Rain falls at the Academy about ”The Umbrella Academy”.
I barely wrote a post that there will be no more Marvel series on the Netflix platform, and actually today I can tell you - wipe your tears. Without heroes from Marvel, Netflix will do great in the superpowers genre. It's enough that it will shoot more productions like "Umbrella Academy" a perfect, inspired by the comic series, which shows that in the cinema where people have superpowers does not have to be boring. There are no spoilers in the post because I thought that maybe it is not worth damaging others the pleasure of this crazy ride.
Let me start with the fact that the series is inspired by the comic book, because although the starting point and some tracks are repeated, however, it is a work largely separate, which slightly differently plays certain threads. But do not be sad, on the contrary - because comics and TV series are in their own way perfect and unique in terms of content and aesthetics, this difference between the starting material and the series means that we have more fantastic works of culture and no less. Besides - if you have not read the comic you will not feel excluded in any way and if you know the comic book, there is no chance of boredom.
The starting point is interesting in itself - in 1989, children come to the world one day all over the world. The problem is that their mothers were not pregnant before. Seventh of all world-born creatures is adopted by Sir Reginald Hargreeves - an eccentric and a millionaire who presumes the title "Umbrella Academy" where he educates his pupils while developing their powers. Sir. Reginald lives in the belief that children are chosen to save the world someday. However, the Umbrella Academy is not about golden years of training or great actions to save humanity. On the contrary - we meet our heroes when everyone returns to their family home for the only reason who could bring them back to the Umbrella Academy - Sir. Reginald is dead. Apprentices of this raw school for super heroes appearing at home are no longer interested in saving the world. Quite the contrary - they want to live their own lives and reluctantly mention the times they have spent away from their peers, following the instructions of a strict and cruel adoptive father. Although, of course - it quickly turns out that questions arise around death, and all this pales in the face of a more clear forecast that in just a moment the whole world will go to the end.
If you feel the similarity between the described story and the X-men, then this is not completely unjustified association. Although we do not have mutants here, only a group of people endowed with extraordinary skills, however, considerations about the cost that is paid for having ”not us usual” skills is an important topic of the series. It appears especially in the case of the wonderful and colorful Klaus - who can communicate with the dead - which is so onerous that the hero stays under the influence of drugs for the most part because he doesn't want to hear all these damned souls. In turn, Allison - can dissolve gossip (and these immediately become true) is not quite sure what in her life is really her merit and what is the result of manipulating others with her powers. In fact, the series answers the question of what would happen if Professor Xavier did not pose for a nice and understanding caretaker, he evaluated his pupils non-stop and instead of naming them he simply decided to number them, and appointed a robot for emotional care. It must be admitted that, in addition to the engaging story (about which in a moment) what is most drawn in watching the series is the relationship between siblings and their relationship with the father. So we have those who rebel, those who fought for recognition of the strict protector at all costs (especially the figure of Luther - the strongest and the first of the group who wants to meet the father's adoptive commands to the end, seems particularly tragic) or those who do not want to have nothing to do with the whole family. This last post is shown by Vanya - the only one of all seven who does not have any special powers and leads a rather unimportant life as an average violinist.
If the series focused only on psychological themes, it would be interesting but additionally the creators add quite a lot of extremely interesting, though crazy stories. It is a bit more complicated plot than the one in which it is enough to beat a mad scientist and return home. Here, above all, is the threat of the apocalypse that one would like to prevent. What may seem seemingly simple, but it is not necessarily so - especially if someone watches over everything that goes on as it should. Is Umbrella Academy a series in which there is a topic of jumping in time, alternative realities and the question to what extent can be changed the course of events, especially if they have already been put into motion once. As you know - usually horrible things happen to the writers who play with time, or actually throw into their scenarios the thread of time travel. It is easy to stumble here, or lead to a situation where the viewer is not particularly worried about the fate of the characters because everything can be changed. Meanwhile, at the Umbrella Academy, the issue of time travel, manipulation with time lines and the question of stopping the stream of events is treated as interesting and logical enough that it brings a lot of satisfaction and does not give much disappointment. Which does not happen very often.
Umbrella Academy would not be such a delicious series if it were not for its stylistics. If I was to say what is stylistically closest to this production, I would probably say that to some extent "Legion" from F / X but it should be pointed out that the Umbrella Academy is a little less crazy, and holds a coherent narrative somewhat better. No less - in terms of ideas for the storyline, the way of filming, or emerging threads, this production is far from the usual series that are not afraid to show us strange and crazy things. I watch this with enormous pleasure because, in fact, we can be surprised by the story or the director's decision we did not expect. If we add an absolutely inspired soundtrack (I have not seen that wonderful selection of music for a long time - I had the impression that I already watched a series with very good soundtrack but I can remember which one it was)- we get the production that just enjoys the eye, mind and ear. At the same time, in my opinion, this first season was perfectly spread out emotionally - so that, unlike many productions, Netflix does not fall into a hole where the series would be perfect if it had fewer episodes. There is always a plane on which something is happening - either the action moves forward or we have a look at the past of heroes (it is perfect to fill gaps regarding their childhood and youth), or to develop some emotional threads.
The series must have been watched over by the casting gods because it is a production in which actors managed to gather perfectly suited to their roles. Robert Sheehan (known also from the interesting approach to super power in ”Misfits”) as Klaus collects the most praise. Sheehan plays with an incredible ease the loose game, still a bit of a stoned hero who, when the scenario requires it, he can play incredibly moving scenes. Oh, a capable beast from this actor, with a well-chosen role, he is able to play virtually everything. Aidan Gallagher made a huge impression on me as the number 5. A family member who disappeared for several years and then returns to the group. He is in his 50th but looks like a teenager. Gallagher despite his youthful appearance easily plays the older bitter man whose personality reflected the years of loneliness, excessive drinking and emotional attachment to the shop mannequin. Tom Hopper is also great as Luther - the group leader who believed in the orders issued by his father until the very end. This character is physically strong, but emotionally delicate, sensitive and inexperienced in life. It is not easy to play a huge guy who has emotionally stopped at the level of a teenager but Hopper does it effortlessly. The biggest star of the series is Ellen Page, who played the role of Vanya’s who's doesn't have any super-talents. Page perfectly deals with showing marasmus and withdrawal but also the frustration of heroine. Anyway, in this series, there are simply no weak roles and even characters that we know in the supporting role and it seems to us that they will not have too much role or too much personality gain our sympathy.
I must admit that I have not watched a show with a sense of satisfaction like in the case of the Umbrella Academy. It gave me everything I really look for in series productions. Well-written characters, time to expand the relationship between them, non-standard script actions, interesting - often quite crazy directing and songs that hummed non-stop. At the same time, the first season of the series is a very consistently told story, which actually gives each of the seven siblings a way to go and leaves them at a different time than we find them. At the same time what I absolutely love in this series is jumping between the past and the present, when the screenwriters are slowly discovering for us what made our heroes what they are now. And hanging over everything - absolutely not a heroic issue - to what extent parents and their mistakes are responsible for what happens to our lives in adulthood. Does it stay with us forever or we can not blame those who raised us for everything.
If someone is just sobbing into a cup of coffee at the thought of what he will do without the Marvel series on Netflix, he should wipe away tears and throw himself at the Umbrella Academy. It's such a good show that you can really stop shedding tears. And the only thing you have to wait for is the next season. Especially since the first one has a disturbing tendency to end surprisingly quickly. So after one day of watching and moving all the liabilities for a later date. Because listen, this is a series in which even the way in which his title appears in each episode tells you to sigh loudly and say - how great it is.
