The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Hargreeves kids are still their same weird selves, but the world around them? Even more weirder than before. Welcome back to the world of the super dysfunctional superheroes of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s The Umbrella Academy.
Diego’s going to get his heart broken, and as such, he’s going to need his family more than ever. But Vanya’s distracted by some Swedes in a cornfield, and Allison’s staging a sit-in. What’s next for the family? Let’s go party crashing in “The Majestic 12.” As always, spoilers within.
1. The Story of Lila
Wondering how Lila and The Handler came to be? Back in 1993, Lila’s parents died at the hands of The Temps Commission, who were working with (or perhaps for) The Handler. The Handler finds Lila hiding in a secret room and adopts her as her own, teaching her the ways of fine dining, fine society, and fine, clean assassinations. In spite of her loyalties to her mother figure, she still has a soft spot for Diego (and you can’t deny the chemistry they have together).
Five, however, does not trust her. Does he know her association with The Handler, or is this a case of a strong sixth sense? And will the fact that she saved his life at the Mexican consulate when under attack from the Swedish Three change that? (Even though The Handler did say to bring Five to her alive by any means necessary. . .)
2. The Secrets of Vanya
Vanya continues to unlock the secrets of her past, both on her own and with the help of Luther, who she’s taking care of after his last fight. Luther tries to do this gently, explaining that she was only one small part in the larger fight. The shock is too much for Vanya to take, and she makes her way back to the farm, leaving Luther and Five hanging.
But organically, Vanya’s finding her way back to herself. Once again, maybe without her full knowledge or consent, she uses her powers to save Harlan after he runs away from home and falls in a lake on the farm. Does this start her on the road to understanding and forgiveness of herself?
Or will it be love, as she and Sissy finally give in to their passion?
3. The Great Love of Allison
Over a plate of barbecue, Allison and Luther reunite, and it’s a pleasant if overly polite reunion. Luther’s clearly nursing a broken heart, which he confesses later to Elliott at the store. (Though it did take nitrous oxide to loosen his lips.)
But there’s something Allison says that comes loaded with multiple meanings: “I needed something to hold on to.” On the surface, that something for Allison is her Raymond and her life in Dallas. But she’s also holding on to her past, letting those powers come to the surface and holding back the explanation of those powers to Raymond. Had she really wanted to break free of the Hargreeves life, she would not have sought out Luther, I think.
Just like last season, where Allison’s acting career and family life were the sticks that socially and emotionally distanced her from her family, she still finds small ways to remain connected to them. The question at this point is: what damage will that moment of using her powers to save Raymond do for her marriage, especially when you recall that her use of powers on her young daughter to calm her led to her divorce and losing custody?
4. The Great Love of Klaus
Remember Klaus’s great Vietnam-era love David? Turns out he’s working at a paint shop in Dallas in 1963. And Klaus, with his knowledge of what comes in the future (his enlistment and eventual death) tries to convince David not to enlist, to save his life. As much as Klaus can use his knowledge of the future to manipulate people (see: pretty much everything related to his cult), this is one time where it doesn’t work. David’s relative Brian interrupts the conversation with a heaping of homophobia, goading David on to eventually punch Klaus in the face.
I have a feeling this is one of those fixed points in time that we talk about so much that cannot be moved. And that’s a heartbreaking thing for Klaus, but necessary in order for him to become who he is.
Continued below5. The Majestic 12
Conspiracy theorists, you’re going to loooove this one.
The titular “Majestic 12” are a secret deep state shadow government manipulating world events for their ends, of which Reginald Hargreeves (surprise!) is a member. President Kennedy is trying his darndest to push them into the spotlight, so it’s time to take rhw President out. And that planning meeting is underway during a party at the Mexican consulate in Dallas that Lila, Five, and Diego crash, though not successfully. Diego finds himself distracted by a younger version of his mother, the Swedes get in the way of some spying, and Hargreeves clearly recognizes Five but chooses not to respond to him.
I’m not surprised Hargreeves is wrapped up in this kind of conspiracy. The question is, just how deep does that go?
Notes Found in Five’s Old Commission Desk (our Afterthoughts section)
- The Majestic 12 actually did exist (well, supposedly) – – the group came into being during the Truman administration to recover and investigate alien spacecraft. The FBI later declared leaked government documents detailing the organization to be bogus.
We’ll see you next Tuesday for “Valhalla” and let us know what you thought of the episode in the comments!
