Anna Daniels
Where familial loss in Locke & Key works to bring its core cast of characters together, the same thing cannot be said for the family at the heart of The Umbrella Academy. Here, while the sudden death of father figure Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) certainly brings the adopted Hargreeves siblings together, it also serves to shine a light on their very, very dysfunctional family dynamic. Oh, and did we mention that they all happen to have some pretty serious superpowers?
Imagine The Umbrella Academy like the X-Men, only instead of the (sometimes) kindly Professor X, there’s a cold, demanding drill sergeant in his place. Likewise, the ragtag group of misfits that make up the Hargreeves siblings — Luther (Tom Hopper), Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Klaus (Robert Sheehan), Number Five (Aidan Gallagher), Ben (Justin H. Min), and black sheep Vanya (Ellen Page) — are not without their own faults, which (in at least one case) includes the ability to destroy the entire planet.
The Umbrella Academy puts a dark and hilarious twist on the classic comic ensemble, which is punctuated by some pretty stellar cast performances, particularly from Gallagher and Sheehan. For comic fans looking for something truly original, the series won’t disappoint.
Written by: Looper
