'The Umbrella Academy': Why Reginald Hargreeves was never truly the show's villain
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The enigmatic character of Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) in Netflix's 'The Umbrella Academy' has often elicited the scorn of Hargreeves siblings thanks to his mysterious shenanigans. The fantasy adventure show is based on the same-named comics and follows Reginald, who adopts seven children with unique skills.
Despite their amazing abilities, the siblings drift apart after their adolescent years. After they hear of their father's death and the impending apocalypse, the narrative reunites them as adults.
However, their adoptive father Reginald is portrayed as a cold, calculating patriarch but a closer examination of his character shows a more complicated and sad person.
Why Reginald Hargreeves is termed as a villian in 'The Umbrella Academy'?
Reginald is portrayed as a manipulative and deceptive character in the show.
It is discovered that he has a profound animosity against his adoptive children, using them for his own advantage while disguising his genuine motivations.
His acts, such as sending Luther Hargreeves (Tom Hopper) to the moon under false pretenses, as well as his overall aim of resurrecting his wife Abigail Hargreeves (Liisa Repo-Martell), illustrate his self-centredness and contempt for his children's well-being.
Reginald is often portrayed as a failing parent who has a mechanical relationship with his adoptive children and simply utilizes them for the purpose of their abilities.
Is Reginald Hargreeves truly a villian in 'The Umbrella Academy'?
In my opinion, Reginald is not a villain in the show, as shown by multiple instances where he tried to restrict his children against reckless usage of their powers.
For example, Five's (Aidan Gallagher) disregard for Reginald's warnings concerning time travel had devastating repercussions, including the apocalypses that followed.
By rejecting Reginald's advice, Five unintentionally set off a chain of events that resulted in world-ending calamities.
This show also contributed to Reginald's mistrust of Viktor/Vanya Hargreeves (Elliot Page), which proved to be correct in Season 1 itself when she unleashes the apocalpyse.
Despite being portrayed as a villain, Reginald's actions reflect a more complicated, and maybe noble, purpose as his warnings sprang from a genuine wish to avoid disasters.
How to stream 'The Umbrella Academy' Final Season?
To view the show on Netflix, you must have an exclusive membership, as the streaming company provides a number of packages depending on your budget.
A monthly subscription of $6.99 is needed for the Standard Plan with advertising, which enables full HD (1080p) streaming.
The Standard Plan, which does not contain advertisements, costs $15.49 per month and enables one account to be used on two screens at the same time while streaming in 1080p/full HD resolution.
With the $22.99/month Premium Plan, customers may stream content to up to four screens in simultaneous 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos and HDR.
'The Umbrella Academy' Final Season trailer