Top 10 Umbrella Academy Moments That Made Us Cry
#10: Allison and Ray Say Goodbye “The Seven Stages”
In season two, the Hargreeves time-travel back to Dallas in 1963 in hopes of stopping the apocalypse. And Allison starts a new life with Raymond Chestnut, a civil rights activist. However, Ray has difficulty with accepting Allison’s rumoring powers and the many other surprises along the way. It’s clear that, despite how much they care about each other, Ray can’t join Allison in her timeline. They accept the reality of the situation in a scene that warms and breaks our heart at the same time. Allison leaves Ray with a tender goodbye letter, showing they’ll always be in each other’s memories. That same season, we also had our hearts broken by Vikor and Sissy’s tearful farewell.
#9: Luther Talks to Claire "The White Violin"
While Allison’s daughter, Claire, doesn’t appear in many episodes of the show, her importance in her life is stressed throughout. And this scene uses another character to show just how strong their bond is. Having lost her ability to speak, Allison asks for Luther’s assistance. They call Claire from a phone booth, and Luther speaks to his niece for the first time. Thanks to her mom’s stories, Claire already knows about her amazing uncle. He also lets her know just how much her mom cares about her. Although we don’t see Claire, both Tom Hopper and Emmy Raver-Lampman's incredible acting shows what a powerful moment this is for everyone.
#8: Diego Deactives Grace “Extra Ordinary”
It only took three episodes for “The Umbrella Academy” to break our hearts. And it involved a robot, no less. Early in the show, we meet Grace, an android who the Hargreeves children regard as a mother figure, one who’s much more loving than the unfeeling Reginald. But while Grace might not be a human, she has her own kind of mortality. And when Diego realizes that she's no longer functioning properly, he makes an unbelievably difficult decision. This is made even more devastating by knowing just how much Grace helped Diego develop his confidence. She might be full of wires, but Grace is someone who runs on love.
#7; Luther and Sloane’s Wedding “Wedding at the End of the World”
We never thought of “The Umbrella Academy” as the kind of show to do a “wedding episode.” Nor did we expect them to pull it off anywhere as well as this. With another apocalypse looming, Luther and Sparrow Academy rival-turned-lover Sloane decide to get hitched. While the wedding festivities are a bit rushed and underattended, the affection between them melts our hearts. And their unconventional family members also know how to share in the love. Luther continues to make his love known before he and Sloane have to part ways. We don’t always cry at weddings, but this one is absolutely beautiful.
#6: Viktor Attacks Allison “I Heard a Rumor”
This season one scene taught us just how much we had come to care about these characters. After Viktor learns that Allison was made by Reginald to convince him he didn’t have any powers, he becomes absolutely enraged. He attacks Allison with his violin bow causing a seemingly fatal injury. He immediately regrets the action and becomes overwhelmed with a different kind of emotion. Elliot Page nails the sheer sadness and panic of the moment, making it feel brutally real. Allison thankfully survives, but this scene still crushes us every single time we think about it.
#5: Diego’s Stutter Returns “A Light Supper”
Reginald Hargreeves, was, by all accounts, a terrible father. And he left his adopted children with plenty of unresolved trauma. As a child, Diego struggles with a speech impediment, which loving mother figure Grace helps him with. In season two, he and his siblings travel back in time. Then, they find Reginald and tell him who they are. However, Reginald is dismissive and insulting towards Diego. And when Diego tries to fight back, he finds himself at a heartbreaking loss for words. David Castañeda makes us feel every bit of Diego's pain as he tries to stand up to his cruel former father.
#4: Five Enters the Apocalypse “Run Boy Run”
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Number Five looks like a teenage boy, but he acts more like a cranky old man. That’s probably because, youthful looks aside, he is one. As an adolescent, Five got ahead of himself testing his amazing time-travel abilities. He ended up trapped in a destroyed and deserted world, with no one for company but a mannequin. The look on Aidan Gallagher's face as he realizes what he’s done and what’s happened to his home is a true gutpunch. Five is later able to return to the present. But he’s stuck in his 13-year-old body with decades of trauma and isolation to process. He can be a bit uptight at times. But this scene made us truly feel for Five.
#3: Viktor Come Out to Allison “World’s Biggest Ball of Twine”
We knew that Viktor Hargreeves was going to come out to his siblings in the show’s third season, but we didn’t know how they’d react. Fortunately, they are all supportive of their brother. The most emotionally impactful moment happens when Viktor is speaking heart-to-heart with Allison. He tells her about his journey to self-realization and how he can finally recognize himself in his reflection. Allison expresses her love for Viktor in just a few words that speak volumes. Elliot Page and Emmy Raver-Lampman’s vulnerability is remarkable. With this scene, “The Umbrella Academy” became one of the best shows for transgender representation.
#2: Klaus Destroys Briefcase “Number Five”
Klaus Hargreeves often serves as the show’s comic relief. But there’s a lot more to this character than his irreverence. Mistreatment from his adoptive father in his childhood led to substance abuse issues as an adult. And he experiences further pain after going way back in time. We see Klaus on a bus, bleeding, wearing a soldier’s uniform, and clutching a time-traveling briefcase. While it’s not clear what exactly has happened at this point, his trauma is evident. After getting off the bus, Klaus lets his emotions out all at once. Robert Sheehan is great at playing up Klaus’ more carefree side. But this scene showed us how great he is at pure dramatic catharsis, even without saying a single word. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Allison Learns the Truth A Devastating Display of Grief Luther Apologizes to Viktor A Great Moment of Vulnerability from the Hard-Bodied Luther Number Five Gives Up Dolores It’s Not Every Mannequin That Can Make Us Tear Up Viktor Kills Pogo A Brutal Moment That Never Stops Shocking Us Diego Learns of Detective Patch’s Death An Early Example of the Show Not Going Easy On Our Emotions
#1: Ben Sacrifices Himself “743”
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Ben Hargreeves’ story is a tragic one. Losing his life when the siblings were teenagers, Ben’s death caused the Hargreeves children to drift apart. But he was never gone for good, existing as a ghost and serving as Klaus’ conscience. However, it’s Viktor who he really comes through for. Overwhelmed by his powers and its devastating effects, Viktor seeks refuge in his mind. He’s warmly greeted by his departed brother, who reassures him that he is okay just as he is. He also tells him that he has to say goodbye for good, without an ounce of fear or regret. Elliot Page and Justin H. Min are both amazing in this scene, showing what it truly means to love someone with all your heart.
