- Network: Netflix
- Series Premiere Date: Feb 15, 2019
Critic Reviews
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The show occasionally finds a way to harness the powers of a solid cast and tremendously talented crew to deliver moments of almost shockingly good TV, but much more frequently falls victim to dull characterizations and repetitive stylistic choices. The latter tendencies render it interchangeable with super anti-hero team-ups like Doom Patrol, The Boys or Legends of Tomorrow.
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For a show with an occasionally impressive exterior (the interplay between Klaus and Ben gets an impressive-looking added wrinkle), the emotional heartbeat underneath is largely absent. Part of that comes from being stretched thin enough that characters without a well-established core are often left flailing, but it’s mostly due to the show’s continued affinity for the reset button.
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It may come on like Avengers: Age of Ultron, all fatuous fisticuffs and inscrutable nonsense, plus a nice line in mock-heroic subversion of the Marvel/DC franchise à la The Tick, but The Umbrella Academy’s real appeal is like that of The Royal Tennenbaums, The Sopranos or Tracy from Coronation Street.
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The Umbrella Academy does have some senses of style and humor, which help distract from the yawning chasm of nonsense lurking in its core. But nearly every aspect of the show would be stronger if any of its logical boundaries had any weight at all, if there were any consistency to the realm of what is and is not possible in its world.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 89 out of 119
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Mixed: 12 out of 119
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Negative: 18 out of 119
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Aug 2, 2020This season seemed rushed and poorly written.
The bad CGI talks for itself. -
Aug 1, 2020
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Aug 1, 2020Great season, it really put work into pushing the characters into new places and still makes them feel grounded with their personas.