Is your family dysfunctional? It surely doesn’t hold a match to the family in “The Umbrella Academy”, which follows a group of anti-heroes equipped with unmatched superpowers (and daddy issues). The Netflix Original is based on graphic novels by Gerald Way. 

The show starts with an eccentric billionaire who adopts 7 children after their mothers mysteriously give birth to them on the same day at the same time, without knowing they are pregnant. Their adopted father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves, relentlessly trains his children to be poised crime fighters, as he knows they are special. Luckily enough, the children possess superpowers- from super-strength to mind control- and they soon become crime-fighting heroes. 

Fast forward many years, the children are now adults many of whom are trying to disconnect themselves from their father and troubling childhood. Unbeknownst to them, the strange death of their father will reunite them and help heal their past trauma. 

The writing and acting are great, and the characters seem real and relatable- from reuniting with past friends to discussing emotional scars from childhood. “The Umbrella Academy” portrays a lot of diversity in its cast- characters are more than their mental illness, their sexuality, their gender or their race in this show. Each character also has their own fully fleshed backstory, which makes them seem all the more life-like. 

The soundtrack is top-notch in both season one and two, partially the “I Think We’re Alone Now” scene with Allison and Luther. In both seasons, the music helps drive the story along and help the audience get more insight into the characters and scene overall.

The plot can be a little convoluted at times so if you take a popcorn break, make sure to pause it so you don’t miss something important. This show is best binge-watched, since the plot quickly develops throughout each episode, leading to a striking climax that will have you biting your nails in anticipation for the next season. 

After a long first week of classes, unwind and get entranced by “The Umbrella Academy”. If you’re looking for a relatable, dark comedy, sci-fi drama, this is just the show for you! 

4.5/5 stars