By Sean Casey, Contributing writer
When it was first started streaming, Netflix tended to put only pre-existing shows and movies onto its platform for fans to binge and watch whenever they wanted. More recently, as Netflix became a household word across the globe and close to a necessity for people, it started creating original programming that has been extremely well received, and audiences absolutely love them. Netflix is responsible for the creation of popular shows such as “Stranger Things,” “13 Reasons Why,” “You,” “Last Chance U” and countless others that fans absolutely adored. One of their most recent creations, “The Umbrella Academy,” has a chance to be the best original they have ever made.
The Umbrella Academy debuted on Netflix in February of 2019 and instantly captured the attention of people across the country. The show begins with a flashback where a seemingly normal girl is taking a swimming class, and out of nowhere she becomes pregnant and starts birthing a child. The narrator then tells the audience that at the same exact moment, there were an additional 43 women around the globe that birthed children, and none had been pregnant the previous day. Then, the audience sees an eccentric billionaire, Sir Reginald Hargreaves, attempts to adopt all the children but ends up with seven of them. The audience learns the adopted children have special abilities, except for one it seemed. Sir Reginald trained these kids to use their abilities and become superheroes, and they eventually become nationally recognized, known as The Umbrella Academy.
The show fast forwards 30 years, they are no longer the Umbrella Academy, but all living their own lives, away from the Umbrella Academy. Their adoptive father had died, which brought them all back to the house they were raised in for the memorial. One of the family, previously missing “Number 5,” his actual name, comes in through a glowing portal 30 years younger than everyone else, and warns them that the end of the world is coming in seven days, and it is on all of them to save it.
This sets up the plot for the show and starts the adventures for the “heroes.” The series is filled with amazing fight scenes with the Umbrella Academy displaying their powers such as teleportation, super strength, necromancy, mind manipulation and more. The show has an amazing soundtrack in both seasons filled with great songs and impeccable timing on when they are played, whether it is an action scene or a dance scene, you will be rocking to the songs and actually feel like you are in the show through the music. The different personalities of the show are what really makes it special and so loved. Despite growing up under the same roof, the characters are different, unique and have issues with each other, they take the term dysfunctional family to another dimension. At the end of the day, they all have each other’s backs and will do anything to protect one another.
Thus, The Umbrella Academy’s second season came out this summer, and if you have not yet seen this incredible show already, put the show under the “must watch T.V.” category.
caseyst20@bonaventure.edu
