In season 1, the Hargreeves kids had to save the world from one of their own after Vanya, who in season 3 goes by Viktor (Elliot Page), embraced his powers and went rogue. The second season saw them trying to deal with the repercussions of some faulty time-travel due to Five (Aidan Gallagher)’s powers not being quite enough to take them all to the same place and time. They had to stop an apocalypse there, too, before jumping through time once more back to the present. Unfortunately, the present has changed dramatically as a result of their time shenanigans, and now they have to try and contend with a completely different timeline and set of rules. Theoretically, they could even run into this timeline’s version of themselves, which excites drugged-out ghost whisperer Klaus (Robert Sheehan) but terrifies big sweet Luther (Tom Hopper). They check into the Hotel Obsidian, Klaus’ favorite place to crash and try to figure out how to make friends with the Sparrows and exist in a brand-new world. 

Because this is “The Umbrella Academy,” there’s soon another apocalyptic event that needs to be stopped, though this one makes the first two seasons look like an afternoon in the park. As the characters get closer and closer to doomsday, they reveal new things about themselves to both the audience and one another, leading to moments both exciting and deeply disappointing. The show is at its best when it gives the characters catharsis and joy, because they are all deeply traumatized people who deserve at least some measure of peace. The cast plays a family much like a real family, and getting to spend time with them feels like hanging out with the X-Men if they were real people and not superheroic ideals. Everyone is deeply flawed, but most of them have understandable reasons for their sometimes selfish or silly behavior. Pairing up different characters and seeing how they interact is a great part of the fun, and this season has some incredible moments, including a brotherly road trip with a surprising destination, a bachelor party complete with terrible karaoke, and a hilarious bathroom brawl. It’s unfortunately just not quite enough to save the season from its more dour half.