Before we dive in to our thoughts on the ending of The Umbrella Academy season two it’s worth nothing this article will contain MAJOR SPOILERS. If you haven’t seen season two then look away now!
Did you look away? Great, then let’s continue…
The second season of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy took the Hargreeve’s family back to 1960’s Dallas for a hugely stylised adventure. One which pushed the boundaries of the Dark Horse adaption even further than in season one.
But whilst it seemed that the stakes had never been higher, the final scene of season 2 certainly upped the ante ahead of the as-yet-confirmed season 3.
After averting yet another apocalypse and, of course, having another dance party, the Hargreeves family returns to 2019. Arriving after the time of the first apocalypse the siblings revel in that perceived success. But their glee is short lived. Arriving back at the titular Umbrella Academy the group is confronted by their father, Reginald Hargeeves, now alive and well.
Hargreeves senior, now revealed to be an alien, recognising the group stood before him but proclaims that he is NOT their father and that the Umbrella Academy doesn’t even exist.
Instead it seems that Reginald created the Sparrow Academy, a similar group of powered children led by a very familiar face. It’s none other than the groups formerly dead brother Ben (Justin H. Min)!
The season ends with Luther (Tom Hopper), Klaus (Robert Sheehan), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Diego (David Castañeda), Five (Auden Gallagher) and Vanya (Ellen Page) speechless and potentially the villain in their own story.
Who are the Sparrow Academy?
It seems that events from earlier in season 2 may have inadvertently trigged this brand new future. Earlier in the season the Hargreeve’s kids met with their father for a dinner in 1963. But Reginald being who he is did not take kindly to his kids telling him that he would go on to adopt them in 1989 and raise them as the Umbrella Academy.
It seems the impact of that meeting was that Reg went off and raised a completely different set of powered kids which includes Ben and what appears to be a floating green cube!
Like plenty of aspects of The Umbrella Academy seasons 1 and 2, the Sparrow Academy can be traced right back to the comic book. Most of season 2 takes inspiration from Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s second volume of The Umbrella Academy, the Sparrows are introduced in the final issue of volume three, “Hotel Oblivion.”
Though the Sparrow Academy isn’t named in the comic book their character do use sparrow imagery on their uniforms and costumes.
The Umbrella Academy showrunner Steve Blackman has recently confirmed this team seen in the finale is the same as that seen in the comic book.
“Yeah. They were introduced in volume three. I have a wonderful collaboration with Gerard and we talk a lot about where he wants to go with the different volumes of the comics. I had an idea for the end of this season, a little similar to what the Sparrows were. When I heard he was doing the Sparrows, I got super excited.”
The idea of the Sparrows is introduced gradually through “Hotel Oblivion” as Vanya continues to recover from the injuries sustained in the climactic battle in season one. On a day out with Mother she is introduced to a man named “Deever” who strongly resembles Reginald Hargreeves.
Vanya is soon shipped off to Norway where she stumbles across the Sparrow’s true base of operations. The base itself, and other small signs across the volume, signify that there’s a religious belief system behind the Sparrow academy.
As volume three reaches its climax the Sparrow Academy steps in to save the Umbrella’s as they attempt to roundup dozens of escaped villains. During these scenes we get to learn a little about the new teams powers.
Number One has strength similar to Luthor. Another has the ability to turn in to Ravens whilst another can channel their own pain in to another person.
Whether Blackman chooses to write those powers in to season 3 remains to be seen. Let’s hope Netflix is quick to announce a new season pick up!
Whilst season 3 may not strictly follow the story of the comics its safe to say that the world of The Umbrella Academy in 2019 will be very different from the landscape the Hargreeves left behind in the season 1 finale.
What also remains to be seen is whether this is an alternate future, based off events altered by their trip back to the 60’s. Or whether this is, in fact, an alternate universe where Reginald chose to raise a different set of children.
If the latter should turn out to be correct then there may also be alternate versions of each of the series leads running around the city…
The Umbrella Academy stars Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin H. Min will all be reprising their roles. Ritu Arya, Martin Ireland, and Yusuf Gatewood have also joined the cast for season 2.
Seasons 1 and 2 are both available to stream now, in full, on Netflix.
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