‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4, Episode 4 Explained: What Is “The Cleanse”?

The Umbrella Academy Season 4, Episode 4 finally answers a few mysteries teased in the first half. However, I must admit some of the subplots were a little meaningless, especially considering we are close to the end (for the last time).

The fourth season elevates the importance of Ben and Jennifer for one last apocalypse for the crew to beat.

The truth about Ben and Jennifer

Ben and Jennifer are executed by Reginald in the original timeline as seen via memories in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4, Episode 4 (Credit – Netflix)

At the end of the last episode, Allison, Luther, and Viktor use Reginald’s memory restoration machine to discover how Ben died on October 14th, 2004. Here’s what happened on that date.

In the original timeline, Reginald rounds up the adopted siblings for a mission. They are asked to disrupt an arms dealer and destroy the weapon within a container. Reginald insists that they should not open the container.

With time running out on the mission, Ben is left behind to attach explosives to the container, but he hears thudding inside. Ignoring Reginald’s orders, he opens the container to find a young Jennifer. By helping her escape, he formed a connection.

Reginald shoots both Jennifer and Ben in the head, killing them.

What is The Cleanse?

This brings us back to the present day. In Season 4’s timeline, Reginald reminds his family that he did not kill Ben or Jennifer; it was an alternative version. He understands the justification for killing them, as Ben and Jennifer would have ended the world.

Abigail apportions the blame to her. She explains how she synthesized a new element in the universe from Marigold called “Durango.” When Durango and Marigold interact, it causes an extinction — this is what is called “The Cleanse.” Episode 4 finally gives the audience the answer to the great mystery.

Abigail explains how the other particle, Durango, is inside Jennifer. It cannot be in contact with Marigold, or the world will end.

So this presents the problem — if Ben and Jennifer interact with each other, the world ends. 

Reginald wants either Ben or Jennifer eliminated, which infuriates Viktor, who attacks him. He’s so sick of his emotionless, careless father, who has no affectionate ways with his adopted children. Viktor lets it all out on his father in a monologue-drive scene.

Klaus ends up buried alive

Klaus performing his Medium work with Loretta in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4 (Credit – Netflix)

Even though it’s essentially a subplot at this point, Klaus’s demise in Season 4 is upsetting. He was sober after all, but since his powers were restored, he finds himself pimped out by Quinn, to whom he owes money.

So he sells himself as a medium, and one of his clients, Loretta, wants her deceased partner’s deposit boxes. Understanding his predicament, Klaus asks for help to escape the brothel, and in exchange, he offers the location of the deposit box by connecting with her deceased partner’s spirit.

Klaus escapes and steals the deposit box for himself (at the deceased man’s dog’s grave), but unbeknown to him, Loretta senses he is lying and turns up with armed men. But then, Quinn shows up with his armed men, and it turns into a deadly shootout, leaving only Quinn and Klaus alive.

Quinn takes all the money from the deposit box, which settles Klaus’s debt with him, but then kicks Klaus into the empty grave and buries him alive.

While this was an entertaining subplot, the only flaw was the lack of urgency from family members to help him. Of course, Claire and Alisson are concerned, but considering he’s gone down the path of addiction again, the carelessness of this family member does not weigh up. The crew is not this dysfunctional.

Five and Lila try to change the past

It would not be The Umbrella Academy without an attempt to alter timelines, which is what Five and Lila try to do to prevent Ben from ever connecting with Jennifer. 

They use the subway to reach Five’s apocalypse and return on October 14th, 2006. However, it’s apparent quickly that they are on the wrong timeline, this time crossing paths with The Phoenix Academy. When they try again on the subway system, their stop is missed as they enter the unknown. 

At this point, the series hints that these two characters are the only hope to stop “The Cleanse,” as it’s not apparent how the family will stop it at this point.

The Cleanse begins

Ben (L) and Jennifer (R) in their separate motel rooms in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4, Episode 4 (Credit – Netflix)

Before I explain what happened between Ben and Jennifer, Viktor did have a reasonable plan, which he presented to Reginald. He claims he can remove Ben’s Marigold as he’s done it before, but Reginald dismisses the idea for some reason. They end up arguing again about the family’s history and Reginald’s treatment of them.

Ben and Jennifer hide away at a motel in separate rooms. But they are struggling with their intense connection. It appears that in addition to their shared power, their connection is sexual, causing strong feelings.

At first, they both try to resist it, staying in their respective rooms. Jennifer opens up about her family instead, believing they never existed, and how she was pulled out of a giant squid and never claimed by anyone.

But in the middle of the night, Ben and Jennifer finally give in to their desires, and they hook up, which appears to start The Cleanse.

This leads nicely into the final two episodes of the final season, which have been a satisfactory conclusion thus far.

More important plot points

Here are some additional points for Season 4, Episode 4, that may become important in later chapters:

• Sy meets Gene and Jean to discuss Jennifer.
• Five asks the CIA to invite Luther and Diego to their offices as a distraction so they can get on with their timeline-altering mission.

Read More: The Umbrella Academy Season 4, Episode 5 Explained