The Umbrella Academy season 4 ending, explained (and why fans aren’t happy)

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The Umbrella Academy season 4 ending, explained (and why fans aren't happy)

As a long-time fan who’s been following The Umbrella Academy since its debut, I must say, the final season left me with a rollercoaster of emotions. It was a whirlwind of action, suspense, and heartbreak that felt like a sprint to the finish line, followed by a slow crawl, then an epic finale.

The television series known as “The Umbrella Academy” concluded following its fourth season on August 8, 2024, leaving some viewers less than satisfied with the outcomes experienced by the Hargreeves siblings.

In the fourth series, there were just six episodes versus ten in the first three. This made it feel more like a fast-paced dash towards the conclusion, but after that, the speed dropped significantly and picked up again with a thrilling season ender.

Initially, let’s discuss the events unfolding in the last episode, followed by an explanation of why viewers seem somewhat displeased.

The Umbrella Academy season 4 ending, explained

The Umbrella Academy season 4 ending, explained (and why fans aren't happy)

Following an intriguing second-to-last episode where Five and Lila found themselves entwined in a romantic connection while being stranded for seven years searching for a time-travel train, the duo of Ben and Jennifer have started to mutate into terrifying creatures. This holiday season, The Umbrella Academy gathers at Lila and Diego’s residence for Christmas, but they are suddenly summoned to intervene, aiming to halt Ben and Jennifer as they conspire to enact “The Cleanse.”

In the final act, some major secrets unveil. The primary disclosure is that Abigail orchestrated the downfall of Reginald’s schemes to prevent Ben and Jennifer from uniting across all the alternate realities. She understood that their meeting would lead to the destruction of the world. Yet, in this timeline, it was Abigail who ensured their encounter. By reversing Reginald’s actions, she sets in motion events he approves of as The Purge consumes them.

In this scenario, Victor attempts to halt Ben and Jennifer from transforming into a colossal monster. After seizing Ben’s arm, Ben shares with Victor a glimpse of an idyllic world I’ll refer to as ‘paradise.’ This scene unfolds in a park under a bright sun, where the grass is a vibrant green. It’s a splendid day that leaves us puzzled about its meaning until later on.

Following the Umbrella Academy’s failed attempt to halt The Cleanse, Five ventures to a puzzling diner where he encounters countless variants of himself. Through these encounters, he discovers that regardless of how many times they save the world, it ultimately meets its end. This recurring pattern is connected to the marigold that Reginald disseminated across the globe. The only method to halt this cycle is by permitting The Cleanse to absorb the marigold within them, which will effectively break the cycle. However, this action also signifies their erasure from all timelines, and there’s no return from such obliteration.

Although it requires some time, Luther, Klaus, Diego, Viktor, Allison, Five, and Lila let The Cleanse absorb them, giving the impression they’re saving the world.

Everything returns to the original timeline.

So, all good? Well, things get a little confusing.

There’s a post-credits scene

The Umbrella Academy season 4 ending, explained (and why fans aren't happy)

In the scene following the end credits, on an ordinary day of August 8, 2024, we find ourselves in a world as Ben had imagined and discussed with Viktor at the series finale. Characters from the show are seen leisurely strolling through a park, basking in the day’s beauty, hinting that the plan was successful. It appears that Five was correct, and the world has been preserved from danger.

I was expecting the Hargreeves siblings and Lila to be relaxing in the park, but they didn’t, or at least not in their usual physical forms.

In the ground, around the base of a tree, eight marigolds bloom.

Could it be that we’re seeing a replay of past events? Might there be children soon born with extraordinary abilities? Is this perhaps a reference to the eight individuals who gave their lives to save humanity? In truth, it seems open to various interpretations.

Based on my personal experiences and observations, I strongly believe that we will see a significant increase in the number of people born with powers in the near future. This is not just a random guess or assumption, but rather a conclusion drawn from the patterns I have noticed over the years. As someone who has been closely involved in the study of human potential, I’ve seen firsthand the evolution of these abilities and the increasing prevalence of individuals exhibiting them. While this is purely my opinion, I feel confident that it is grounded in fact.

Why fans aren’t happy with The Umbrella Academy season 4

All you have to do is take a spin on Twitter so see the common complaints about the new season.

It appears that fans are displeased for several reasons, with the primary issue being a sense of futility in their journey. The Umbrella Academy seems to have been the root cause all along, despite their repeated efforts to save the world. However, it wasn’t entirely their fault that they fractured the timeline; this was due to Reginald releasing the marigold, which granted them their powers.

Clearly, many viewers weren’t satisfied with how Lila and Five’s narrative wrapped up towards the end of the season. While I personally found it less bothersome, it did feel somewhat unpredictable. Additionally, it appeared to create an unnecessary slow-down in the overall pace.

In my opinion, although it might seem controversial, I found the finale of “The Umbrella Academy” quite satisfying. Frankly, I can’t think of another way they could have concluded it. Admittedly, an ending where all characters survive is possible, but I believe this one works. It concludes the narrative in a way that feels complete. It underscores the significance of Ben’s death, a theme that has been central throughout the series. Even though he’s gone, his sacrifice still resonates and adds depth to the story.

Was their self-sacrifice to save the universe a bit overly dramatic or corny? Yes, indeed, but that doesn’t diminish the events themselves. Technically, since all memories of them have been wiped out, it didn’t actually happen, but for us who watched their journey unfold over four seasons, it was as real and enchanting as any story could be. Let not your thoughts on the final outcome tarnish the experience we shared along the way.

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2024-08-09 00:33