Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Umbrella Academy season 4.
Summary
The Umbrella Academyseason 4 brought the Netflix series to a close, butit left me with so many questions about Jennifer.The Umbrella Academy’s fourth season finally revealswhat the “Jenniferincident” is— and how it relates to Ben Hargreeves. Unfortunately, while it solves that mystery, it introduces so many others. And for the final outing,The Umbrella Academyseason 4 leaves many questions unanswered. This is one reason the series finale is so controversial (though it’s also just not theending the Hargreeves siblings deserved).
It’s not a happy ending for Jennifer either, andThe Umbrella Academydoesn’t even do her story justice in its last six episodes. Jennifer plays a massive role in season 4’s conflict, kicking off the Cleanse through her relationship with Ben. The series tries to explain this through theparticles Marigold and Durango, but it doesn’t dig deep enough into the lore behind Jennifer. It also fails to explain her connection to Ben — both the Sparrow variant and the others. I definitely wanted to know more about Jennifer’s role in the story. Unfortunately, her arc was over just as it began.
The Umbrella Academy’s 16 Hargreeves Siblings Ranked By Power
The Umbrella Academy’s Hargreeves siblings are all powerful in different ways, but which of them prove to be the most powerful by the end of the show?
Jennifer’s Origin Is Still Largely Unknown After The Umbrella Academy Season 4
The Squid & Her Contact With Durango Aren’t Properly Explained
AlthoughThe Umbrella Academyreveals that Jennifer came from a giant squid, it fails to properly explain the character’s origin story during season 4. It’s not entirely clear why Jennifer was born from this massive creature. While her backstory foreshadows her connection to Ben Hargreeves, whose power gives him squid-like tentacles, it doesn’t make much sense. Even after Gene and Jean show the squid to Jennifer, there’s no further explanation of what it is or where it came from.I’m still baffled by what it had to do with the storyor why it was necessary for Jennifer’s introduction.
AlthoughThe Umbrella Academyreveals that Jennifer came from a giant squid, it fails to properly explain the character’s origin story during season 4.
How Jennifer became the host of Durango particles is also never addressed. Abigail explains that by creating Marigold, she also created Durango. However, while we know how the Hargreeves wound up with Marigold in their systems, it’s unclear how Jennifer first came in contact with Durango.I can’t piece together her backstory afterThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, which feels like an issue. Perhaps the series should have introduced Jennifer sooner, allowing itself more time to dig into her origin.
It’s Not Clear Why Jennifer Was So Connected To Ben Specifically
It Could Have Been Any Of The Hargreeves
In addition to leaving Jennifer’s backstory up in the air,The Umbrella Academydoesn’t explain why she’s so connected to Ben specifically. We know the Durango in Jennifer’s system and the Marigold in Ben’s body are drawn to one another. But using this rationale, Jennifer could have been attracted to any of the Hargreeves siblings. They all have Marigold in their systems, yet only Ben feels a pull towards Jennifer. Jennifer doesn’t seem especially interested in Ben’s siblings, either, suggesting she has a bond with him and him alone.
TheUmbrella Academydoesn’t clarify what makes Ben so special, though, leaving us to speculate about why he and Jennifer affect each other so strongly. The only reason I can think of is that Ben Hargreeves' power bears a resemblance to the squid Jennifer came from. They also have a history together, even if their interactions with one another take place across timelines and among different variants. But even this raises more questions, asSparrow Ben should know Jennifer as soon as he sees her in New Grumpson.
Ben Should Have Recognized Jennifer (According To The Umbrella Academy Season 3)
He Has Drawings Of Her In His Room
My last major question about Jennifer afterThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 is why Ben doesn’t recognize her. InThe Umbrella Academyseason 3,Sparrow Ben has sketches of Jennifer in his bedroom. They suggest that he met her in his timeline, even if he didn’t try to help her like the original Ben. If he recalls enough about Jennifer to draw her, Ben should recognize her in New Grumpson. I’m baffled thatThe Umbrella Academyoverlooks this, though I can come up with a possible explanation for it.
If he recalls enough about Jennifer to draw her, Ben should recognize her in New Grumpson.
Ben and Jennifer only met as kids, leaving Ben to imagine what she looks like as an adult. As such, he may not recognize the real Jennifer when he sees her. This may be whatThe Umbrella Academyis going for, but the show never clarifies. This is one of my biggest issues with its final season: it leaves much of the story up to interpretation. While I don’t think we need everything spoon-fed to us, I do feel likeThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 should tie things up better. It won’t get another chance, so some closure feels warranted.
The Umbrella Academy
Cast
The Umbrella Academy is based on the comic book of the same name created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Hargreeves — collectively known as The Umbrella Academy — were born with superpowers, and their adoptive father utilized their abilities. However, as they grew older, the siblings grew apart as they dealt with their trauma. They are brought back together after their father dies and Five returns from the future with grave news: The world will end, and The Umbrella Academy has to stop it before it happens.
