In Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, the concept of Marigold, introduced in the first season, takes on a much deeper and more intricate role by the fourth season. Here’s a breakdown of how Marigold’s origin and significance are revealed:
The Umbrella Academy: The Origins of Marigold
Marigold first appears when Sir Reginald Hargreeves (played by Colm Feore) says goodbye to his dying wife. He opens a jar containing a mysterious golden substance, which hints at his alien origins. In Season 2, this substance becomes crucial when Vania (Elliot Page) accidentally transfers some of it to Harlan (Justin Paul), giving him superpowers.
By Season 3, an older Harlan (Callum Keith Rennie) reveals that Marigold is the source of power for the 43 children born on October 1, 1989, including the Hargreeves siblings. As the season ends with the siblings losing their powers and ending up in a timeline where Sir Reginald is in control, fans anticipated more about Marigold’s role. Season 4 delivers by exploring its origins in greater detail.
The Umbrella Academy: Who Created Marigold?
In Season 4, we learn that Sir Reginald used the Marigold within the Hargreeves siblings to fuel the Oblivion machine that rebooted reality at the end of Season 3. He altered the timeline so Marigold would not affect the 43 children, trapping the characters in a new world where Reginald is powerful and wealthy. He also resurrected his wife, Abigail Hargreeves (played by Lisa Repo-Martell).
Abigail, an alien scientist, originally created Marigold in an attempt to harness the energy of the universe’s creation. However, her creation accidentally gave rise to another element: Durango. This combination led to the destruction of their homeworld and the events of the series, as Reginald intentionally unleashed Marigold on Earth because of his loneliness.
What Is Durango?
Durango is Marigold’s opposite—representing complete destruction. It remains dormant until it comes into contact with Marigold. When these two elements interact, they trigger an apocalyptic event that can obliterate all life on Earth.
In Season 4, Ben (Justin H. Min) accidentally touches Jennifer (Victoria Sawal), who carries Durango, which sets off the events of the season. Marigold, as a source of creative energy, creates multiple timelines, leading to ongoing apocalyptic events as a way to stabilize the multiverse. Durango serves as the antidote to Marigold, evolving into a giant monster that seeks out and absorbs Marigold to restore a single, stable timeline where Marigold is erased.
The Umbrella Academy: Unanswered Questions
Despite the revelations, several questions remain. For example, if Marigold exists in multiple timelines, how can eliminating it in just one timeline fix the entire universe? With only six episodes to wrap up the story, the show leaves some aspects of Marigold and Durango insufficiently explained.
Overall, Marigold and Durango are central to the series’ plot, and their complex relationship adds depth to the show’s mythology.