Episode 4 of Umbrella Academy's thrilling third season kicks off with a captivating montage that weaves through time, chronicling Harlan's relentless odyssey leading up to the catastrophic events unfolding in the grand atrium. Leveraging his formidable abilities, Harlan traverses landscapes, leaving a trail of unconscious—or worse, deceased—victims in his wake. The devastating blow comes when his mother succumbs to cancer's embrace in 1989, since which Harlan has retreated into solitude, utilizing ASMR as a solitary balm to soothe his tumultuous emotions.
As the present-day chaos ensues, Klaus stumbles, dazed and confused, through the main entrance, aghast at the devastation before him. Upon awakening, Sloane's horrified gaze falls upon the lifeless bodies of Alphonso and Jayme, prompting her to flee in terror. Luther's pursuit is swift but ultimately futile as Diego and Allison seize control of the situation, Allison unleashing her powers in a terrifying scream directed at Sloane. As Sloane's nose trickles with blood, Luther intervenes, halting their relentless interrogation of the trembling woman. Sloane's confession shatters their plans—the Sparrows are ignorant of the briefcase's whereabouts, rendering her mission futile.
In a moment of unexpected vulnerability, Luther confides in Sloane, baring his soul and acknowledging the scarcity of true friendships in his life. Their burgeoning romance, however, holds a special significance for him, and the two share a poignant, intimate moment amidst the chaos.
Elsewhere, Viktor confronts Harlan, his voice laced with anguish as he reveals the excruciating sensation akin to a tuning fork's relentless vibration within his skull whenever the Umbrella siblings draw too close. The explosive incident in the hallway was but a grim consequence of their inadvertent proximity, igniting Viktor's latent powers. Since that fateful encounter on the farm, their fates have become intertwined, and Viktor vows to rectify the unintended consequences of their connection.
Back at the Academy's hallowed halls, tensions boiled over as Fei and Ben clashed fiercely over the throne of the Sparrow Academy's leadership, their family's shattered bonds echoing through their bitter dispute. With half of their kin lying in sorrow's embrace, a chasm yawned wide within their ranks.
Meanwhile, in the frozen tundra's embrace, Lila and Five's journey uncovered a chilling truth: the Grandfather Paradox, a sinister specter, had not confined its grasp to a solitary realm but had stretched its tentacles across the fabric of the cosmos. Desperate for answers, they turned to the Founder's protocol booklet, hoping it might hold the key.
Five, beleaguered by the absence of clear directives in the face of impending doom, found himself adrift...until a glimmer of hope shone from an Operations bunker lurking beneath their feet. As he gained access, his distress became all too apparent, his body betraying him with fits of flatulence and rivers of sweat.
Within that hidden sanctuary, a shocking sight greeted them: a glass cage imprisoning a far older version of Five himself. This revelation shed light on Five's erratic behavior, as the proximity to his future self unleashed a maelstrom of side effects. Furthermore, it transpired that he was the very architect of this refuge, designed as a sanctuary in times of direst need.
Yet, the solution to the Kugelblitz conundrum remained elusive, as the elder Five conceded that oblivion was the inevitable endgame. "This fate awaits you," he warned, his voice laden with foreboding, "Whatever path you tread, do not strive to save the world." With those ominous words, he slipped into eternity, leaving behind a cryptic tattoo etched upon his chest. Five, convinced it held the secret to their salvation, resolved to remove it as a clue.
At the Hotel Obsidian, a different battle raged as Luther and Sloane forged an unlikely alliance to quell the tempest within the Sparrow Academy. Their quest: to reclaim Alphonso and Jayme and restore harmony, with Sloane masterfully weaving a tale that exonerated Harlan as an unsuspecting pawn in a larger game.
As Stan and Klaus embark on their unauthorized venture, they sneak into the enigmatic White Buffalo chamber, their eyes widening in awe at the contents within. In a moment of careless excitement, Stan fiddles with a harpoon gun, only to trigger a tragic mishap, piercing Klaus through the chest with a devastating shot. With Klaus collapsing to the floor, Stan is left stunned, his voice echoing through the air as he frantically cries out for assistance.
Harlan, alerted by the sudden tumult, is met with confusion as to its source. His confusion leads him to break into Viktor's quarters, where he comes face to face with damning papers that reveal the truth behind the deaths of various mothers. It transpires that these mothers fell victims to Harlan's loss of control, a byproduct of the heartbreaking loss of Sissy in the hospital. This revelation casts a new light on the haunting flashbacks that opened this episode, finally shedding light on the mysteries surrounding their untimely passings.
Meanwhile, the exchange progresses, but Ben's ingenuity takes center stage. Recognizing a pivotal moment, he formulates a bold plan: to offer Harlan as a gesture of goodwill, hoping to avert further conflict. This gamble either holds the key to resolving the tense standoff or signals the inevitable descent into all-out war.
