Many a show has started off strong, so full of possibility, imagination, and promise.
Yet starting well and finishing well are two different things, and plenty of wonderful shows have failed to stick their landing.
Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way: the ending of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy left me feeling disappointed and hollow. I loved the first season of this show so, so much – the cast of quirky, dysfunctional characters and the twisty, mysterious plot caught my attention right away.
Although each season felt a little less strong as the show progressed, I was still very invested in all the characters. Unfortunately, season 4 is more of a steep drop off. Maybe I feel more negative/harsh about it because the very last episode was sad and unsatisfying, and it bothers me more the longer it lingers with me.
There’s no way to talk about why the final season disappointed me without getting into spoilers, so I’m going to go ahead and do that now.
The show ends with all the main characters – and I do mean ALL – dying. And not just dying, but completely ceasing to exist throughout all of time, space, and history, so that no one remembers them.
This tragic ending did not work for me, and just made me feel depressed. The “everybody dies” type ending can be done well – Rogue One is a great example. The deaths of all the main characters in that movie hit so hard, but the moments feel earned, and their sacrifices feel powerful and meaningful in the context of the larger Star Wars universe.
Having all the Hargreeves siblings die feels needlessly cruel. These characters have experienced so much trauma, and they don’t really get any kind of closure in the end. It feels too bleak for a show that previously did such a great job balancing a chaotic range of tones, from humorous to heartfelt to never being afraid to celebrate its weirdness.
I’ve seen some fans discussing that a more satisfying ending may have been to have Five or Viktor choose to sacrifice themselves to set the timeline right again. This still gives the show some weight and tragedy, but it doesn’t feel so bleak.
The first season of The Umbrella Academy remains one of my favorite TV series, and in no way do I feel like the time I spent watching it was a waste. As mentioned before, I love these characters so much, and I’m glad I got to meet them. However, I do believe they deserved better, and I wish they’d gotten a happier ending.
