One Of The Most Absurd Things Ive Read About "The Umbrella Academy" Is Seeing People Who Claim To Be

One of the most absurd things I’ve read about "The Umbrella Academy" is seeing people who claim to be fans of Five wishing his ending had been with Dolores, a fucking mannequin. Seriously?

Putting yourself in the characters' shoes, what happened is completely understandable. They were lost for years, not knowing if they would ever make it back home; Lila and Diego were already having problems in their marriage and she had asked for a break, and no lines were crossed before the sixth year. Besides, it was the final season. In the end, everyone died, and I’m sorry  if some of us were happy that Five found happiness, even if just once in his life. After all, all his siblings had the chance to experience love, except him.

“But it had to be Lila?” It was the last season, and honestly, I can’t see anyone more suitable for him than her. I don’t see Five forming a new relationship in the way that happened with Luther. For years, Five was in love with a mannequin that wasn’t even human! For God’s sake! Five and Lila always had a connection, and who better than her to understand what he went through? Everyone has the right to agree or disagree with the decisions of the show's producers. The fact is, they wanted Five to find love, and that love was Lila. 

The Umbrella Academy: the concept of second love, finding yourself, a little controversy and loss

I've noticed a very similar concept recurring with characters in TUA, and I'd like to break it down for each character individually. I'll take them by their numbers.

#1 Luther

First Love: Allison

Controversial relationship (adopted siblings)

Partially unrequited love - he was never as important to Allison as she is to him + later manipulates him (a sign of toxicity)

Still, she's very important in the development of his story and they have some nice moments and she's important to his character development, though mostly it's about him agonizing over his love for her (he falls for Sloane all the more quickly in my opinion, as he thirsts for true love)

Second Love: Sloane

Romantic relationship, despite the obstacles their feelings for each other are very pure and they have some very cute scenes together

Luther has found in her someone who understands and accepts him for who he is

Found and lost thanks to the time jump (reboot)

#2 Diego

First Love: Eudora

Ex-partner

Partial cooperation

Tragic loss: Eudora's death - partially helps his character development

Second love: Lila

From his point of view, an initially casual yet intense relationship

Controversy: Their relationship is built on Lila's lies and manipulation (she was interested in him because it was her mission, kidnaps him to the Commission and later lies to him about "their son")

Even though they are later married and have three children together, their marriage is dysfunctional

Relationship loss: Lila wants a break because she is unsure about their marriage, later falls in love with Five

#3 Allison

First Love: Luther

(Yes, it's probably appropriate to mention Patrick, but he was never really in the plot, so I won't mention him even though they were married and had a daughter together.)

More of a childhood crush

She valued him most when she didn't have anyone else around

(See Luther's points)

Second love: Raymond

Her true love

He knew the truth about her and accepted her

Found and lost thanks to the time jump

#4 Klaus

First "love": Alcohol and drug addiction

An unexpected and controversial choice? Perhaps, but this "love" was very devastating and made Klaus do many crazy things

His eternal affairs can't be considered love.

Second love: Dave

The only man Klaus loved more than himself (his words)

Found and lost thanks to the time jump

Klaus got rid of his addiction thanks to him (which then came back thanks to him, but he was definitely able to help him from his "toxic love")

#5 Five

First Love: Dolores

His fantasy created through loneliness and trauma

She helped him through his years in a post-apocalyptic world

Despite not being a "healthy relationship" it had a place in Five's story and was important to his development (among other things, it foreshadowed how sensitive Five could be when he fell in love)

Second Love: Lila

His first true love

Lila was the only one who ever truly understood him and understood what he was going through + he had the happiest moments of his life with her (finally)

Controversy: she was still his brother's wife at the time, yet we know that, given the circumstances, she hadn't been with Diego for years (and wanted a break before that)

Love found through being lost in time and "lost" through going back in time

Tragic ending: erased from existence

#6 Ben

First love: Jill

One-sided crush (Jill didn't really know Ben existed)

He had partially distorted ideas about her

Jill reminds me partly of Dolores, since Ben as a ghost had very limited options

Second Love: Jennifer

A fateful yet devastating love

Feelings affected by other circumstances (Marigold and Durango)

Tragic ending: death

#7 Vanya/Victor

First "love": Leonard

A relationship built on a foundation of manipulation and lies

Yet Vanya herself mentioned the feelings she had for him, even if they were based on lies

Killed by Vanya, part of the reason for the apocalypse

Second Love: Sissy

Her/his true love

Controversy: A married woman with a family

Found and lost thanks to the time jump

Part of the reason for the apocalypse (Harlen)

#8 Lila

First Love: Diego

Their relationship had a very toxic foundation, from my perspective it was also based on Lila's rebellion against The Handler

An intense relationship, especially sexual

Their relationship gave her the family she wanted

See Diego's points

Second Love: Five

A romantic relationship

A collaborative partnership

Controversy: the killing of her family (who later live again)

Concept: enemies to lovers

See Five's points

It is very interesting from my point of view that their relationships often have common points. Usually the first loves carry a trace of a certain toxicity and only the second love is the real one (though this point is slightly moot with Diego, as his healthier relationship was definitely with Eudora and Ben wasn't entirely lucky in that regard either).

Also, they all found their loves based on the time jump and also lost them based on another time event. Death is also a very common part of the story.

I also find it interesting that most, for the sake of their relationships, opposed their family (in various forms) no matter what it brought - everyone would be very selfish for their happiness.

What do you think about this?

Steve Blackman was inspired «In the Mood for Love» (Wong Kar-wai)

I will go down with this ship

Fivela Manifesto Part 2

((( Had to split it into 2 parts since I broke tumblr with trying to post such a long essay lol ))) ♥ It's something small to note but she described her domestic life as "I'm just trapped in this unending suburban hellscape". Five when discussing with Klaus his feelings of seeing his old, founder Five self dying also used the word 'Hellscape'. "I die a one armed nightmare inside a bureaucratic hellscape of my own design." ♥ Once lila pulls Five onto the subway to check the train out and where it takes them, Five showed in numerous occasions on how protective he was of her. Pulling her down to safety when his past self was sniping at them. Protecting her against a fireball being whirled at them by one of the Phoenix academy students. ♥ When Reggie was helping the family to unlock the memories of what happened to Ben both Lila and Five had the good sense to spectate. Not trusting him. Lila also took this opportunity as Diego was being strapped in to tell him she wanted to re-assess their marriage and go on a break.

♥ Later that day Five and Lila have a short lil' banter after she grabs his arm and leans into his side. Lila: "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Five: "Rarely" Lila: "Their may be a way to stop all this." Five: "The answer is no." Lila: "Hey, you didn't even let me aske the question." Five: "I know I'm going to hate it. Why waste the oxygen?" Says no initially to Lila but always end up caving in to her wants. He does 'aim to please' when it comes to her. ♥ Oh and their song, 'I was made for lovin' you' by KISS played when she had to protect him when they just knew each other for a day or so. Writers hint lol 'Bad Guy' By billie Eilish - rough enemies, sexy song when they first fought each other~

*takes a breath* Well congratulations to those that read through all that lol. Meant to just be a condensed bullet point post but turned into a manifesto essay leading up to the 7 years together. I hope this post can help those on the fence of the couple to see their were plenty of build up for them just more subtle than the more obvious couples like Ray/Allison, Sissy/Viktor and so on. Oops forgot to add: ♥ Lila in season three tried to give him a hug the morning after his drunk night celebrating Luther's wedding. Touched by his lovey dovey speech about the family being bound by destiny and love. Calling him a softy~

jeromenancy doodle