The Umbrella Academy: The Concept Of Second Love, Finding Yourself, A Little Controversy And Loss

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?

My take on Five/Lila - and why they were endgame

I’ve seen so many people say that Five and Lila didn’t make any sense, and I just disagree. I've tried to really motivate why, and also why I see them as endgame. Feel free to agree or disagree.

First of all, Five and Lila share a common background of being raised plus trained as survivors and weapons. Five was molded by his time in the apocalypse, the Commission and his ruthless upbringing within the Hargreeves family, while Lila was similarly trained and manipulated by the Handler. Both of them were forced into brutal, high-stakes environments from a young age, developing a sense of independence, ruthlessness, and survival instincts that the rest of the family can’t fully relate to. We see this especially in Five and Lila’s difficulties in showing emotional vulnerability and trusting others. This shared experience means they both understand the cost of their traumatic upbringings and can relate to each other’s emotional scars in ways others just won’t be able to. So already by this, they’re somewhat bonded from the start.

In other similarities both Five and Lila possess extraordinary intelligence and tactical thinking. They challenge each other in a way no one else does. This has been an ongoing thing between them, bouncing off each other and sometimes teaming up. It’s also what drew them to work on another mission together in S4, there has always been some kind of pull/push there. Personality-wise both Five and Lila have a dark sense of humor and a cynical outlook on the world. But despite the cynicism, they still manage to eventually relax and find humor in each other’s company. The lighter moments we’ve seen between them at times have been an interesting contrast to their otherwise serious and violent lifestyles. 

I do believe their shared backgrounds and personalities created a bond that was then further strengthened during the years they spent lost in the subway together. Isolated from the rest of the world, they literally only had each other for company. The intimacy and trust that grew between them was inevitable. When you have no one else to rely on, you’re going to develop a relationship stronger than under normal circumstances. So over those years, they must have grown close in ways that no one else could fully understand. Even though we didn't get to see every detail of how it unfolded (because the season was way too short), it’s not difficult to imagine.

I’d also say they naturally grew a bond stronger than with any other character at that time, except for the one between mother and child which is why Lila’s need to be with her children would always make her go home if given the chance. Five knew this and it’s the reason he kept the solution from her for months. 

Now, to my thoughts about their actions in regards to Diego as this is often brought up. The argument that Lila cheated on her husband with Five is understandable from a moral perspective, if we see it as just that without any context. But when you consider the circumstances it is way more nuanced. You have to look at not only the environment they found themselves in, but also the emotional and psychological journey they went through together. Their relationship was ultimately forged over a shared background and then several years of isolation. Then you add to the fact that Diego seems to have treated Lila like crap in the years leading up to the isolation, she said it herself he was always moping around and complaining while she sacrificed her life to stay at home and take care of the kids. She even told him she needed a break to reassess their relationship. I do believe her and Five had somewhat already begun an emotional affair before the isolation, the way they were sneaking off together and clearly wanted to keep their thing separate from Diego and the others. Yet they still didn’t get physical until they settled down, believing they weren’t gonna find a way back.

Also, it’s important to here consider the strength of the bond, as I mentioned earlier, that Five and Lila must have developed over those years. They knew each other better than anyone else by the end. Spending every day together in a survival situation with nothing else around would likely create an unparalleled level of intimacy and emotional closeness. This bond would probably transcend Lila’s previous relationship with Diego, and maybe even Five’s bond with his siblings. It’s been years since he returned to them and they had all grown in separate directions. Lila and Five however had recently experienced something life-changing together, and it is unfair to dismiss the strength of their connection as something unethical or out of character when their reality had shifted so drastically from when the show started.

Another important point here is how the relationship with Lila allowed Five to finally be "human" and emotionally open in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to be before. Five was obviously emotionally detached as a result of both his past trauma and the burden of being a hyper-intelligent man in the body of a boy. With Lila, he had the chance to just feel love and trust without worrying about anything else. So I do think this outweighs his “betrayal” against his brother as people claim.

Now on to how and why Five and Lila were endgame. I’m convinced that Lila did love Five despite her choice to leave their isolation. To me this was cemented as she didn’t deny her feelings when Diego asked her straight out. If she wanted to make Diego feel better she could have easily denied her feelings for Five to reassure him. Yet even when asked twice she couldn’t do it. There was also Lila’s look of relief when Five returned to them at the end. It was Five who Lila allowed to comfort her after she said goodbye to her family, trusting him in her most vulnerable moment instead of blipping back to Diego and the others. These events showed the deep trust and emotional intimacy that still existed between them after returning to “the real world”. Despite her saying it was over. I also want to add here that Lila took Five’s hand as they were dying, the look between them was for me at least silently saying they loved each other. 

So all in all I do believe that the connection and love between Five and Lila was authentic. It also made sense. They’re able to understand each other’s emotional complexities, including their darker tendencies, without needing to change who they are. Still their time together seemed to actually have softened them both when they finally had the chance to settle down, almost as if they were healing from past trauma together. This would forge a relationship that no one else could replicate without going through the same experience. Making Five and Lila a reasonable endgame, which they also were in my eyes considering they died holding hands.

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Summary:  Five and Lila's shared background of trauma, matched intelligence, and similar personalities means they make sense. They shared a bond that was only further strengthened during their years of isolation. For 7 years they only had each other to rely on. This inevitably created an intimacy and relationship that couldn’t be compared to what they had had with anyone else. Outweighing what they did to Diego when you consider all context. Lila and Five ended up being human and vulnerable with each other on a level they hadn’t been with anyone else. Ultimately Lila’s refusal to deny her feelings for Five, her relief when he returned, him comforting her as she sent her family away and then finally them dying hand-in-hand, showed that they were endgame.

Lila & five

Literally the ONLY good thing that came out of the disaster that was TUA S4, was Lila & Five’s relationship BEST RELATIONSHIP int the whole show.

~♥ They would have loved each other no matter what~♥ Essay Part 1

So a large portion on the fandom believes it was the 7 years stuck together that allowed them to fall for each other. It did help since they were each others only company but their were signs of attraction since the beginning with these two. ♥ Lila from the start was always amused by his quick witted retorts. Outside of being called "Crazy lady". She would always smile gleefully when he would insult and banter with her. Both characters had the best one liners. "You are an open book for very dumb children" - lila She even tried to give him props for a clever snark at Diego.

♥ Five being Five could see through her with his level of perceptiveness. I'm sure that comes into play as the years go by both before and after being stuck in the subway. Hopefully could tell she loved him despite her barbed tongue in her effort to push away and lash out. Lying to a certain extent and being in denial is true to her character to cope. Think his ability to read her also showed he was better suited for her and her needs. Aware of her unhappiness with Diego in season 4. Probably why at that time in the series, he couldn't easily say no to her. Knowing she desperately needed more of a purpose and freedom, outside of taking care of the kids that...while important was still not planned at all. Once Kids are thrown in the mix, one is more trapped in the relationship. ♥ Despite the mistrust he harbors for her at the start, their is a certain level of respect. With his "knowing what you are doing" comment before booting her from their group. He also respects her intellect given their shared backgrounds. Immediately seeking her out in season 3. He perked up when he heard lila returned. This was before he was in chaos problem solver mode. When Klaus mentioned not liking her, Five was quick to speak up for her to say she was family. Even though she wasn't raised with them. He harbored guilt over his hand in taking away her family when she was a child. So in his own way, was trying to give her a place with theirs. Diego first opened that door of course with their connection. Given Five is pretty much the patriarch of their family, his words to secure her place in it held more weight. Something Klaus acknowledged later in the season. Viktor essentially told lila to stay out of it, that she wasn't part of the family and this time Klaus stood up for her. Backing up what his brother told him before.

♥ They always had chemistry. Even when they tried to kill each other in season 2. The legendary bath fight scene was still charged with that energy. Such animosity but hard to not see the battle was fueled with euphemisms. Lila naked while fighting him close quarters. The choking scene she appeared to get too into for a moment. Perhaps that fetish is one the writers enjoy. Klaus was also into suffocation lol

The struggle Five had to fight her but the need to try to kill was dulled. He wanted or needed to work with her. The only person he felt would be able to keep up with him in terms of fighting abilities, background with knowing the inner workings of time and both being clever. Unlike their conflicts before, he was on the defensive. Trying to not hurt her too much. Whereas with lila, she was trying to shiv him but it felt like she was in 'crazy lady' mode and this was more her violent greeting. She had unresolved issues with him having killed her parents. They later discuss it and the turbulent storm of emotion when regarding him seemed to have calmed. He had brutal honesty with her. Mentioning how he rolled back time. While it saved his siblings lives...he gave her her life back as well. Even tried to give some love advice for her to grasp some happiness (in his own way) He mentioned them working together, bonded by hatred. To which it looked like she rolled her eyes. Don't think she shared that sentiment anymore. She had a softer tone when she offered her hand to him. Five had a small smirk appear but quickly covered him up with a neutral expression. Funny how even in those earlier episodes, it didn't take much for her to lead him by the hand in numerous situations.

♥ Foreshadowing when Five and lila walked out of the room together, following her bath and their fight. Diego was starting to jump to conclusions despite Five's younger form of 15/16. Five shrugged it off but lila just smiled. Enjoying the insinuation as well Diego's jealousy. Often times it's been the three of them when the group has had to separate for sub storylines or just even among their group of characters.

Another point of foreshadowing was during their mini adventure together to the now destroyed commission. Discussed they weren't well suited to retiring and domestic life. Yet as we know, they later make a home together in their Greenhouse even if it was brief. ♥ As they investigated the commission, Lila showed multiple times how intelligent she was. Even before they landed there. Was her brainstormed idea to combine their powers with the briefcase to be successful. She found the manual for five to go over which led them to the operations bunker. While her analogy was unconventional...she understood the first time five mentioned the grandfather paradox and the kugelblitz. ♥ Their adventure with going to the commission together felt like a test drive in how they would work together later in the storyline with all those apocalypse worlds they would end up in. Even when Lila was playful and tried to do the jinx game to lighten that old man up. While they are reflections of each other with suffering at the hands of The Handler, their understanding of time and being assassins. They both have their own means of coping in order to not let others too close. As lila said, 'Easier to mindfuck someone instead of being truly vulnerable to be rejected.' Or something along those lines. Five shied away from human touch for quite some time. Wouldn't let his own brother reach out to him. In the original script even rejected Vanya with a hug. Someone whom, according to the actor was their crush when they were younger. Similarly to the luther/allison crushing when Five was his natural age of 13. He would snark and pushed others from him, blinking away both when he was tired of a situation or if someone wanted to appeal to his softer side. It was lila with the hand holding to jump start the briefcase that was his first form of voluntary contact. When they crash landed back in their regular time, they tried to push each other off after lila realized she was holding on to him. Lila realized after their excursion that it was 'time to give up old grudges'. Yes this applied to Diego with getting back together with him but also connected to Five since it was in talking to him that made her realize, she should try again with Diego. Looming end of the world and all. She saw how emotionally wrecked Five was with being faced with the culmination of his powerlessness. Wasting his life trying to save his family and the world. Only to throw in the towel, giving up and dying alone with that five's life's work being destroyed (The commission) Lila learned about the level of stress he was under with trying to divert apocalypses. As his rage started to swell, the frustration with being locked in a younger body with hormones and just wanting to retire and buy the sports car of his choice. She clearly had an expression of pity and sadness. Heart bleeding for him where she even gently defended old founder Five from original five's venting wrath. "Take it easy on him, Five." - Lila After Founder five does perishes...lila is hesitant to leave Five alone. Wanting to at least keep him company. Five's own defense mechanisms kicked him, wanting to be alone. This is true to his character up until the end of the series. Being an old man who has been through countless horrors - he doesn't talk about the feelings that matter. Didn't want lila to see him in a sad, emotional state. Wanting solitude to mourn himself and rather keep how he feels quiet. "Buried deep." Something to note is that Lila is the only one to have seen him at his worse. Century old, aged, dismembered and dying. Only she and Luther have actively seen his true age reflected on a physical body. Yet despite knowing this she still found him attractive and was able to love him. That it wasn't simply because he was in an attractive body. Think that adds another layer to their friendship that later develops into something more.

♥ Not sure if I'm reading too much into it but when they had worked on combining their powers, or rather intensifying Five's...it seemed like it was more intimate with the level of trust. I'm not sure since obviously it required a great amount of focus to channel his time travelling abilities into the briefcase. What stuck out to me was Lila's "let me in!" Five: "I can't! It's too much!" Opening himself and his powers to accept her own mimicking wavelength obviously appeared to be a struggle. It's a short scene but could have involved more than what was on the surface with simply powering up. Curious about everyone's thoughts on this in particular. She has supported and worked on getting Five out of his shell since season 3 and into the 4th one. Being the catalyst to pull him into situations and push him to accomplish what he feels he is unable to. Leading him onto the subway to investigate and have some fun. She called him out earlier with getting his heart pumping from end of the world scenarios. Klaus did the the same thing multiple times. Being called a 'chaos junkie'. When Five had no confidence in his blink abilities, it was lila that pushed him to get 'back on that horse'. Even with powering up the briefcase, when he was yelling he couldn't do it...she said to not 'Bitch out on me now!' Said he hated her in the moment but showed she is what he needs. ♥ After the timeskip of 6 years, think they did grow closer. Hard to tell since all we really know of Five's life is that he had joined the CIA in that time. She was observant enough to see how he was cautious about using his powers. Both wanting some excitement for herself to remind her of how she was. Before a dysfunctional marriage and draining homelife made her probably feel like a husk of her former self. She also saw that the usual confident Five was unsure of himself, pushing him to face it. Practice makes perfect maybe? lol *Credit to Fivelila for the gifs*

Once they had lived their other life in the subway, he still lacked confidence with using his ability. Outside of it taking them back to their isolated world of the subway system. It was only when Lila implored him and told him that she needs him that he was able to use his ability like the old days. Blinking them to semi safety inside the building. Not only that but he was able to blink their whole group there. Found that extremely romantic. Despite feeling hurt from their argument in 4.05 he had so much love for her to accomplish what he deemed impossible till that point. ♥ Looping back to season 3: He finally felt more comfortable with touching. After they felt they were successful in sealing up the Kugelblitz, they celebrated with drinking and dancing. Lila chose to mostly dance with five. You can see them have a kind of tug of war. Being an old man just wanting to be separated from the group to have his drinks. Lila was having none of that. You can see through the course of their dancing, five breaking down his shell temporarily to enjoy her persistence with wanting him to let his hair down and have fun. He actively does dance with her after all her effort. Quite adorable. I do recommend watching the behind the scenes footage/extended scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmd4fYNlr4A&t=651s

They also dance together at Luther's wedding. Suffice to say they are friends by this point.

When deciding on whether to hand over 'scary grandpa' to the Sparrows both Lila and Five are on the same page in terms of their moral ambiguity. Lila seeing the logic of sacrificing one for the billions. Not caring about the rest of the world much. Prioritizing her loved ones. Five does try to save the world numerous times but if it came down to sacrificing his whole family in favor of it...at this point in the story, would have put his family first. Despite their stance on it, they still feel guilty about the choice made.

The pain in his eyes 😔

"at least here, we have each other"

(x)