Summary
The Umbrella Academy Episode 3 is a slow-burner, but it delves into the family history adequately and deals with the group’s relationship with their mother.
This recap of The Umbrella Academy Season 1 Episode 3, “Extra Ordinary”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
The previous episode established that “Number 5” (Aidan Gallagher) is more likely the vital key to the story so far, with people, I presume from a different place in time trying to kill him, for reasons still unknown. The Umbrella Academy Episode 3 focused on the group’s mother Grace, who is a robot built by their deceased father.
Before “Extra Ordinary” delves into more dysfunctional family issues, we start to understand Vanya’s (Ellen Page) thought process of writing that autobiography five years ago; her narration confirms that the family was torn about by the desire to be more special and to find their own identity. And by definition, she felt ousted and abandoned by the people who were meant to raise her. It is clear that Vanya has an inferiority complex, even finding herself offended by the lead violinist in the music group she attends; the acquaintance scoffs at her ability, claiming that she isn’t unique.
The Umbrella Academy Episode 3 sells the idea that Vanya wants to change, that she wants to feel more connected to people. She decides to accept a dinner invite from one of her students, who, admittedly, has taken a weird interest in her. I do not trust him; he’s way too kind.
Anyway, on to the mother issues; in the previous episode Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) finds some shocking CCTV footage in their household, and decides to show Luther (Tom Hopper). The footage does not put the mother in a good light, revealing that as her husband died, she walked off with his monocle. Rather than overreact, the pair decides to round up a few members of the team to review the footage and make their conclusions.
Before that happens, however, the two people who are trying to kill “Number 5” are continuing to chill in dingy motels. Their relaxed nature is strange and compelling. I still have not grasped where they are from, and why they want to kill “Number 5” but I can only assume they are from a different place in time. At times, they receive hilarious notes from their boss – “7% cut from your pay due to the delay”. Whatever organization these two work for, it’s extremely well managed.
Back at the house, the family argues and try to vote on what to do with their mother. Some theorize that the mother murdered their father and others believe her technology is degrading. As dysfunctional as The Umbrella Academy is, no progress in conversations are made. The two people who are trying to kill “Number 5” show up at the house and “Extra Ordinary” serves more fight scenes with appropriate music to keep you engaged. What’s surprising is that that the two people in suits have no idea who The Umbrella Academy is, and vice versa. With all of them showing their strength, it finally reaches an impasse.
I did notice that during the entire battle their mother seemed utterly unaware by the events, leading Diego (David Castañeda) to investigate. He realizes that his mother was sewing into her skin by accident. Understanding that her technology is indeed degrading, he turns her off, marking the first emotional scene of the series. Downstairs, Luther has had his clothes ripped off, due to the fighting, and what is revealed is a hairy, overly muscular and quite a messed up body, shocking his family members. No-one seems to have realized that Klaus (Robert Sheehan) has been kidnapped by the two in suits.
To cap off a somewhat slow-burning chapter, a scene occurs earlier on between Luther and “Number 5”. Luther claimed that “Number 5” thinks he’s better than everyone else, to which he agreed, surprisingly. I do wonder if “Number 5” will cause his comeuppance despite his good intentions.
You can check out our thoughts on the next episode by clicking these words.
