When a series sports a title as metaphorically rich as "The Umbrella Academy," it's almost mandatory to seek a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows. And behold, the silver lining: Allison's fate has taken a miraculous turn – she lives! Rejoice!
Yet, the clouds linger, for Vanya's assault has wreaked havoc on Allison's vocal cords, casting doubt on her ever regaining the gift of speech. Her superpower, inherently tied to her eloquence, now lies dormant, rendering her, in essence, as Vanya once perceived herself: a mere mortal. Perhaps, "The Umbrella Academy" is poised to argue that such ordinariness isn't all gloom and doom. Prior to her tragic ordeal, Allison had already resolved to forsake her extraordinary abilities, recognizing that their burden had only sown strife and sorrow among her siblings.
Vanya, too, is now grappling with the shadowy underbelly of the powers she once yearned for. Flashbacks reveal the reasons behind Hargreeves' drastic decision to stifle her abilities. While he may never grace the Father of the Year podium for his frigid demeanor and distant parenting, the depths of his desperation are palpable. Young Vanya's temper was a tempest, unleashing her powers with reckless abandon, turning each nanny Hargreeves entrusted with her care into a casualty of her wrath. (One such scene depicts a nanny hurtling through a window, a haunting reminder of the fatalities that might have ensued.)
Enter Grace, a robotic savior who endures Vanya's fury, resets her head with a twist, and serves up oatmeal with a perpetual smile. But robots cannot be a lifelong companion for a girl who treats them like playthings. Hargreeves, recognizing Vanya's impulsivity and danger, intervened, quarantining her in a sound chamber before administering a potent cocktail of drugs and an incantation from Allison to strip her of her powers entirely.
Thus, the stage is set for a reevaluation of what truly constitutes strength and heroism within the umbrella's embrace.
Now that Vanya's formidable abilities have been restored, and Hargreeves is nowhere in sight to undo the awakening, she finds herself fleeing to the sanctuary of her new mentor, Leonard. But their respite is fleeting; upon their arrival, Vanya stumbles upon Hargreeves' diary, a damning revelation that exposes Leonard's manipulative machinations all along. (Mark this as the second time Vanya's uncovered the diary, owing solely to Leonard's careless oversight. Really, Leonard? C'mon!)
The truth, once unveiled, sets Leonard's carefully constructed facade crumbling. He confesses to his nefarious deed—murdering the lead violinist to pave Vanya's way—with alarming haste. When Vanya recoils in disbelief, Leonard morphs into a darker shade, echoing Hargreeves' sentiments that she lacked the necessary strength. As he pounds on the diary for emphasis, it's almost as if he's daring fate. And fate, in the form of Vanya's sonic might, answers with a vengeance, impaling Leonard with a barrage of kitchen knives that seem to fly of their own accord. Leonard's shock at his own demise is palpable, yet I can't help but imagine a more poignant scenario where Umbrella Academy would've taken a darker turn.
Throughout the season, Leonard stood as the sole living soul who comprehended the depths of Vanya's powers, exploiting this knowledge to his advantage. Driven by his obsession with the Umbrella Academy and facing a bleak future once Vanya discovered his deceit, it would've been a more fitting end for Leonard to deliberately provoke Vanya's abilities, willingly sacrificing himself to force her into a reluctant path of villainy.
Alas, he's now but a memory. And Vanya, having lashed out twice within a day's span, yearns for the refuge of her family. As she steps into the Umbrella Academy's fold, she's greeted by Luther's cautious yet reassuring embrace, assuring her of Allison's safety and wrapping her in a tight cocoon of comfort.
His arms remain entwined, a protective shield that refuses to relinquish its hold until Vanya's exhaustion finally claims her. When she awakens, she finds herself transported back to the chamber of her youth, her siblings' gazes piercing through the soundproof glass, a silent testament to their enduring bond.
What I find intriguing about this scenario is its relentless complexity, devoid of simplistic solutions. It's undeniably cruel—as Klaus, Diego, and even Allison vehemently contend—to imprison Vanya solitarily within a chamber, shrouded in uncertainty about her release, a fate as bleak as a never-ending night. And yet, the undeniable fact lingers that Vanya poses a colossal threat to those around her. She herself has conceded to her inability to rein in her formidable powers, and aside from her supernatural abilities, she bears the guilt of a murder indisputably hers. Her family's hands are now tied with limited options to assist her.
Perhaps, had fate woven a different tapestry, the course might have altered. Imagine if Hargreeves had nurtured a bond of trust with Vanya, allowing her childhood training to flourish uninterrupted. Could it have led to a balanced adulthood where Vanya, unfettered by Leonard's destabilizing influence, would have discovered her powers organically and mastered them with grace?
But alas, the situation has spiraled into chaos, its depths devoid of comforting answers. Moreover, the storm clouds are gathering, for Vanya has grown exponentially more potent than anyone dared comprehend. Harnessing the full spectrum of her abilities, she shatters the soundproof chamber's door with a blast so fierce, it heralds her emergence as a terrifying supervillain, her very presence a harbinger of apocalyptic doom.
