One of the best superhero shows.
Netflix has a wide variety of fantasy TV shows, and one of its best is a perfect combination of the best elements from Stranger Things and The Boys.
In addition to its licensed content, Netflix now stands out for its original content, with some of its TV projects, like Squid Game and Adolescence, now ranking among the best TV shows of all time. One of Netflix’s most popular branches is fantasy, in which it has explored different styles, themes, and worlds. Netflix is home to original fantasy shows like Stranger Things and adaptations of video games, comic books, and more, such as The Witcher and Arcane.
Falling into the latter category is The Umbrella Academy, an adaptation of the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Umbrella Academy ran for four seasons, and even though the final one was quite divisive, it stands as one of Netflix’s best fantasy shows. The Umbrella Academy brings together fantasy, sci-fi, and superheroes, though a very unique type of these.
The Umbrella Academy is like The Boys in terms of being a dark superhero show with complex and ambiguous characters, and like Stranger Things thanks to its sci-fi elements and occasional supernatural creatures. However, The Umbrella Academy stands out as both a superhero show and a sci-fi one, thanks to some key details.
The Umbrella Academy Is Unlike Most Recent Superhero TV Shows The Umbrella Academy introduces viewers to the Hargreeves, seven adopted siblings who, along with 36 other kids in different parts of the world, were born on the same day, at the same time, and to women who weren’t pregnant when the day began. These seven kids were adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves , who trained them as they each began to develop unique superpowers.
Reginald formed the superhero team The Umbrella Academy, but as he wasn’t really a parent to the kids and was more of a mentor or trainer, the team gradually fell apart over the years. Each member of the Umbrella Academy develops personal issues due to trauma, but they are forced to team up again after Reginald’s death and the reveal of the fast-approaching apocalypse.
The Umbrella Academy arrived during the peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and thus at a time when the superhero content available was more on the traditional side, with superpowered characters being on the side of good and justice. The Umbrella Academy presented a darker, more realistic, and complex look at superheroes, exploring their trauma, fears, weaknesses, and mistakes, showing that, despite their powers, they’re still human.
Other dark superhero TV shows have followed since The Umbrella Academy came out, most notably The Boys and Invincible, focusing on different and more personal sides of superheroes that contrast with their traditional image of perfect and lawful good. The Umbrella Academy was a refreshing take on superheroes in the late 2010s, leaving its mark on the world of superhero TV shows.
The Umbrella Academy Made Time Travel Comprehensible & Interesting When it comes to its sci-fi side, The Umbrella Academy dealt with time travel in every season. Thanks to Five’s powers, the Hargreeves were able to travel back in time for season 2, later landing back on the wrong timeline in season 3 and living in a timeline crafted by their father in season 4.
Although time travel is one of the most popular sci-fi themes, it’s also one of the most difficult to include. Subscribe to our newsletter for Netflix fantasy deep dives Get deeper Netflix fantasy coverage - subscribe to the newsletter for character analyses, timeline breakdowns, and curated recommendations that explore The Umbrella Academy, Stranger Things, The Witcher and other fantastical series.
Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Time travel can be quite confusing, and its rules change depending on the story, but The Umbrella Academy made it comprehensible and actually interesting.
The Umbrella Academy used the basic rules of time travel and relied on a multiverse to explain the existence of different timelines, though it must be said that the show ruined all this in its final season. Still, even with its flaws and its disappointing final season, The Umbrella Academy is one of the best Netflix fantasy TV shows to date, as well as one of the best modern superhero shows.
The show might be over, but the comic book series continues, with its most recent miniseries, The Umbrella Academy: Plan B, published in June 2025, so there’s more of the Hargreeves in the timeline of the comic books. 56 7.9/10 8/10 The Umbrella Academy 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Adventure Comedy Action Release Date 2019 - 2024-00-00 Showrunner Steve Blackman Directors Jeremy Webb Writers Steve Blackman Franchise The Umbrella Academy Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse
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