Recently the relationship between Netflix and Superhero shows is dodgy at best. However, their original series, The Umbrella Academy based on a comic book series of the same name, may have redeemed our trust in them. The weird timeless setting reminded me a lot of Legion, and that’s where the comparison between comic book shows and The Umbrella Academy ends. I find it hard to compare it to other shows of the same genre, it’s just so uncanny engaging that I’ve binge watched season one in only two days only. From Ellen Page’s iconic dance moves to assassins burning down a building while high, here are few of my favorites moments from season one.
The Dance Scene
When Luthor does what he does best, which is annoy everyone present. He turns on Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” which got the entire family dancing. The scene, without a single dialogue, managed to tell a lot about each character. And the fact they’re dancing alone but together at the same time is an ingenious foreshadowing.
Vanya’s Performance
I’ve waited for this moment ever since Vanya first displayed her power with the lampposts. Vanya’s performance which was the show’s finale was almost as earth-shattering as what actually happened. Just when you think that they did it and saved the earth, the truth is revealed that no matter what they did the apocalypse is going to happen because Vanya herself is the apocalypse. Number five’s last-minute decisions to teleport them out of time led to them regressing back to their children bodies, leaving the possibilities endless for the second season.
Ben is Back
We’ve only seen Ben as a kid and as a ghost occupying Klaus in his life of bad choices. Klaus’s carefree act and his drug addiction led to his family mistrusting him all the time, but he finally gets to show off his power when he brings Ben back to life temporally. It was also the first time we’ve seen Ben in action. Even when he was a kid his power, just like the cause of his death, wasn’t shown clearly.
Dave’s Death
Despite the fact that Klaus pretty much wears his mask of happiness throughout the season, his backstory is tragic as they come. Just when you think he got a break from escaping torture, he gets sucked back in time to serve alongside Dave in the military. And as if everything Klaus went through wasn’t enough, we get to see Dave, who became his love interest, die in his arms. The death was a catalyst for Klaus to get clean, but it still hurt watching it.
Harold Jenkins’ Demise
Harold or Leonard as he was pretending to be was the most infuriating character on the show, next to Luthor of course. He was way too kind which made him suspicious from the start, but he wasn’t even interesting enough to be the big bad of the season. His manipulation of Vanya did lead to the world ending, but thankfully he got his end sooner when she finally showed him what she was capable of, and it was satisfying.
Saving Dolores
If someone had told me that I would consider a scene where an old guy stuck in his 14-year-old body trying to save his girlfriend, a mannequin named Dolores, from assassins wearing kids masks, the peak of superhero shows I would have laughed in your face. But as it turns out it was as crazy as it sounds, and I loved every minute of it.
Griddy’s Fight
At the point when this scene takes place, we don’t really know much about Number Five. Watching a little kid taking on a band of assassins using the donuts shop’s utensils was glorious, and the fact that he does it with “Istanbul” playing in the background is just too perfect for words.
Hazel and Cha-Cha Getting High
I could probably write down every Hazel and Cha-Cha scene as my favorite, but I finally narrowed it down to this one. After they finally get Klaus to confess the what Number Five up to, they head out to Meritech to see for themselves. Under the effect of Klaus laced chocolate bar, they set fire to the building while dancing around to the beat of Tom Swoon’s "Shingaling".
