The Umbrella Academy Cast Breaks Down Bittersweet Netflix Series Finale

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of binge-watching experience under my belt, I can confidently say that The Umbrella Academy has been one heck of a rollercoaster ride! From its quirky characters to the mind-bending plot twists, this show has kept me hooked since its inception.


After completing four action-packed seasons and 36 episodes, the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, inspired by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s graphic novel, has concluded its run. The children brought together under Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) have finally put an end to their mission of preserving the world from imminent destruction across various timelines. They couldn’t sustain saving the world indefinitely and found a solution to prevent the apocalypse once and for all.

As a long-time fan of the show, I can’t help but reflect on my personal journey with it over the years. The unexpected way the final episodes were filmed, with the cast not knowing how the story would conclude until just before shooting, added an element of suspense and intrigue that made me even more invested in the series. Having followed these characters since their debut, I felt a deep connection to them and their stories. So, when it came time for the final goodbyes, it was bittersweet. The impact this show has had on my life, and the lives of countless others, is immeasurable. It’s not just about the entertainment it provided, but the emotions it evoked, the discussions it sparked, and the memories it created. Saying goodbye to these characters was hard, but I will always cherish the time I spent with them on this incredible journey.

Heed this note: The following content discloses significant plot twists from The Umbrella Academy’s fourth season, right up to its final episode.

It seems that the origin of the Umbrella Academy itself has been the root cause of problems. Abigail Hargreeves (Liisa Repo-Martell) synthesized an element called Marigold on their home planet, intended to replicate cosmic energy. However, during its creation, another element, Durango, was unintentionally produced. The interaction between these two elements destroyed the original Hargreeves’ world and Abigail as well.

In Season 4 of The Umbrella Academy, Abigail covertly gathers a band of conspiracy enthusiasts with the objective of reconnecting the Umbrella Academy with Jennifer (Victoria Sawal), a woman who carries Durango’s essence. An unforeseen event occurs when Ben (Justin H. Min) encounters Jennifer; they inadvertently trigger a chemical response, referred to as “The Cleanse,” which had previously destroyed the Hargreeves’ home planet, By the time the Hargreeves siblings become aware of the situation, Ben and Jennifer have progressed too far into the effects of The Cleanse, leaving them beyond salvation. As they confront the reality that another apocalypse is imminent, Five (Aidan Gallagher) reveals that the only permanent solution to halt the apocalypse is to submit to The Cleanse, allowing it to eliminate them and erase the timeline fractures caused by their births, thereby restoring the world to its original, unaltered timeline.

As a gamer delving into the intricate world of ‘The Umbrella Academy’, I can share an exclusive tidbit that’s not part of the series: Lila and Five’s storyline originally took them to various universes, where the world was either on the brink of destruction or under constant attack. The reason behind this, according to Gallagher, is that Five aims to put an end to a recurring cycle of chaos and suffering for humanity. After all, the Hargreeves siblings are notorious for causing massive havoc, and it seems this pattern will continue until someone finally halts it.

Three times the Hargreeves had thwarted the apocalypse, ready to confront it again when Five revealed that it would recur endlessly. There were murmurs of dissent in their ranks, yet the Hargreave siblings and Diego’s wife Lila ultimately chose self-sacrifice for the common good. They submitted to The Cleanse, meeting their end enveloped by liquid matter. Their final moments were spent united as a family.

Emmy Raver-Lampman shared that Steve Blackman, our series producer, intentionally withheld key details about the final episodes from us for some time. She believes he did this to spare us the emotional distress. Almost every season, Blackman delayed revealing the last few pages of an episode so we wouldn’t know how the final episodes would end until just before filming them.

The Umbrella Academy Cast Breaks Down Bittersweet Netflix Series Finale

Elliot Page, his co-star, expressed similar sentiments, stating, “It just felt right.” It was a bittersweet moment, undeniably, as we’ve reunited to discuss the show, reminiscing about all the seasons. We may not get another chance to portray these characters, but I feel incredibly grateful and fortunate for the four seasons we were able to create together.

The conclusion of the series leaves a mix of joy and sadness, with plenty of tears shed along the way. Robert Sheehan, among others, found himself tearing up during the last group scene, but he’s also come to appreciate the beauty in the way The Umbrella Academy came to an end.

In simpler terms, Sheehan said, “There’s a liberating feeling in realizing we are part of the problem and need to give up ourselves to solve it for everyone else. This self-sacrifice has a romantic quality to it, though I don’t want to call it a trope because that implies something negative. Instead, it’s a brave choice not to end with a dramatic climax or a cliffhanger, but with the exact opposite.”

In the end, viewers witness the reward for this enormous sacrifice. As the series concludes, it transports us to a later timeframe where characters from earlier seasons such as The Handler (Kate Walsh) and Hazel (Cameron Britton) can be found relaxing in a picturesque park under a bright sun. The final frame shows eight radiant dandelions emerging from the soil, symbolizing the Hargreeves siblings and Lila.

Although the Hargreeves family might not have settled into their intended position within the flow of time and space, actor Tom Hopper remains hopeful about the series finale’s positive outlook on the future.

He expressed agreement, stating, “That seems fitting for the conclusion.” He had often imagined this to be the appropriate ending, one that would be conclusive, yet it carried an undercurrent of optimism and unfinished business.

The Umbrella Academy is now streaming on Netflix.

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2024-08-12 22:39