Umbrella Academy – Right Back Where We Started

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

After escaping the apocalypse, each of the Hargreeves tear through the sky and drop on an alley in Dallas but at different times. A man secretly photographs each of them as soon as they hit the ground. Klaus (Robert Sheehan) and Ben (Justin H. Min) are now in February 11th, 1960. Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) faces the year 1961 where she wanders about the racist diners of the past, confused and scared. While Luther (Tom Hopper) falls on the top of a car in the year 1962 and is busy screaming Allison’s name. Diego (David Castañeda) drops back on earth on October 12th, 1963 and immediately gets to test his superpower while saving a woman from getting mugged. He walks around the block and gets transfixed on a news channel displayed in a TV showroom. He notices the date and sees President Kennedy giving a speech. Vanya (Ellen Page) gets transported to October 12th, 1963 only to lose consciousness after getting hit by a car. Harlan (Justin Paul Kelly) and his mum, Sissy (Marin Ireland) jump out of the vehicle to attend to Vanya. Finally, Number Five (Aidan Gallagher) drops to November 25th, 1963 and finds himself stuck amidst a World War-II gunshower until each of his superhero siblings come to his rescue. However, as a deadly mushroom cloud breaks out, Hazel (Cameron Britton) appears before Five offering him to return to safety as the world is about to end.

Five takes the leap while his siblings perish in a nuclear holocaust. Hazel brings Five to November 15th so that he can save the world in the ten remaining days. Apparently, this was Agnes’s (Sheila McCarthy) dying wish before she succumbed to cancer and now Hazel is no way related to The Commission anymore. He soon sacrifices himself for Five, amidst a sudden gunfire. Five manages a narrow escape and suddenly spots a suspicious lurker with contraptions on his roof. He space-jumps inside his house, petrifying the poor guy. He soon learns that the lurker, Elliot (Kevin Rankin), is a UFO enthusiast who was waiting for Five and his troop for three years now as he was the one documenting their return back to earth. Five realizes that he can seek Elliot’s help in trying to locate his siblings. Elliot shows him Diego’s mugshot that once came in the newspaper and Five wastes no more time.

Diego is in a group therapy for his hero complex. Emotionally blaming his dad’s experimentation, Diego agrees to embrace the real him and gets an applause. Lila (Ritu Arya), a fellow patient, challenges Diego that Dr. Montcon (Matthew Edison) smelled his ruse. Worried, Diego inquires about his release, but gets worked up upon learning that it’ll at least be ninety days which would prevent him from saving President Kennedy from his fated assassination. He steals Dr. Montcon’s pen during the showdown. Lila wishes to accompany Diego on his escape plan, but he declines as he’s essentially a lone wolf. Lila admits to be of the same breed. Five visits Diego at the treatment center. They fill each other in on their respective attempts to save the world from the apocalypse and stopping Oswald from killing Kennedy. Diego, who can’t quite wrap his head around the idea of having another apocalypse, reveals about how he’s planning an escape by shaving down the bars of his room. He wants Five to join him in the quest. Five too needs Diego’s help but hates the idea of tagging along in his “Save Kennedy” and also “Kill Hitler” missions. Having had enough, Five spills about Diego’s escape plans to the guards who tranquilize him immediately. Before leaving, Five promises to Diego that he’ll return.

Vanya is at home babysitting Harlan. Sissy returns from a grocery run and learns that neither did Harlan have any new episodes nor did Vanya regain her memories back. Harlan’s dad, Carl (Stephen Bogaert), joins the trio for dinner. He is a busy sales guy who has the gift of gab. Unlike Vanya, Carl is amused that no one contacted her yet despite him putting out two Missing Person ads in the newspaper. Klaus, who’s donning a full Texan ensemble now, is on his way to Dallas but Ben wants to return to San Francisco to wrap up his unfinished business. Their car breaks down and the difference in opinion results in a fight. Soon Klaus takes a long arduous walk to a bar where he learns that the next bus to Dallas is at 3pm on the next day. A group of patrons invite Klaus to play poker with them. The game turns sour in no time as Klaus’s gold chain and one of the patrons’ car keys are in the pool. Despite losing, Klaus makes a dirty joke and that causes a fight. Ben does not help Klaus who ultimately steals the car keys and escapes narrowly.

Allison is now married to Raymond Chestnut (Yusuf Gatewood). They head the Southern Justice Coordinating Committee, which is planning a threat during President Kennedy’s Dallas visit. Raymond is excited as it’s getting media attention, but Allison doesn’t want to raise false hopes on Kennedy. Soon Raymond gives her a book on the moon as a pre-wedding anniversary gift. Allison smiles as she misses Luther more than ever. Meanwhile, Luther pays back for the damage he caused to the car on which he landed by winning a game at wrestling. Later that night the entire SJC committee gathers at Allison’s beauty parlor to work on a game plan but they’re interrupted by Mr. Mason (Richard Waugh), a wealthy white man who demands an explanation for the untimely gathering. Allison and Raymond try to dodge his questions until it becomes too much and Allison kicks Mason out of her property. It’s late at night. Sissy and Vanya bond over cigarettes. Sissy shares how she’s afraid that Carl might leave or die an untimely death and she might have to fend for her own self. She shares about her stash-money and recalls her dreams of being a counter girl at Neiman Marcus.

Diego wakes up and finds himself locked in. Although his shoulder is busted, he manages to unlock himself with the stolen pen and escape. Simultaneously, the men who fired at Five and Hazel hijack the treatment center aiming fires at Diego. Lila helps fix his shoulder and both escape the facility. Luther enjoys a drink at a stripper club. Coincidentally, Carl is there, too. Luther’s waitress friend, Autumn (Bo Martynowska), worriedly points at a minor who seems interested in her. Judging from the back of his head, Luther realizes that it’s Five. Glad to have finally met, Five asks Luther to sit down for a chat. He apologizes for having ruined his year. Luther is angry as he thought that everyone was dead. Five can imagine how hard it must’ve been for everyone to lead unfamiliar lives all alone and he knows that it’s all his fault. Still he needs everyone back in board and begs Luther for help as he needs to stop the advancing apocalypse that’s due in ten days. We see Vanya chatting with Sissy, Allison seeking comfort in Raymond’s arms, Diego and Lila on the run and Klaus being arrested. However, Luther doesn’t care anymore as he’s done with the superhuman stuff. He leaves and Five stares into nothingness, filled with despair!