scorecard
  1. Home
  2. entertainment
  3. news
  4. 12 shows to watch if you love 'The Umbrella Academy'

12 shows to watch if you love 'The Umbrella Academy'

Meghan Cook   

12 shows to watch if you love 'The Umbrella Academy'
Elliot Page on "The Umbrella Academy."Netflix
  • Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" follows an estranged family with superpowers.
  • Fans of the show may also enjoy "Stranger Things," "Titans," "The Boys," "Legion" and more.
  • Note: This article contains minor spoilers for seasons one and two of "Umbrella Academy."

Children uncover government conspiracies and alternate dimensions on "Stranger Things."

Children uncover government conspiracies and alternate dimensions on "Stranger Things."
Millie Bobby Brown on "Stranger Things."      Netflix

Summary: After Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) disappears into a dimension known as "The Upside Down," his friends and family band together with local police chief Jim Hopper (Dave Harbour) to bring him home.

Why you'll like it: Both shows feature superheroes with numbered names — like Number Five and Eggo-obsessed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) — but "Umbrella Academy" and Netflix's "Stranger Things" are also strong sci-fi shows with a penchant for dark humor and nostalgic soundtracks.

"The Boys" is a comic-book adaptation that shows the ugly reality of superheroes.

"The Boys" is a comic-book adaptation that shows the ugly reality of superheroes.
Jack Quaid and Erin Moriarty on "The Boys."      Amazon Studios

Summary: After happy-go-lucky Hughie (Jack Quaid) suffers an unimaginable loss at the hands of a superhero, a vigilante named Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) opens his eyes to the corrupt world of corporate-sponsored superhumans.

Why you'll like it: Although "Umbrella Academy" doesn't shy away from showing violence, Amazon Prime's "The Boys" manages to take that dial and turn it up to 11.

The bloody comic book adaptation also shows a more incisive look into superheroes and their real-world ramifications on society.

On "Titans" young heroes come together to fight forces of evil.

On "Titans" young heroes come together to fight forces of evil.
Brenton Thwaites on "Titans."      HBO Max

Summary: Inspired by DC's Teen Titans, this superhero series follows Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), Kory Anders (Anna Diop), Rachel Roth (Teagan Croft), Gar Logan (Ryan Potter), and more as they team up to fight crime.

Why you'll like it: Like the varying personalities running rampant in the Hargreeves household, HBO Max's "Titans" follows a team of young heroes who form a surrogate family in the name of fighting evil, even though they couldn't be more different.

"The Witcher" takes a more medieval approach to magical abilities.

"The Witcher" takes a more medieval approach to magical abilities.
Freya Allan as Ciri on "The Witcher."      Netflix

Summary: Wandering a land strewn with chaos, Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) hunts monsters and vows to protect the fate of a young girl (Freya Allan) as he crosses paths with elf sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra).

Why you'll like it: Based on the best-selling books by Andrzej Sapkowski, "The Witcher'' is another Netflix adaptation that has blown viewers away. Although their settings widely differ, both shows feature stunning fight choreography and storytelling that toy with viewers' perception of time.

"Black Mirror" is a sci-fi anthology that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

"Black Mirror" is a sci-fi anthology that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Miley Cyrus on "Black Mirror."      Netflix

Summary: "Black Mirror" is an anthology series that shows the far-ranging effects of technology and explores worlds in which the lines between humanity and technology blur beyond recognition.

Why you'll like it: In the spirit of "The Twilight Zone," Netflix's futuristic sci-fi series spans stories that range from chilling to heartbreaking. Narratively "Umbrella Academy" is like night and day compared to "Black Mirror," but the mesmerizing sci-fi shows know how to keep fans glued to the television screen.

Survivors grapple with the fallout of a nuclear war on "The 100."

Survivors grapple with the fallout of a nuclear war on "The 100."
Eliza Taylor on "The 100."      Shane Harvey/The CW

Summary: In a dystopian future where humans live on a collection of space stations, Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) is one of 100 teenagers sent down to a crumbling Earth to determine if it is habitable.

Why you'll like it: The Hargreeves siblings sidestep multiple nuclear disasters and potential apocalypses throughout "The Umbrella Academy" but The CW's "The 100" takes place in a world where a nuclear apocalypse was unavoidable. Set decades after the fallout, the teen drama is an intriguing look at what it would take to rebuild society.

Six strangers wake up on a spaceship on the sci-fi series "Dark Matter."

Six strangers wake up on a spaceship on the sci-fi series "Dark Matter."
Melissa Crystal O'Neil on "Dark Matter."      Netflix

Summary: On Syfy's space series "Dark Matter," six strangers wake up on a ship with no memory of who they are or how they got on board.

Why you'll like it: Just as the pseudo-siblings on "Umbrella Academy" are connected by a mysterious phenomenon, the crew of "Dark Matter'' are brought together by something bigger than themselves. Both sets of characters are set on unique paths as they piece together their respective legacies.

Eliott Page also stars on the Netflix drama "Tales of the City."

Eliott Page also stars on the Netflix drama "Tales of the City."
Elliot Page on "Tales of the City."      Netflix

Summary: A continuation of the 1993 miniseries of the same name, "Tales of the City" follows Mary Ann Singleton (Laura Linney) as she returns to San Francisco after a 20-year absence and reunites with her adoptive child Shawna (Page).

Why you'll like it: Page's portrayal of a young person hoping to restore a relationship with their estranged parent tugs at the heartstrings and dives deeper into the themes of family and forgiveness at play in "The Umbrella Academy."

Fans of Tom Hopper can spot him on "Black Sails."

Fans of Tom Hopper can spot him on "Black Sails."
Toby Stephens on "Black Sails."      Sony Pictures Television / Starz

Summary: On Starz's historical-fiction series "Black Sails," the adventures of various pirates unfold as Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), Long John Silver (Luke Arnold), and Billy Bones Manderly (Hopper) set sail on the high seas.

Why you'll like it: Inspired by the characters Robert Louis Stevenson created in "Treasure Island," this action-oriented drama shows off Hopper's range as an actor as it plucks him from the gritty sci-fi world of "The Umbrella Academy" and transports him to the realm of 18th-century piracy.

Robert Sheehan had a central role on "Misfits."

Robert Sheehan had a central role on "Misfits."
Robert Sheehan on "Misfits."      Hulu

Summary: On E4's British comedy, a group of teenagers penalized with community service is struck by lightning in a bizarre storm and develop special abilities.

Why you'll like it: Sheehan had a central role in the series across the first two seasons as Nathan Young, a fast-talking teen with supernatural powers, whose character is not too far off from wise-cracking Klaus in "The Umbrella Academy."

Ellen Kuras, one of the show's central directors, also worked on "Catch-22."

Ellen Kuras, one of the show
Christopher Abbott on "Catch-22."      Hulu

Summary: Based on the novel by Joseph Heller, Hulu's "Catch-22" follows Captain John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) and his fellow airmen as they confront the absurd contradictions of their assignments in World War II.

Why you'll like it: Prolific cinematographer Kuras has directed four episodes of "The Umbrella Academy" across its current run, further developing the show's cinematic look and noteworthy direction.

On the satirical war drama "Catch-22" the renowned filmmaker lent her keen eye to the critically acclaimed series as a recurring director and producer.

Showrunner Steve Blackman helped create "Legion."

Showrunner Steve Blackman helped create "Legion."
David (Dan Stevens) and Syd (Rachel Keller) on "Legion."      FX

Summary: On FX's expanded look at the X-Men universe, "Legion" focuses on mutant David Haller (Dan Stevens) as he realizes that his lifelong diagnosis of schizophrenia actually points to telekinetic powers and psychic abilities.

Why you'll like it: "The Umbrella Academy" creator Blackman must share a love for unconventional comic book adaptations, because he played a major part in bringing "Legion" to life as an executive producer.

From creative shooting styles, shared central themes, and talented ensemble casts, "Legion" has a lot for "Umbrella Academy" fans to latch onto.

READ MORE ARTICLES ON

Advertisement