It’s one of Netflix’s most popular series – seen by 45 million subscribers in its first season. The second had been as successful, and here comes the third this Wednesday. For those who missed the start, this science fiction tale tells how seven young boys and girls, born to different mothers who hadn’t gotten pregnant, were adopted and brought together by a wealthy billionaire in the Umbrella Academy. Each has extraordinary power – superhuman strength, the ability to jump through space… – but their birth is linked to time distortions that threaten the Earth. In each season, they strive to correct the dangers that hover and prevent the end of the world, while arguing heartily and living disastrous personal adventures…
The originality, humor and action scenes with spectacular special effects explain the success of the series with young people, all attached to the amazing characters. But one of them is even more popular than the others: the shy Vanya, played by Ellen Page, now Elliot Page. And this is where the matter gets complicated, and the curiosity about this third season is even stronger.
Reminder of the facts: Ellen Page became extremely popular at the beginning of the 2000s thanks to two films, “X-Men: the final confrontation” (2006) and especially “Juno” (2007) which had the consecration to her at the age of 20 years. In 2014, Page came out as gay, later claiming to feel like a boy since he was 9 years old, before transitioning from trans and non-binary gender in 2020, and since asking to be referred to by his new name, ” Elliot”, and by the masculine pronoun “he”.
A scenario still as eccentric but even more delirious
From that moment, Netflix communicates that the platform is “proud of its superhero”, and changes its first name in all credits and communications relating to “Umbrella Academy”. Remained an unknown: how to achieve this transition in the series? Because if actors have already changed gender, this is the first time that this has happened during a series. We will leave the surprise to the spectators, but know that this is done gently and in a fairly exemplary way. Until trouble.
Because Vanya, who therefore asks to be called Viktor, launches into several tirades – in particular on the fact that for him, “it has always been Viktor deep inside me” – which could perfectly be stated by the he actor… the character and the actor merge on an essential aspect, a quite touching parallel. This is in addition to a scenario that is still as far-fetched but even more delirious than in previous seasons. Fans will be delighted.
« Umbrella Academy », American series (season 3) by Steve Blackman (2022), with Elliot Page, Aidan Gallagher, Robert Sheehan, Tom Hopper… 10 episodes of approximately 55 minutes. June 22 on Netflix.