5 Unexplained Plot Holes That Still Baffle Umbrella Academy Fans

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The Umbrella Academy offers an exhilarating journey filled with extraordinary antics of superheroes, heated family discussions, and time-bending twists that leave you bewildered. Throughout its four seasons, the series bravely explores enigmas, alternate dimensions, and catastrophic events that threaten universes, often accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack and an endearing dash of peculiarity. We’ve witnessed the Hargreeves siblings navigating one apocalypse after another, struggling with their peculiar upbringing under the mysterious Sir Reginald Hargreeves (portrayed by Colm Feore) and striving to discover their roles in a harsh world. They found solace in knowing that they could rely on each other to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

The allure of The Umbrella Academy lies largely in its ambition, as it fearlessly experiments with various storylines to see what resonates. However, due to the element of time travel, the narrative can sometimes become… rather puzzling. Despite our fondness for the series’ chaotic atmosphere, we’ve found ourselves quite bewildered on several occasions, especially when dealing with universe resets and the ever-changing rules within its world. Though we appreciate the visual spectacle and heartfelt character interactions, certain storylines have been either abandoned, contradicted, or overlooked, leaving viewers questioning the overall plot. So, let’s delve into some of the most perplexing plot points from The Umbrella Academy that continue to leave us puzzled.

1) Sloane’s Vanishing Act

As a die-hard fan of “The Umbrella Academy,” I eagerly dived into Season 3, where we were introduced to the enigmatic Sparrow Academy and their captivating member, Sloane Hargreeves (Genesis Rodriguez). She swiftly emerged as more than just a Sparrow; she was Luther Hargreeves’ (Tom Hopper) love interest and eventually his wife. Their romance was a delightful respite amidst the season’s otherworldly chaos. So, when the familiar Hargreeves-style universe reset occurred at the end of Season 3, viewers anticipated witnessing Sloane’s role in this new, powerless world. However, to our surprise and disappointment, she simply… vanished.

Intriguingly, Luther appeared unfazed when his wife mysteriously ceased to exist in Season 4, despite a fleeting reference to her absence. The show continued much as before, which seems quite uncharacteristic for Luther, known for his strong loyalty and deep emotions. The reason behind her disappearance remains unexplained, uninvestigated, and underdeveloped, creating an empty space where once stood a substantial character and bond. This puzzling oversight leaves the aftermath of the reset feeling unfairly partial and disappointing.

2) Paradox Psychosis? Never Heard of It

In the early seasons of “The Umbrella Academy”, careless time travel resulted in a dangerous condition known as paradox psychosis. This condition could be catastrophic if an individual met their time-duplicate, leading to symptoms such as intense anxiety, hallucinations, and even the possibility of causing chaos. The interaction between Old Five and Young Five (played by Aidan Gallagher) in Season 2 highlighted this danger with great intensity, underscoring the serious repercussions. Number Five himself exhibited clear physical signs, such as uncontrollable flatulence, highlighting that these effects could be tangible.

In contrast, the fourth season of The Umbrella Academy showcases a pivotal moment where a subway deli is filled with multiple Number Five characters, each existing harmoniously without apparent adverse effects. The earlier tension surrounding paradox psychosis, previously established as a significant threat with distinct risks, appears to have been temporarily disregarded in this specific scene, giving the impression that the rules governing this universe are more like flexible plot devices rather than strict, unchanging laws of chaos.

3) Klaus and Ben’s Decades-Long Silence

The relationship between Klaus Hargreeves (Robert Sheehan) and his spectral brother, Ben Hargreeves (Justin H. Min), is one of the most crucial in The Umbrella Academy. For 17 years, Ben has been Klaus’ ghostly confidant. Given the intensity of their bond and the lengthy period they spent together, you might expect that important matters would have come up. Matters such as how exactly Ben died, or specifics about the “Jennifer Incident,” which eventually becomes a key plot point.

In the series The Umbrella Academy, it seems that crucial conversations were never had between the characters despite living together for nearly two decades. It’s hard to believe Ben, knowing his impending death, wouldn’t try to tell Diego about the specifics, given their unique bond. Similarly, Klaus, as he grew more powerful and gained better control over the dead, not asking questions about his brother’s death or past struggles seems out of character for him. This fundamental lack of communication gives their complex relationship an unnatural feeling.

4) The Curious Case of the Post-Credits Ben

After-the-credit sequences are created to captivate audiences by hinting at upcoming events or unveiling fresh enigmas. In the finale of Season 3, The Umbrella Academy presented an intriguing post-credits scene featuring a different Ben character, casually reading a book on a subway train in Seoul, South Korea. This intriguing peek strongly implied that a new storyline involving another iteration of Ben was imminent for the final season, sparking excitement among fans who began brainstorming theories about how this “Korean Ben” would intertwine with the already convoluted Hargreeves tale.

By the start of Season 4, there was no trace of this version of Ben. Neither he nor his storyline were brought up again. It seems the writers intentionally left us hanging with that cliffhanger, only to neglect it in the series finale. This could indicate a change in the story’s direction or perhaps an idea that didn’t survive the editing process for the abridged final season. Either way, it leaves an unsatisfying unresolved plot point.

5) Children of Erased Parents Thriving Post-“Cleanse”

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but eagerly anticipate the climactic moment of The Umbrella Academy Season 4, which revolves around “The Cleanse,” a catastrophic occurrence that unfolds when Ben Hargreeves and Jennifer (Victoria Sawal) — due to their unique connections to Marigold — inadvertently unleash an immense, devouring monster. Through my fervent hope, I follow Number Five’s journey as he gleanes wisdom from his parallel selves, discovering that the only method to mend our fractured multiverse and reestablish a solitary, unyielding timeline is for all those touched by Marigold — specifically, the Hargreeves siblings — to make the ultimate sacrifice. They must allow themselves to be consumed by this entity, effectively erasing their existence from the annals of history.

As a cinephile, I must admit that this part left me scratching my head a bit. In the climax, Lila Pitts (Ritu Arya) and Allison Hargreeves (Emmy Raver-Lampman), in their ultimate act of sacrifice, manage to whisk Claire (Millie Davis), Allison’s daughter, and their own kids into the “timeline subway” to ensure their escape from The Cleanse. Post the Hargreeves family vanishing from existence, the final scene reveals these same children thriving in the supposedly rectified timeline. This seems like a plot hole because if Lila and Allison were erased, logically, their offspring should not have survived either. Their continued existence contradicts the consequences of the sacrifice as depicted in the show, suggesting an attempt to end on a slightly more hopeful note for the children, even at the cost of disregarding the rules set by the series’ own climactic resolution.

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2025-05-19 04:10