Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Umbrella Academy season 4.
Summary
The Umbrella Academyseason 4 brings the Hargreeves back together for one last adventure, butI’m not convinced by how it handles Allison’s story. AfterThe Umbrella Academyseason 3’s ending, I was hoping Allison would get some sort of redemption arc in the final outing. She betrays her siblings to strike a deal with Reginald, and she treats Luther and Viktor poorly throughout the third season. Although I understand where Allison’s anger comes from inThe Umbrella Academyseason 3, I don’t think she should get a pass without apologizing. Sadly, this is basically the route the Netflix series takes.
The Umbrella Academyseason 4 acknowledges the tensions between Allison and her siblings, but it failed to sell me on reconciliation. By featuring a time jump in the premiere, the series skips over the Hargreeves' adjustment to their new timeline — and any resentment towards Allison that might accompany it. When they do reunite,The Umbrella Academyhardly holds Allison accountable for her actions in season 3. While I expected the Hargreeves to set aside their differences, I was hoping Allison would more openly acknowledge her mistakes.
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?
Allison Is Forgiven Really Easily In The Umbrella Academy Season 4
The Hargreeves Hardly Confront Her About Her Season 3 Actions
Despite betraying her siblings inThe Umbrella Academyseason 3,Allison is forgiven fairly easily once the latest mission falls into place. Klaus lives with her and Claire in season 4, indicating that any issues between them are long forgotten. And both Allison and Claire are welcomed with open arms at Grace’s birthday, even though Allison suspects her siblings don’t want her there. The only person who confronts Allison about her actions inThe Umbrella Academyseason 3 is Viktor, who tells his sister that they aren’t friends any longer.
However,this conversation is the only fallout fromThe Umbrella Academyseason 3 that we get— and it’s basically undone in the series finale. When theHargreeves siblings sacrifice themselvesat theend ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, Viktor and Allison share a short but touching moment together. Allison tells Viktor that she’s sorry he left his life in Canada for this, and Viktor admits he doesn’t regret it. This suggests they’ve let go of their anger towards one another. ButThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 hardly explores it, lessening the impact.
The Umbrella Academy Season 4 Ignores What Allison Did To Luther In Season 3
She Still Owes Number One An Apology
Allison Hargreeves' powerscome in handy throughoutThe Umbrella Academy,but her worst season 3 scene sees her using them against Luther.She attempts to assault Luther using her rumor abilities, an incident that totally changed my perspective of her. You’d think this would impact the way Luther treats Allison inThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, but the final episodes simply ignore this moment. If Allison owes anyone an apology, it’s Luther — yet the two never go there.
I suppose Allison and Luther’s tensions can be seen in their distance from one another, asThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 also ignores the history these two have. With Luther mourning Sloane and Allison returning to her siblings, I expected them to have a serious talk at some point. Sadly, their dynamic is another thing that gets lost inThe Umbrella Academy’s controversial final season. With just six episodes to work with, there might not have been time to address Allison and Luther’s relationship. Still, I wish the writers would have tried.
The Umbrella Academy Doesn’t Explore Allison’s Deal With Reginald
The Netflix Series Never Goes Into The Specifics Of It
Allison is the entire reason the Hargreeves find themselves in another timeline inThe Umbrella Academyseason 4, butthe last six episodes never return to her deal with Reginald. We know from the end of season 3 that Allison and Reginald worked together to reset the timeline and avoid the apocalypse. However, viewers are never made privy to the specifics of their arrangement. I assume Allison asked for Claire to return, but I feel like there must have been more to their scheming than that.
The Umbrella Academycould have explained Luther’s sudden resurrection through Allison and Reginald’s deal — and potentiallyeven Sloane’s disappearance. Season 4 would have answered multiple questions by taking this approach, but instead, it adds Reginald and Allison’s agreement to the list of things it doesn’t touch again. It’s particularly odd since the Hargreeves interact with Reginald throughoutThe Umbrella Academy’s final season. But with so much condensed into six episodes, I have to conclude that Allison’s story isn’t convincing because there isn’t enough time for it.
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.
