The finale of The Umbrella Academy Season 4 has left fans with more questions than answers, as the series concluded with a blend of shocking twists and confusing plot points.
The Umbrella Academy season 4 ending explained!
In Season 4, the apocalyptic event known as the Cleanse is caused by the interaction between Marigold and Durango particles. These particles, originating from Abigail Hargreeves, were initially intended to be powerful elements of creation and destruction. Abigail’s decision to start the Cleanse was driven by her desire to correct Sir Reginald’s actions—she believed that by destroying the world, she could undo the mistakes of the past and, in a sense, return to her own form of justice.
Her plan involves using the Cleanse to annihilate the world and her husband’s influence. It’s a drastic measure to demonstrate her discontent with how Reginald manipulated time and brought about so much suffering. The decision to give Marigold back to the Hargreeves siblings, rather than letting them live without it, adds a layer of complexity to her motives, suggesting a more intricate narrative about power and redemption.
In a surprising twist, Season 4 introduces the concept of a multiverse, which was not a major factor in previous seasons. Five learns that Reginald’s actions have led to the creation of countless timelines, each resulting in apocalyptic scenarios. To save the multiverse, Five concludes that the only solution is for the siblings to sacrifice themselves to the Cleanse monster. By doing so, the destructive particles will cancel each other out, erasing all timelines and preserving a single, apocalypse-free timeline.
The final act, where the siblings allow themselves to be consumed by the Cleanse, leads to the dissolution of all alternate realities and the erasure of the Hargreeves from history. This means their existence is wiped out, and the problems caused by their interference in the timeline are theoretically resolved.
The Umbrella Academy season 4: The Post-Credit Scene
The post-credit scene offers a puzzling twist. Despite the Hargreeves’ sacrifice, it shows their children, along with other side characters from previous seasons, living in a park. This contradicts the finale’s premise, as the erased characters should not be able to exist in any form.
Moreover, the appearance of marigolds in the final scene symbolizes the Hargreeves siblings, who were supposedly erased. The flowers seem to emit golden particles, which raises questions about how the Cleanse could have worked if Marigold was still present in some form. This symbolism adds to the narrative’s confusion, as it seems to contradict the established plot.
Overall, The Umbrella Academy Season 4’s ending is both ambitious and convoluted. The creative choices made in the finale, from the introduction of the multiverse to the resolution involving the Cleanse, have sparked debate among fans. While the series aimed to deliver a dramatic and emotional conclusion, the result leaves many wondering about the coherence of the plot and the fate of its beloved characters. The finale’s mix of high stakes, symbolic imagery, and unexpected twists creates a memorable but perplexing end to the Hargreeves’ saga.
