3.5/5
Under My Umbrella.
6 Episodes. Starring: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, David Cross, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman & Colm Feore. Created By: Steve Blackman. On: Netflix.
If you think it's bad that the fourth season of 'The Umbrella Academy' on Netflix is also the final one, just wait until you find out how many episodes there are, reduced by four. Thank God for a grown-up Five, and the six other members of his X-Men like Academy of a family. These six episodes are stellar, like starlight, and the perfect swan song, as the streaming service Netflix's first family wave goodbye for the final time with the planet in peril, but not an ape in sight. Despite another multiverse of madness strand of storytelling, coming at the same time as the mega Marvel and Disney crossover blockbuster of 'Deadpool and Wolverine', 'The Umbrella Academy' can find themselves under the same parasol of the school of 'The Boys', 'Deadly Class', 'Doom Patrol' and 'Legion'. Creating that last word of fans, more than just those who follow the chemical romance of comic-book writer Gerard Way. This Steve Blackman creation even rivals those Fox mutants that say 'LFG' with its Green Day rivalling closing credits of a glorious gallery of memories for the time of your life.
Dysfunction in the apocalypse. They're all here. The Hargreeves family. 'Inception' and 'X-Men: The Last Stand/Days Of Future Past' actor Elliot Page, supercharged as 'The White Violin' Viktor. 'Game Of Thrones' and 'Black Sails' star Tom Hopper as the muscle-bound Spaceboy of Luther. The Kraken arms of a knife throwing (and bullets in perfect time) David Castañeda's Diego. The Rumour you've all heard about in 'Jekyll and Hyde's' Emmy Raver-Lampan as Allison. The Séance of 'Misfit' Robert Sheehan as Klaus, doing more than just talking to the dead, and being in a worse predicament than the other Ryan Reynolds movie where he had to do more than break the fourth wall to keep the people entertained in that one-man show. Aidan Gallagher as The Boy you know as Five, coming of age and across a twisted New York like Subway that will take him to greater places than 'The Matrix'. Then there are the Superman eyes of Rita Arya welcomed to the family. Former Sparrow member Justin H. Min. A beast that roars louder than a T. rex. And an even bigger monster in the form of 'Thor' and 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' actor Colm Feore. What else could you ask to be brought to the fore?
Well, how about an academy of the greatest guest stars this side of the Queen of R&B and a 'Mindhunter' star that kills it? Not only do we have the 'Arrested Development' of David Cross, but also the new tag team of Gene and Jean. Sounding as much like a seventies double act as their winter coat, middle-American attire looks. They're also played by no other than 'Will & Grace' star Megan Mullany, showing just how left field she can take it, and who else, but Ron 'F#####g' Swanson himself, 'Parks & Recreation' cult favourite Nick Offerman. And if you thought Offerman was outstanding in that one episode of 'The Last Of Us' that riled up the red caps, then wait until you see the voice's ponytail and bifocals here. You already know, he steals the show. He always does like that big horn always wins a staring competition with the other Ron, Will Ferrell's Robert Goulet. Season Four of 'The Umbrella' may feel more like an EP than an LP, but for the record, it's one of the best superhero shows ever. We've marvelled at enough to know that superhero fatigue is real, but at least this one doesn't needlessly put up an umbrella like it was just a light shower. Avoiding bad luck like opening one indoors, 'The Academy' join the likes of 'Ozark', 'The Crown' and soon to be 'Stranger Things' and 'Squid Game' in Netflix retirement, but at least before the glow of the multiple Emmy winner was taken away. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Boys', 'Legion', 'Deadly Class'.
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