Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Umbrella Academy season 4.
Summary
The Umbrella Academyseason 4 ends in a way that feels definitive forthe Hargreeves siblings, andthis may leave viewers wondering about the possibility of season 5.The Umbrella Academydebuted on Netflix back in 2019, and the TV adaptation ofGerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s comicsbecame a hit after its first outing. Since its series premiere,The Umbrella Academyhas seen its titular team stopping the apocalypse and resetting the timeline repeatedly — and it was only a matter of time before this setup had to end.
The Umbrella Academyseason 4’s finalesuggests the Hargreeves' days of stopping the apocalypse are over, with the siblings sacrificing themselves to fix the universe’s timeline. Season 4’s conclusion is a tragic one, as the Hargreeves no longer exist in the newly reset timeline — which is now the only one left. The glowingflowers inThe Umbrella Academy’s mid-credits scenemay leave viewers wondering if there’s more to the story after “End of the Beginning.” However,it looks like season 4 really is the end of the line for the Hargreeves family.
The Umbrella Academy’s Broken Rotten Tomatoes Streak Was Inevitable After Netflix’s Controversial Decision
The Umbrella Academy is getting more negative feedback than usual, but season 4’s broken Rotten Tomatoes streak was inevitable after 1 choice.
The Umbrella Academy Season 4 Is Confirmed As The Final Season
This Explains The Hargreeves Siblings' Definitive Endings
The Umbrella Academy’s lower-than-usual Rotten Tomatoesscore suggests viewers aren’t fully satisfied with its ending, but “End of the Beginning” is the series finale.Netflix confirmed years ago thatThe Umbrella Academywould end with season 4, making this the last adventure for the Hargreeves siblings. This is in line with the fact that all of them perish at the end of the fourth outing. Knowing that season 4 is its last hurrah, the Netflix series gives them a send-off that it’s nearly impossible to come back from.
Of course,it’s somewhat disappointing thatThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 is the final outing, even if the Hargreeves couldn’t keep repeating the same story forever. For one, the negative reception season 4 has received means that the series will have a complicated legacy. Netflix’s choice to shortenThe Umbrella Academy’s final season to six episodes is also questionable. It’s bad enough that viewers won’t return to this world after “End of the Beginning,” but it’s even more disappointing that they get a condensed and rushed last outing.
Why The Umbrella Academy Is Ending With Season 4
COVID-19 & Hollywood Strike Delays Played A Role
With questions left unanswered and a bit more to explore after “End of the Beginning,” viewers may be wonderingwhyThe Umbrella Academyis endingwith season 4. From what Lila and Ben stars Ritu Arya and Justin H. Min toldPeople, it sounds likedelays resulting from the pandemic and 2023 Hollywood strikes are at least partially to blame. With the cast aging and long gaps between seasons, it makes sense that Netflix wanted to wrap things up before the excitement surrounding the series died down.
There were only so many timesThe Umbrella Academycould pit the Hargreeves against the apocalypse without that narrative growing tiresome.
Of course, there were only so many timesThe Umbrella Academycould pit the Hargreeves against the apocalypse without that narrative growing tiresome. While opinions may differ over the execution of season 4, there’s little doubt this was the right place to end things. A longer run would have been great, but the cast and crew seem satisfied with the length of the series. Given how many streaming shows get canceled,it’s probably luckyThe Umbrella Academygot a proper send-off at all.
The Umbrella Academy Comics Offer Plenty Of Potential For Netflix Spinoffs
There Are Subplots & Supporting Characters Spinoffs Could Expand On
AlthoughThe Umbrella Academyis finished,there are plenty of spinoffs that could happen beyond season 4.The Umbrella Academywriter Steve Blackman toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat the creators have discussed the possibility of doing spinoffs, though nothing is currently in the works. The Netflix series and its comic counterpart both offer characters and subplots that could be explored in future movies or shows. It all depends on whether Netflix wants to expand the series into a franchise. Unfortunately, season 4’s reception might not convince the streamer it’s worthwhile.
If Netflix does decide to go that route, however, there are plenty of directions a spinoff could take. Such a project could explore the origins of the Commission, what happened to Reginald and Abigail’s home planet, or even dig into the backstories of side characters. This wouldn’t totally fixThe Umbrella Academy’s disappointing final season, but a spinoff could answer certain questions about the world and characters that never get addressed in season 4. It could also cater more to fans of the series' source material.
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.
