The Umbrella Academy Episode One Review
I'd heard The Umbrella Academy was coming out for a bit now, but much like the comic the show was based on, I was only just that, merely aware of its existence. But as the time came closer, I got more and more hyped, that trailer definitely helped out, with that Gerard Way cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter". I was sold.
So, Friday night I watched the first episode of the series, and midway through I knew that I needed to read the comic. So I ordered it off Amazon, and got it two days later, which I breezed through the six chapters included in the volume that same day.
When I went back and watched the episode a second time, I noticed some very rad Easter eggs and nods towards the comic, which I may mention in another article after I finish the season.
In any case, the basic premise for the series follows mostly along the same set up as the comic. Some time ago, eccentric billionaire, and adventurer Sir Reginald Hargreaves (Colm Feore-Riddick) was seeking out the offspring of women who had all given birth at the same time, and had found 7 of them.
The children all have special abilities and Hargreaves trains the children to use their powers and in combat. Much like Professor Xavier from the X-Men comics, the children form a superhero team called "The Umbrella Academy" and have a career of being teen superheroes for a bit.
Cut to the present day and Hargreaves is dead. The children gather back at home for the funeral, where something happens that will change them forever.
This is a great first episode of TV right here. It introduces all the characters, what they can do and where they are in life in the span of a few quick scenes. Right now my MVP of the episode goes to Robert Sheehan, who plays Klaus. His charismatic performance as the kleptomaniac drug addicted speaker of the dead stole the show for me. I'm mad I didn't recognize him first as the actor from Misfits.
Favorite moment would have to be the I Think We're Alone Now dance sequence. Great song choice, and I loved the 80’s movie feel of it, very Breakfast Club like. which I really loved. Just a fun scene.
I also really dig how their domino masks from childhood really have those white spaces still in them. I guess there has been some influence from the Deadpool movie and Spider-Man: Homecoming. And that whole scene as well, was another episode highlight, seeing the children in action, in their prime, was really awesome.
All in all this episode has some great action in it, some cool music, and it sucks you in wanting more. I'm trying to space it out to enjoy it longer, but we'll see how that goes.
