Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy came to an end this summer. Despite the divisive series finale, longtime fans will still miss the chaotic Hargreeves siblings and their constant effort to save the world from an apocalypse they inevitably caused.
If you’re looking for shows to fill the TUA-shaped void in your life, here are some titles to check out.
Orphan Black (2013–2017) – The Umbrella Academy for Sci-Fi Geeks
This BBC sci-fi series stars Tatiana Maslany as Sarah Manning, a British con artist who returns to Canada to reconnect with her adoptive family and young daughter. But after witnessing a woman who looks exactly like her jump in front of a train, she does her scammer thing and tries to take on her identity, hoping for a big payday. Instead, she learns that she’s one of several clones, each with a very different personality, skillset, and lifestyle. Maslany plays every clone to perfection — Cosima, the science genius; Alison, the stressed-out soccer mom; Helena, the Russian assassin — just to name a few.
The Umbrella Academy fans will enjoy the interactions in this dysfunctional group of sister clones and their other family members, especially Sarah’s foster brother Felix, a Klaus-like free spirit with similar indulgences.
The recent spin-off, Orphan Black: Echos, is a continuation of the series starring Krysten Ritter as Lucy, a woman with no memories trying to piece together her past. Unlike its predecessor, there’s not much humor. However, it’s still an intriguing sci-fi mystery about identity.
Where to watch: AMC+
Doom Patrol (2019–2023) – The Umbrella Academy for Comic Geeks
Based on the obscure DC Comics superhero team of the same name, Doom Patrol is an underrated series that never received the recognition it deserved. The eponymous team consists of Cliff Steele aka Robotman (Brendan Fraser), Larry Trainor aka Negative Man (Matt Bomer), Jane aka Crazy Jane (Diane Guerrero), Rita Farr aka Elasti-Woman (April Bowlby), and Vic Stone aka Cyborg (Joivan Wade).
These are outcasts and screw-ups who gained powers, or more like curses, through tragic accidents, all from different eras. They were saved by Dr. Niles Caulder aka The Chief (Timothy Dalton), who’s like if Sir Reginald Hargreeves was a caring father figure and mentor ala Professor X.
This is a series full of bizarre characters with even stranger abilities, frequent time travel and interdimensional detours, evil organizations, and multiple apocalyptic events (one involving a giant cockroach Doomsday prophet). Yeah, it’s a real trip.
Where to watch: Max
Dead Boy Detectives (2024–) – The Umbrella Academy for Paranormal Nerds
The Dead Boy Detectives made their first live-action appearance in an episode of Doom Patrol. Years later, Netflix debuted a full series that exists within the streamer’s The Sandman universe. Edwin Paine (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) have been deceased friends and colleagues for decades, solving the supernatural cases only they can handle. After they exorcise a demon from Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), the young medium joins their team and they leave foggy London to investigate a case in foggy Port Townsend, Washington.
The newly-formed trio spends a lot of time bickering but is still more successful than the Hargreeves clan when it comes to teamwork. They also meet some very unique characters in the seaside town, including wickedly witchy Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), the shapeshifting Cat King (Lukas Gage), local butcher Jenny Green (Briana Cuoco), and Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), who has a fairy infestation.
Klaus lovers in particular will be immediately drawn in by the paranormal premise alone but the punk rock aesthetic, LGBTQ+ representation, and Halloween vibes will keep them hooked.
Where to watch: Netflix
Gen V (2023–) – The Umbrella Academy for Political Geeks
If you already love The Boys, another show The Umbrella Academy fans should check out, then you’re sure to love its in-universe spin-off, Gen V. The show follows the younger generation of supes injected with Compound V as babies who develop powers. Like the members of the Umbrella Academy, growing up with abilities (usually first noticed around puberty) caused a lot of trauma, with some accidentally killing loved ones, like Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair).
When the blood-blender gets accepted into Godolkin University, she plans to work hard and make her way into the Seven. But she finds herself in the middle of a tragedy and conspiracy on campus, along with metal manipulator Andre Anderson (Chance Perdomo), shrinking/embiggening Emma Meyer (Lizze Broadway), mind-pushing Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips), and gender-shifting Jordan Li (Derek Luh and London Thor).
While it’s more political and timely than TUA, Gen V shares a lot of the same dark humor and pop culture references.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Legion (2017–2019) – The Umbrella Academy for Comic Geeks
FX’s Legion is a fascinating series that explores where the titular X-Men character’s mental illness ends and superpowers begin. From a young age, David Haller (Dan Stevens) was plagued by voices in his head, spending years in and out of psychiatric hospitals with a schizophrenia diagnosis. He doesn’t know that he’s the omega-level mutant son of Charles Xavier with psionic abilities.
David meets other mutants, including the body-swapping Sydney “Syd” Barrett (Rachel Keller), with whom he instantly falls in love and can’t touch. Then there’s mutant scientist Cary Loudermilk (Bill Irwin) and skilled fighter Kerry Loudermilk (Amber Midthunder) who appear to be of different ages and sexes but can coexist in the same body. Aubrey Plaza plays Lenny “Cornflakes” Busker, a character I can’t even describe without major spoilers.
Since David struggles to decipher what’s real and what isn’t, there are a lot of surreal sequences, often set to psychedelic tunes, some of which involve impromptu musical numbers and dance battles. If you love it when the Brellies break it down, Legion is your next favorite show.
Where to watch: Hulu
Misfits (2009–2013) – The Umbrella Academy for Anglophiles
Before he was communing with the dead on The Umbrella Academy, Robert Sheehan was the immortal Nathan Young in Misfits, a criminally underappreciated UK series. After getting caught in a thunderstorm, a group of young offenders gain powers that play on their insecurities.
Simon Bellamy (Iwan Rheon), who feels invisible, can actually become invisible. Former star athlete Curtis Donovan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) regrets past actions and can rewind time. Outspoken but self-conscious Kelly Bailey (Lauren Socha) can suddenly hear other people’s thoughts. Flirty Alisha Daniels (Antonia Thomas) gets the worst “ability” of all — tactile sexual arousal, putting her at constant risk of SA. Wild and reckless Nathan (Robert Sheehan) becomes immortal. They meet others affected by the storm with random abilities like lactokinesis.
Sheehan’s two characters are often compared, given their similar abilities. But without giving too much away, I can tell you that Klaus has much more character development in four seasons than Nathan has in two. Misfits has some dark moments, but Nathan is mainly used as the comic relief and doesn’t have as many dramatic scenes as the others.
Where to watch: Hulu
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