Spoiler warning: the events and conclusion of Umbrella Academy Season 2 will be mentioned, but no Season 3 spoilers.

“No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved, you know? For a little bit.” Though he’s from a different superhero family, Mr. Incredible nails how the Hargreeves siblings are feeling in Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy. Or, as one of the Academy members puts it, “None of it is real. It’s all bullsh–”.

That’s not to comment on the quality of the quirky comic adaptation, but it is a running theme. Just when you think one apocalypse is resolved, another world-ending event looms, bigger and more dangerous than the one before. And, as we’ve had the same backdrop for three consecutive seasons of the time-hopping dysfunctional superhero series, how does the latest outing for the Umbrellas fare against the previous two?

We kick off Season 3 where we last saw our team, fresh from the final fight of Season 2 and feeling victorious that, this time, they have fixed the timeline. Having jumped back to the present from 1963, the Umbrellas are in for a surprise when they get home, walking into what is now called The Sparrow Academy.

Thanks to more timey-wimey shenanigans, none of the Umbrellas are around in this new timeline, with Sir Reginald Hargreeves having found a different set of special (and this time obedient) children to raise. Also, Ben’s alive and part of The Sparrows, but he’s a heinous jerk. Throw in a grandfather paradox that’s slowly consuming all of existence, and you have yourself a party!

Suffice to say, Season 3 once again has a lot going on. There are seven new super-powered Hargreeves to introduce, internal tensions between the Umbrellas, outright fights with the evidently superior, disciplined Sparrows, and Apocalypse Version 3.0.

Let’s go through these one by one.

When it comes to the fresh faces, so many new characters are introduced that it’s inevitable not everyone will have enough screen time to establish a memorable presence. Of the Sparrows, crow-summoning Fei (Britne Oldford) is a stylish, badass standout, oozing Matrix energy. Meanwhile, gravity-defying Sloane (Genesis Rodriguez) probably gets the most character exploration as she forms a connection with Luthor (Tom Hopper), testing the pair’s loyalty to their respective families.

As for the old/new face, Ben is not the family-orientated ghost we previously knew. Meaner and more ambitious than “our” Ben, this one is a ticking time bomb of desperation, resentment, and loathing, and he’s especially grated by the Umbrellas’ comparisons to the sweet Ben they knew. It’s good to see Justin H. Min bring a new version of his character to life (literally). Unfortunately, the other Sparrows serve little purpose other than kicking Umbrella ass in fight scenes, with their interesting powers and characters barely sketched. Plus, there’s no explanation about sentient flying cube, Christopher.

When it comes to the aforementioned tensions between the OG Hargreeves family, much of it hinges on the fact that yet another time jump hasn’t resolved anything. With this realization, the Umbrellas slowly start to fall apart in various ways. Between mourning the lives and loved ones left behind in the ‘60s, trying to reconcile the changes in their new timeline, or just trying to have some peace and quiet for a change, they’re all finding different ways to cope while holed up in Klaus’s favourite no-questions-asked hideout, the Hotel Obsidian.

Each of the Umbrellas receive some character development, including a very endearing story arc for the chronically neglected Diego (David Castañeda), a brutal vigilante with a big heart. However, the biggest changes are in store for Allison and Vanya, the closest of the Hargreeves children. For Vanya, having spent Season 2 on a journey of self-discovery, it’s finally time to take charge and become who they were always meant to be. Mirroring the real-life transition of star Elliot Page, Vanya comes out as Viktor, someone who isn’t shy to make decisions or afraid to use their powers. For the record, this shift is very differently handled in comparison to Vanya’s coming out in Season 2.

Undergoing a completely different change is Allison, overwhelmed by grief and broken trust. No longer patient and level-headed, a fantastic performance by Emmy Raver-Lampman sees Allison embracing a fatalistic and barely contained rage. Importantly, she also makes some shocking choices which strain her relationship with Viktor, and by extension, the whole group.

The dysfunctional family relationships between super powered (and super messed up) people is something that Umbrella Academy has done consistently well over the past seasons. For Season 3, it’s perhaps the best part of the show, with even Academy founder Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) getting to explore fresh emotional territory with the assistance of Klaus (Robert Sheehan). The chemistry between the cast has matured, the obvious sibling-style bond shines through from behind the camera, and the individual performances have only improved. Plus, you have the franchise’s now-mandatory family dance scene to look forward to – paired, as always, with a superb soundtrack.

Leaning heavily into familial pains means that this season is somewhat light on the action sequences, as quiet (and not so quiet!) conversations take precedence. Overall, Season 3 is also much smaller in scope. Barring a road trip or two, the majority of this season’s ten episodes are split between the Sparrow Headquarters and Umbrella hideout Hotel Obsidian. Yet, even with a smaller scale, this season feels more disjointed than before. We mentioned that there’s a lot going on, half of which we haven’t even touched on. And with so many competing plot threads – several of which are dropped without completion – and characters traipsing back and forth between the key locations, there’s little time to digest the more heartfelt emotional moments.

Which brings us to the White Buffalo elephant in the room: the ever-present Apocalypse. After battling their way through Vanya’s world-ending powers in Season 1, taking down most of The Commission and stopping Vanya’s transplanted powers from ending the world again in Season 2, now there’s a time-travel paradox ripping apart the universe. As world-weary Number Five mentions several times, he’s spent the last 20-odd days of subjective time running around saving a world that refuses to be saved. Can this main driving force of the narrative sustain another season?

For now, yes. There’s enough of what we love about Umbrella Academy in Season 3 to see us through. Characters continue to evolve, and their poignant personal journeys keep viewers engaged even as the action grows repetitive. Then again, it may be a deliberate choice to recycle the same narrative device, driving home the nihilistic theme by getting characters to question at what point do you admit you’ve had enough, and give up. Because even superheroes can reach that breaking point.

Season 3 of Umbrella Academy doesn’t have the sharp “superheroes thrown out of time” hook of Season 2 (still our favourite season), or even much of the eccentric energy and anarchy of Season 1. Familiar pleasures are present, though, especially if you’re patient, and prepare to find them in the quieter, self-reflective moments.

Watch Umbrella Academy Season 3 on Netflix from today, 22 June.

For comparison, read our Season 1 and Season 2 reviews.


The Umbrella Academy Season 3 review

Three seasons in, Umbrella Academy has unquestionably lost some of its freshness. Season 3 certainly doesn’t top Season 2’s original “stuck in the tumultuous 1960s” setting, bringing the action back to a more conventional present day. This latest batch of episodes is messy and repetitive, but counters these flaws by being arguably the most poignant season to date, letting its dysfunctional family of superheroes evolve as characters, and fully shoulder the emotional lifting to keep audiences engaged in the show.

 8
The Umbrella Academy Season 3 was reviewed on Netflix