The Covid-19 pandemic has put a halt on the run of the MCU juggernaut resulting in a shortage of big-screen worthy superhero drama. But there are some good choices when it comes to streaming services and The Umbrella Academy is surely one show that is ranking high on the popularity charts right now.

Among all the comic book TV shows that you can watch right now, The Umbrella Academy was perhaps the least known one. That is until the second season was released last month. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season which built the foundations of a story about seven siblings with superpowers.

Let me add that the series is based on a comic book series written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. It was released by Dark Horse Comics and won the Eisner Award for Best Finite Series/Limited Series in 2008. Three volumes have been released to date and a fourth volume is scheduled to come out in 2020.

While each of the siblings were born to a different parents, they were assembled to be a team of superheroes by their emotionally abusive father Reginald Hargreeves. Every siblings is known by a number rather than by their names. While the first season had some issues with the overall pacing, the second season offers better plot development with more style and heart.

It is not a show which has all the plot edges perfectly smooth and crisp, especially the ones related to time-travel. However, if you can look beyond that, it is a perfectly enjoyable drama that combines humour with the right amount of emotional dividend.  No wonder, it is presently the most-watched show on Netflix.

In case you still haven’t finished with season 1, I would not share any of the details here. The second season picks up right after the events of the first with the siblings finding themselves separated from each other after travelling back in time to 1963. However, the threat of another apocalypse still looms large and they need to come together to save the world.

While the show makes a lot of effort to look into the details of each character, quite a few new characters are introduced. At the same time, the siblings get to learn more about their powers and learn to expand their boundaries. On top of that, there are other themes related to race equality issues and same-sex relationships. While some of these interactions are a lot of fun, others can be a bit frustrating. But in the end, we get to see all of them in action together which is definitely the highlight of this season.

Also, we get to see a more of Ben as he plays an important role in the story. With most of the focus on Vanya, Diego, Alison and Five, I found Luther and Klaus to be the ones who are a bit neglected. While Luther still spends most of the season pining for Alison, there was nothing much that Klaus had to offer in the main plot.

Among the newcomers, Ritu Arya as Lila, Yusuf Gatewood as Raymond Chestnut and Marin Ireland as Sissy Cooper. They fit nicely into the unusual and perplexing world of The Umbrella Academy as new elements of the plot unfolds. The performance from all the leads is excellent but without a doubt, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, is the scene-stealer.  He plays the time-travelling master assassin who got stuck in a post-apocalyptic world for 45 years and finally returns as a 58-year old man stuck in a 13 year old body.

The spectacle and the emotional interactions are finely blended to make the season a real fun-ride. However, putting Number Seven (Ellen Page) at the centre of the apocalyptic events is one theme that already seems overused. I hope the makers will come up with something fresh in the coming seasons. With each episode having a shorter run-time than season one, season two keeps a tighter control on the plot development.

The production design is superb and there are some great action sequences to match the ambitious scale of imagination. As a bonus, the soundtrack packs a real punch and adds to the overall fun factor.  The top-notch sound editing also helps you to connect better with the characters and enjoy the wild ride through a period of American history.

While the first season ended with a big bang but the second season doesn’t follow the same path while keeping the interest fully alive. Quite a few loose threads from the first season are tied up while some exciting new teases are made. The show also keeps the time travel part simple and fun without getting bogged down by technical complexities. After the events of season 2 the next season will surely unravel more complexities of playing with time.

The Umbrella Academy balances violence, horror and humour in perfect proportions to provide a perfectly brewed cup of entertainment. On the whole, season two is exciting material for binge-watching. I for sure will be eagerly waiting for season three which will surely arrive sometime next year.

The Umbrella Academy is streaming on Netflix.

By Suvajit Banerjee

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