabriel Bá is a Brazilian comic book artist who is best known for drawing The Umbrella Academy (Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá’s blog, n.d.). He has a twin brother who is also a renown comic book artist.
Critical Evaluation :
This show is addictive. Every character, from their eccentric father to Pogo, their faithful simian servant has depth and layer that must be peeled. Thus the viewer remains vested in their well-being. The children, in particular, were cast so well. Knowing that this is based on a graphic novel, piques my interest in reading the actual books. The cast of The Umbrella Academy have such good chemistry that one is transported to their fantastical world and gets invested in their dysfunctional familial interactions. Sometimes I even find myself rooting for one dysfunctional brother over another and often can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situations they find themselves in. The dialogue is especially sharp and witty, especially that involving Klaus who has the power to speak with the dead but whose fear of doing so has pushed him to use illicit drugs to keep the voices and conversations at bay. Klaus is known for saying wildly inappropriate things that are delivered in a deadpan manner catching one off guard. Other darkly humorous characters are the two assassins, Cha Cha and Hazel, who time travel for their assignments. Hazel discovers jelly-filled doughnuts and uses it as his comfort food after a few failed murderous attempts.
There are many scenes of graphic violence, unavoidable since the show deals with time travel into the post-apocalyptic world, lots of gun violence, blood, and gore. Klaus delivers much of the sexual innuendo that would be wildly inappropriate for a younger audience but absolutely hilarious and clever for a more mature audience. There are heart-rending moments involving the death of loved ones in later episodes that are dealt with care and tenderness adding so much depth to the series as a whole.
This show is addictive. Every character, from their eccentric father to Pogo, their faithful simian servant has depth and layer that must be peeled. Thus the viewer remains vested in their well-being. The children, in particular, were cast so well. Knowing that this is based on a graphic novel, piques my interest in reading the actual books. The cast of The Umbrella Academy have such good chemistry that one is transported to their fantastical world and gets invested in their dysfunctional familial interactions. Sometimes I even find myself rooting for one dysfunctional brother over another and often can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situations they find themselves in. The dialogue is especially sharp and witty, especially that involving Klaus who has the power to speak with the dead but whose fear of doing so has pushed him to use illicit drugs to keep the voices and conversations at bay. Klaus is known for saying wildly inappropriate things that are delivered in a deadpan manner catching one off guard. Other darkly humorous characters are the two assassins, Cha Cha and Hazel, who time travel for their assignments. Hazel discovers jelly-filled doughnuts and uses it as his comfort food after a few failed murderous attempts.
There are many scenes of graphic violence, unavoidable since the show deals with time travel into the post-apocalyptic world, lots of gun violence, blood, and gore. Klaus delivers much of the sexual innuendo that would be wildly inappropriate for a younger audience but absolutely hilarious and clever for a more mature audience. There are heart-rending moments involving the death of loved ones in later episodes that are dealt with care and tenderness adding so much depth to the series as a whole.
Creative Use for a Library Program:
Because of the graphic violence, this would not be a show appropriate for the younger teens. However, it would be fun to host a movie night during a weekend, especially at the end of each quarter as a celebration (once the pandemic allows us to gather!). Graphic novels are very popular with the students so this series is now on my purchasing list.
Because of the graphic violence, this would not be a show appropriate for the younger teens. However, it would be fun to host a movie night during a weekend, especially at the end of each quarter as a celebration (once the pandemic allows us to gather!). Graphic novels are very popular with the students so this series is now on my purchasing list.
Short TV Teaser:
Seven siblings with unusual superpowers must harness their powers to prevent the apocalypse. But first, they have to settle some old familial grudges and hurts and try to get past their unusual and psychologically damaging and dysfunctional family relationship. And they have to figure out how to do this without destroying each other. There’s a sibling here you’ll want to root for and you will laugh and cry at the same time at the absurdity and dark humor of their interactions and their misadventures.
Seven siblings with unusual superpowers must harness their powers to prevent the apocalypse. But first, they have to settle some old familial grudges and hurts and try to get past their unusual and psychologically damaging and dysfunctional family relationship. And they have to figure out how to do this without destroying each other. There’s a sibling here you’ll want to root for and you will laugh and cry at the same time at the absurdity and dark humor of their interactions and their misadventures.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
Parents who have sheltered their children from television and the internet will be shocked by the graphic violence, building explosions, mass shootings and building explosions. They may also be opposed to later episodes where we discover that Klaus is gay and has fallen in love with a fellow soldier. However, this show handles the relationships of all the characters quite delicately giving every character their humanity, even the “bad guys” have depth and complexity to them. Love, regardless of gender, is love and Klaus and his siblings who are starved for love from their absentee, and now dead, father are given many opportunities to explore and search for love. What kind of human judges another for loving someone?
Parents who have sheltered their children from television and the internet will be shocked by the graphic violence, building explosions, mass shootings and building explosions. They may also be opposed to later episodes where we discover that Klaus is gay and has fallen in love with a fellow soldier. However, this show handles the relationships of all the characters quite delicately giving every character their humanity, even the “bad guys” have depth and complexity to them. Love, regardless of gender, is love and Klaus and his siblings who are starved for love from their absentee, and now dead, father are given many opportunities to explore and search for love. What kind of human judges another for loving someone?
Reason for Inclusion:
This was highly recommended by several students so I began watching and promptly got hooked. I don’t particularly like violent shows or creepy, horror films of any sort. This series has all those. However, the dialogue, dark humor, and complexity of the characters plus the creative storyline just keeps me coming back for more. There’s a lot to digest and discuss after every episode and it has elicited lots of lively conversations with my own teens at home.
This was highly recommended by several students so I began watching and promptly got hooked. I don’t particularly like violent shows or creepy, horror films of any sort. This series has all those. However, the dialogue, dark humor, and complexity of the characters plus the creative storyline just keeps me coming back for more. There’s a lot to digest and discuss after every episode and it has elicited lots of lively conversations with my own teens at home.
1st on the Soundtrack to The Umbrella Academy season 1
(Ugly Tuber, 2019)
Extra credit reading:
A quick guide to help you figure out the reading sequence for the eponymous Graphic Novel (Van As, 2020).
A quick guide to help you figure out the reading sequence for the eponymous Graphic Novel (Van As, 2020).
REFERENCES
Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá’s blog. (n.d.). Fabioandgabriel.blogspot.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from http://fabioandgabriel.blogspot.com/
Lavender, N. (2019, December 12). The Truth About The Creator Of The Umbrella Academy. Looper.com. https://www.looper.com/179164/the-truth-about-the-creator-of-the-umbrella-academy/
The Umbrella Academy - TV Review. (2019, February 13). Www.commonsensemedia.org. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-umbrella-academy
Ugly Tuber. (2019, February 21). The Umbrella Academy Soundtrack | S01E01 | Picture Book (Stereo Mix) | THE KINKS [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/92v_DN0M924
Van As, T. (2020, January 20). How to start reading The Umbrella Academy comics [Guide + Reading Order]. How to Love Comics. https://www.howtolovecomics.com/2020/01/20/start-reading-umbrella-academy-comics/
Lavender, N. (2019, December 12). The Truth About The Creator Of The Umbrella Academy. Looper.com. https://www.looper.com/179164/the-truth-about-the-creator-of-the-umbrella-academy/
The Umbrella Academy - TV Review. (2019, February 13). Www.commonsensemedia.org. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-umbrella-academy
Ugly Tuber. (2019, February 21). The Umbrella Academy Soundtrack | S01E01 | Picture Book (Stereo Mix) | THE KINKS [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/92v_DN0M924
Van As, T. (2020, January 20). How to start reading The Umbrella Academy comics [Guide + Reading Order]. How to Love Comics. https://www.howtolovecomics.com/2020/01/20/start-reading-umbrella-academy-comics/
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