Umbrella Academy on Netflix - Spoilers

Cafe Society
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1

I just binge watched the Umbrella Academy on Netflix with my wife. I thought it was great.

I had not read the comics previously, and the story pretty much just starts, leaving you to figure out what is going on as it progresses.

The characters are all very interesting and well acted. I really liked how realistic Pogo appeared to be (who is some sort of chimp that has human-level intelligence). The kid who plays number 5 was 14 or 15 when this was made, and displays a level of confidence most adults don’t have.

Good action and an interesting story. I will come back more specifics about the episodes.

2

Watched the first episode to compare it to the gold standard of superhero TV shows – Misfits. Imagine my surprise to see Robert Sheehan from Misfits in it.

With essentially the same superpower

I’ll be watching more.

3

Oh cool. I watched all of Misfits, but not pick up on Robert Sheehan as it has been a few years. But instantly recognized him once you pointed it out, RealityChuck. A very talented and out there actor. The few moments they show him dancing are impressive.

Why does Spaceman’s Moon habitat look just like a converted motorhome? Great music throughout. A few times it was a bit like a Harry Potter sound alike, and got whiffs of a few other shows, maybe intentional.

4

(I assume you put that in a spoiler for people who haven’t seen Misfits…)

Nathan and Klaus’s powers are only tenuously related - they’re both connected to death, but immortality and speaking to the dead are not ‘essentially the same’.

Actual Umbrella Academy (comic, mostly) spoiler…

In the comics (it seems to have been adapted out), Klaus does die and resurrect, but it’s not actually connected to his powers…It’s just because God found him odious and figured the Devil would, too.

5

Just saw episode 2. Sheehan is definitely playing Nathan, though a more psycho version. That’s a delight.

The problem with talking about Misfits is that the show had so many bizarre twists that you can’t talk about it without spoling something.

6

I have not finished the series, but it’s pretty clear later in the season that Luther isn’t part of a NASA or other government mission – he’s up there freelancing for the Whatever Corporation. And probably on the cheap, given the circumstances surrounding his "mission."I, too, am digging this series! Seems to be avoiding the problems that most of the Marvel/Netflix shows fell into.

7

I thought Ellen Page was way too screechy and the main bad guy’s “evil” motivation was a rip off of The Incredibles.
That being said, I loved the crazy ass cast of characters trying to act normal and failing miserably. They really carried the show and made it more than your typical superhero team up cliché.

8

Okay, I see that now. They were both wannabe characters who had been slighted by the main superhero group.

I wasn’t even sure what the guy who dated Ellen Page really wanted. He was not interested in her, but what was he after? To have enough power through her to go after the rest of the group?

9

I went to Wiki to get a bit of backstory. The comics may be different than the TV show, but in the comic, the Dad is an alien, which would explain some of his weirdness and access to technology. The story is set in an alternate Universe where JFK was not assassinated, and the show is supposed to be in 1977 which would explain some of the cars.

10

I think it was one part vicarious redemption/I told you so and one part kill the rest of the group. Once the story crossed over into “they didn’t tell you were special enough when you were growing up, now, let’s go kill your family!” territory I was quite through with Ellen Page and ready for the season to end.

11

I watched E1 last night. It was good. Not great, but good. I’m definitely intrigued enough to watch more.

ETA: I had never even heard of the title until the series was announced (last month is when I heard about it). So I have no expectations to overcome, no preconceived notions to be dashed. etc.

12

I think you will see the show pick up a fair bit over the next two episodes or so. Also the relationships between the various characters redevelop after they had not really seen each other for 13 years or so.

13

I watched the first episode again, and the show is set in modern time, although probably an alternate universe. That is because it states 40 or so babies were born in 1989 to mothers who were not pregnant before that day. I was kind of looking for what type of rocket the Spaceman used to get back to earth, but it is not shown.

14

There was definitely some alternate history hi-jinx going on- there were no cell phones, but the cars were modern, including at least one Prius.

15

I like Cha Cha and Hazel who are sent to hunt down number 5. I like the way Hazel speaks, the tone of his voice. But they remind me a fair bit of the two cowboy characters who are sent in the Preacher to return “Genesis”. Staying in hotels, having a type of relationship, being accountable to the head office, having a crucial device to lose, and being morose. Do you think Cha Cha has the hots for Hazel?

16

That would be telling. :slight_smile:

17

Finished the series – looking forward to the next season.

A few thoughts:

  1. It feels pretty familiar in a lot of ways. BeagleJesus and Mikemike2 both cited specific examples – my girlfriend and I both thought there was a lot in common with the Preacher angels. And of course there’s Misfits and The Magicians and loads more, I’m sure…
  2. But I don’t think that this “unoriginality” (if that’s what it is) hampers my appreciation of the show. It may be familiar, but it’s not totally predictable. I liked that.
    Example from late in the season, so I’ll spoiler it:

Allison’s violent encounter with Vanya. I was surprised they “killed off” Allison, but also surprised when she was saved. Killing off Allison wouldn’t have been out of character for the show.

  1. I felt like it was well-paced, especially compared to the Marvel-Netflix shows (I said this earlier). Not a lot of wasted time. (I mean, it’s a show you binge-watch on Netflix, so it’s all wasted time, really, but you know what I mean.)
  2. To get specific: HJ’s’s motivation isn’t that complicated (I’ll spoiler again just in case, since people are still finishing it) if you look at him as not having a concrete outcome in mind. He wasn’t trying to bring on the apocalypse, or even necessarily to bring down the Umbrellas. (I think this is clear when he’s in the Umbrellacave for the second time and everybody’s talking about the apocalypse scenario, and once again he is fixated on snagging the figurine he never got as a kid – ignoring the Umbrellas’ conversation.) He is a superfan who wants “in,” one way or another. Once he finds the dad’s notes, he decides to develop/expose Vanya’s power, sure, but he really reacts to events rather than trying to create outcomes the whole time he’s alive. That’s my take, anyway – tell me if I’m wrong.
    The spoilering is probably not necessary, but as long as people who haven’t seen most/all of the series are in this thread, I’ll do it.
18

More thoughts on HJ:

Vanya was the “ordinary” member of the Umbrellas. I think it makes sense that Harold Jenkins/Leonard would be drawn to her, since he wanted to be an Umbrella himself but was too ordinary. He obviously manipulated her, but I don’t think he was a master plan psychopath – like all the Umbrellas, he was in some way broken (and had an unloving father figure). EDIT: Am I being too spoiler-taggy in this thread?

19

Vanya was the “ordinary” member of the Umbrellas. I think it makes sense that Harold Jenkins/Leonard would be drawn to her, since he wanted to be an Umbrella himself but was too ordinary. He obviously manipulated her, but I don’t think he was a master plan psychopath – like all the Umbrellas, he was in some way broken (and had an unloving father figure).

A psychopath, just not a master plan psychopath. Spoilers are fine I think. I haven’t talked too much about the end of the season because some people are not that far in yet, but I have some questions about the moon physics, even for a fantasy show.

20

I know that some/most of y’all have binged the entire series, but I’m watching a single episode at a time, so I haven’t read thru the thread yet (so I don’t see any spoilers).

I watched E2 last night and again, mostly enjoyed it. The bad parts are becoming glaringly obvious and distracting, but the acting and production values and overall story are still good and intriguing.

The good: Number Five is awesome. I like the character and I like the actor’s portrayal. By far the most interesting and fully-realized character in the show. The others range from good to great, but Number Five stands out to me.

Even most of the one-appearance type guest actors have been very good (the waitress, the tow truck driver, etc.).

The production value is excellent. Particularly like how they’ve gone for more of a classic film feel instead of a current HD look. Love the chimp (I never do catch his name). Love #5’s portals and how he leans into them. Love the knife-cam when Diego throws a blade.

The mixed: I’m very happy with the narrative structure but at times certain scenes are poorly timed and they drag the show. In this episode, the whole “Vanya teaches a grown man how to play violin” was way too slow, way too overacted and way too long, for instance.

The music: whoever is in charge of of the music is a fucking idiot. In the first two episodes, the only song I thought was decent AND was decently used was Adam Ant’s Goody Two Shoes, and even that was not used well. Sometimes the lyrics match the action onscreen, but the music does not. Sometimes nothing matches anything, but hey, there’s a pop song! Most of the time, IMO, the music selection and the timing of its use is just awful. If it continues this way for the series, it’s going to be REALLY annoying to me.

So far I’d rate this about the same as I’d rate the first 6 or 7 episodes of The Magicians, a show I enjoyed but grew bored with quickly. I think I finished S1 but I don’t recall ever going back for S2 despite S1 ending with a fairly dramatic cliffhanger (IIRC). Hopefully TUA can polish this up and get stronger as I get to know the characters and the story develops more.

No need to coach or instruct me on what to expect, eh: as I said I’m not reading the thread so as to avoid spoilers.