One of Netflix’s most binge-worthy shows of 2019 so far,The Umbrella Academy, has taken the internet by storm because of how unique and rambunctious it is.
Based off a graphic novel created by My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way, The Umbrella Academy is a fresh breath of air from the overused superhero formula. The story follows a dysfunctional super-powered family as they come together to figure out who killed their adoptive father, but they soon learn that things are going to get a lot more complicated as they try to save the world.
That’s the easiest way to describe this wacky series because the story becomes a lot more complex. It gets to a point where it has too many strings veering off to different places, which leaves the occasional head scratch of trying to figure out what’s going on, but when you do finally know what exactly is going on it’s exciting to finally see where the story takes you next.
One of the best things about The Umbrella Academy is its flamboyant characters and the actors that portray them. Each character has their own unique quirkiness about them, and it’s because each cast member breathes life into their characters, making you want to indulge yourself more into the series. Number Five (Aidan Gallagher), however, gets a special mention here because of how talented Gallagher is as an actor at such a young age. Diego (David Castaneda) or Number Two, who we learn is more than just a brooding character; Klaus (Robert Sheehan) or Number Three, the fun-loving drug addict, is also remarkable because of how much deeper their characters are.
All the characters are interesting to watch and it’s even more awesome when they interact with each other. From those interactions, you learn more about the characters; that’s where the chemistry of the cast comes into play. The chemistry between Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) and Luther (Tom Hopper) is outstanding and brought more to their characters as we learn more about their relationship.
Since it is kind of difficult to explain who the actual villain of the show is, it’s best to just talk about two of the most notable ones, Hazel and Cha-Cha. They are introduced in the ending of episode one and have since become a powerful presence in the series. They have trained time-travel assassins out to kill Number Five. Wacky, I know, but they are scary when they are on screen. The thing is that they don’t just have those basic bad guy character traits. The two have their own story going on for them, which makes them more understandable as characters, not just villains.
It’s not just the wacky characters and the excellent cast that makes the show binge-worthy. The Umbrella Academy is incredibly stylish when it comes to cinematography, soundtrack, and action. There is one scene that happens in the later episodes of the series where two characters are doing a dance number, and it’s just spectacular because of how great the song is the lighting and background, and the actual performance itself. It all mixes together perfectly because of how the camera work enhances all those separate things into one jazzy dance number. While there isn’t much action in the series, the action that is featured is done in an excellent manner. The balance between being fast-paced and slowed down has you wanting more and more.
The soundtrack is certainly a highlight too. Maybe because it was under control of famous composer, Jeff Russo, mixed in with the talents of Gerard Way. It played a vital role in the series.
Because of all these wonderful things about the show, the camera work, the cast, the soundtrack, and a few other things, you can tell that the studios behind The Umbrella Academy made sure to give the series a strong budget. For the most part, the CGI for TV series is just awful because of budget issues, but not this show. The CGI is wonderful and well-polished. For instance, there is a talking chimpanzee butler in the series named Pogo, and it looks like he can fit right in with the Planet of The Ape reboot film series. There are a lot more other examples throughout the series that proves how high the budget was. For instance, in the first few minutes of episode one, there is a moment that shows the viewer just how much the studios put into this series.
The studio most certainly made sure to make this superhero show different from the others. To summarize it all, there isn’t a show quite like The Umbrella Academy. While the overall story is strange and confusing at times, the show will have you invested all throughout because of the lively characters and cast, vivid style of the show, and the creative action. Season One has set a high standard for the show, but hopefully Season Two can take it even further.
