In the final scene of The Umbrella Academy’s first season, the Hargreeves siblings agreed to use their brother’s ability to time-travel and escape the end of the world together. What’s the worst that could happen, they asked.
Well, while they do get out of being vaporised from the face of an exploding Earth in 2019, they – to borrow one character's explanation – have brought the apocalypse with them to the 1960s, the era they time-jumped to.
And they only have 10 days to stop this new doomsday, which they must do while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins.
Can this family of superheroes save the world this time around and, get back to their own timeline?
That’s the basic conundrum of the Netflix series’ second season. Of course, nothing is that simple when you factor in the unpredictable characters who make up The Umbrella Academy.
Based on the Dark Horse Comic series of the same name created by writer Gerard Way and artist Gabriel Ba, The Umbrella Academy revolves around seven individuals born around the world in 1989 under a mysterious circumstance.
Each one has a unique ability. The newborns are adopted by eccentric millionaire Reginald Hargreeves, who provides them training to become a team of superheroes, but not much love and understanding.
Needless to say, these kids – Klaus (Robert Sheehan), Diego (David Castaneda), Vanya (Ellen Page), Luther (Tom Hopper), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Five (Aidan Gallgher) and Ben (Justin H. Min) – have different insecurities plaguing them as adults and, in turn, defence mechanisms to cope with those troubled emotions.
As established in the first season, this series is not so much of a superhero show but a dysfunctional family show.
In our video interviews with most of the main cast, the actors agree they were keen to do the show because of this human drama element.
Canadian actress Page explained: “The core of the show is about individuals who had really traumatic childhood. Especially in the first season, we saw how much that manifested in each character.
“So much so, the superhero stuff – the spectacle and the action – I feel like that complements it in so many ways.”
The 33-year-old added: “In the second season, that happens even more.
"We’re really exploring the humanity of these characters and, you know, having it set in the ‘60s, exploring a lot of issues that were occurring in that time and are still happening today. It’s so enjoyable to be a part of the show for those reasons.”
While this war is fictional, some real events in the 1960s are weaved into the series’ plot.
Showrunner Steve Blackman told us why he chose to set the second season in the 1960s: “It was a very tumultuous time. There was the Kennedy assassination, which I wanted as the focal point; the United States and the USSR were very much at war that entire time; we were just a year out of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“So I thought it was a very good time period, as there was a lot of paranoia going on in the US about foreign entities. There were civil rights movement in play...
“It’s a great period of time to throw our family into, to see how they would exist and how different it was from the time period they were leaving, and contrast in those two time periods.”
Lampman, 31, shared: “Walking into the second season, knowing that Allison was going to take on the civil rights movement head on and be a part of it, you know, I was humbled and honoured.
“And also, a little nervous and anxious because I wanted to get it right. I wanted to do it justice and make sure it was depicted correctly and understood by everybody involved.”
The American actress-singer also touched on the fact that it’s a timely reminder of this struggle, as something not that different is happening now in the US with Black Lives Matter in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
“This season coming out now hopefully shines a brighter light on the fact that sure, the civil rights movement happened in the ‘60s, and it is in the past, but it’s the recent past. The length of this fight for justice and equality, the rights for the marginalised people, that fight has never been over.”
Blackman agreed that the writers did a lot of research about that time to give each Hargreeves newfound lives. Not to mention, their different looks.
Klaus has gone on to start a cult because, well, it’s the 1960s. And both Luther and Diego are somehow connected to some of the conspiracy theories about the Kennedy assassinations.
Blackman said: “There’s tons and tons of Easter eggs in the show that people are going to find as they watch it. That was sort of the fun of doing it this year. But, you know, we tried to be authentic as much as we could about that time period.”
The Umbrella Academy does the balancing act between serious issues and LOL moments even better in the second season. And, most of the fun naturally happen whenever all the Hargreeves family members get together.
According to Min, 30, who plays Ben, there are many family scenes in the second season.
The Korean American said: “I think it took like six or seven episodes in the first season for us to finally be together. It takes like three or four in this one for us to finally come together again.
“I just think whenever we’re fully together, that chemistry in that dynamic is so crazy and funny. And, you know, we all hate shooting those scenes because it’s a mess – you’re trying to shoot seven people in different angles – but, on screen, it’s so fun to watch.”
The 35-year-old, who is a father to two young children, said with a laugh: “I can draw upon that (to play Luther). You have to be in control most of the time and it will certainly look like you’re in control, and then on occasion, you just sort of explode. I would say that is the most similar comparison.”
“I’m excited for them to see the opening sequence, which we call Battle Dallas. It took a lot of work, and a lot of time.
“I’m excited for them to really see how these characters evolve. I mean, in the show, it’s only the next 10 days of their lives, but I know we’ve waited a long time as fans to see them again.
“I’m excited for them to see the great action that we do this year, the relationship stories, and how they try to come together again as a family.”
All 10 episodes of The Umbrella Academy S2 will be available on July 31 at 3pm on Netflix.
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