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The final season of Umbrella Academy was a rollercoaster of emotion from the start to the end, and with how fast people turned on it after season three,it’s a miracle the show wasn’t canceled. Unfortunately, the first three seasons and the classic vibe you get from theNetflixshow are a bit toned down in the latest season, and the ending was particularly confusing.
There were many side plots and character arcs that went over viewers' heads. What was going on the entire time, and what was the plan to stop the apocalypse this time? With so many layers to the ending, we managed to summarize the important bits for you.
What Was The Cleanse Exactly?
The Cleanseis thecataclysmic event that threatens the worldyet again. It isborn from the volatile combination of the two particles,Marigold, the source of the Umbrella Academy’s powers,and Durango. The collision of these two particles triggers a chain reactionthat creates a very lovecraftian-looking monster capable of eradicating everything in its path.
These particles were created by Reginald Hargreeves’ wife, Abigail, and the creation of Durango was mostly just a side effect of her working on Marigold. Durango manages to make its home in Jennifer, and unfortunately, Jennifer and Ben interact and unknowingly start the cleanse. The show also implies that this same destructive phenomenon has annihilated Reginald and Abigail’s homeworld since they are aliens, and they both tried not to let it happen here as well.
Abigail’s Master Plan
Abigail, Reginald’s wife and the brilliant mind behind the creation of Marigold, was an incredibly mysterious character hardly touched upon in the first seasons. In the final season, we finally see that Reginald’s goal the entire time was to create a timeline where she was alive again, and he succeeded by the end of season three.
However, she felt guilty that he had resurrected her at the cost of the entire timeline and events being out of place, and we find out that her being alive is the reason for so many timeline shenanigans. Abigail orchestrated a plan to ensure the Cleanse unfolded, effectively resetting the timeline and erasing the consequences of her creation. She spent her last moments alongside Reginald as they were both finally at peace.
How Does The Umbrella Academy Stop The Apocalypse (Again)?
The Umbrella Academy is faced with the Cleanse after Viktor fails to extract the Marigold from Ben, and after losing their only chance, they ultimately choose to sacrifice themselves to save the universe.
Five, having gained insight from his alternate selves, realized that their existence was intertwined with the recurring apocalypses, something that Abigail was aware of. After an emotional conversation, he convinces his siblings to surrender themselves to the Cleanse, effectively erasing their presence from existence and restoring the original timeline. And once again, the Umbrella Academy saves the universe without getting any credit for it, never having existed in the first place.
Post Credit Scene: What Happens To The Umbrella Academy?
The final post-credit scene shows us a new reality, and in the final shot, we see a bunch of Marigold flowers blooming together, symbolizing the family and the siblings. Though their existence as humans has effectively been erased, they are still together in some way, and it’s up to you how you interpret this ending. Eventually, everything goes full circle, and the series has officially ended.
