Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Umbrella Academy season 4.
Summary
Klaus has one of the most interesting powers inThe Umbrella Academy, and the Netflix series doesn’t always utilize it to its full potential — but when it does, it’s extremely exciting. Klaus is one of the most troubled Hargreeves siblings, and his fears and vices make sense when you consider his strange ability. Like several other members of the titular team,Klaus' ability gets upgraded throughout the series. He sees a major jump in power at theend ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 3, and he also getsnew powers alongside the other Hargreevesin season 4.
The latter is the result of ingesting marigold, though Klaus doesn’t fall for Ben’s trick inThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 premiere. Thanks to his sobriety,Klaus remains without his power longer than his siblings inThe Umbrella Academy’s new timeline. It’s only when he nearly dies that the Hargreeves are forced to give him the marigold, returning his ability to cheat death — and granting him a couple of new skills in the process. Klaus isn’t necessarily thrilled to have his power back, but it’s great to see him in action one last time.
How Old Every Hargreeves Sibling Is In The Umbrella Academy Season 4
The Umbrella Academy season 4’s many timelines has viewers wondering about the Hargreeves siblings' ages, especially as the plot gets more complex.
Klaus Can Summon Spirits & Commune With The Dead
This Is How He Sees Ben In Seasons 1 & 2
Klaus' main power whenThe Umbrella Academyopens is to summon spirits and commune with the dead. This is why he’s able to see and speak to the original Ben Hargreeves duringThe Umbrella Academy’s early outings. Klaus may not rememberBen’s death or the Jennifer Incident, but he forms the closest bond with his brother, as the pair remain linked after Ben’s demise. Ben isn’t the only spirit Klaus can communicate with, either. However,Klaus fears the spirits he can see and interact with, which explains his anxiety in the show.
The ability to commune with the dead is powerful and useful, but Klaus' relationship with it complicates matters.
It also explains whyThe Umbrella Academydoesn’t give Klaus as many chances to flaunt his power— and why he doesn’t want it back in season 4. The ability to commune with the dead is powerful and useful, but Klaus' relationship with it complicates matters. It also factors into his substance use throughoutThe Umbrella Academy.It’s a shame the Netflix series doesn’t delve even deeper into Klaus' psyche. Fortunately, it does explore the extent of his power in seasons 3 and 4.
Klaus Discovered His Immortality In The Umbrella Academy Season 3
Klaus & Sir Reginald Discover He Can Return From The Dead
InThe Umbrella Academyseason 3, both Klaus andAllison Hargreeves get upgrades to their powers. After Stanley inadvertently kills Klaus,Klaus realizes he can do more than communicate with the dead; he can also return from death. Klaus' ability to resurrect himself proves useful during the third and fourth seasons ofThe Umbrella Academy.However, to fully control and utilize this power upgrade, he’s forced to work with season 3’s variant of Sir Reginald Hargreeves. Reginald teaches Klaus to master his resurrection skills, and they save the day later on.
At the end ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 3,Klaus learns to bring other people back from the dead — at least temporarily. After Reginald kills Number One in “Seven Bells,” Klaus is able to visit Luther in the afterlife and pull him back to the world of the living. He gives Luther just enough time to defeat Hotel Oblivion’s last guardian and say goodbye to Sloane. However, Klaus can’t keep Luther in the living world for very long. Sadly, because the Hargreeves wind up in a new timeline, this aspect of Klaus' power is never explored in further depth.
Klaus Learns To Channel Spirits & Fly In The Umbrella Academy Season 4
These New Upgrades Could Be Used Better
AlthoughThe Umbrella Academyseason 4 sees Klaus rejecting his power at the beginning, he still regains it during the final season. And the marigold Allison gives Klaus grants him a bit more than his former abilities. It enhances his original power, allowing him to channel spirits in his own body rather than just speaking to them privately.We see Klaus do this several times throughoutThe Umbrella Academy’s final season, as Quinn makes him channel for people to repay his debts.
Klaus' upgrades are in line with the other Hargreeves' enhancements after taking the marigold.
Klaus' channeling power doesn’t play intoThe Umbrella Academyseason 4’s ending, one of the many disappointing facts about the series finale.The final outing also reveals that Klaus can fly, but it doesn’t explain where this ability comes from — or see him using it in any significant way. Klaus' upgrades are in line with the other Hargreeves' enhancements after taking the marigold. Still, it’s a shame the Netflix series doesn’t work these details into its last six episodes in a more satisfying way.
The Umbrella Academy’s Series Finale Isn’t The Ending Netflix’s Show Deserved
The Umbrella Academy season 4 brings the beloved Netflix series to a close, but its disappointing ending doesn’t do the story or characters justice.
Klaus' Powers Depend On His Sobriety
He Needs To Be Sober To Properly Wield His Powers
Klaus experiences anxiety over his powers inThe Umbrella Academy,but the show also sees him overusing substances throughout its four-season run. This ties back into Klaus' abilities, ashe’s only able to wield them properly when he’s sober. Klaus' powers depending on his sobriety are an interesting detail, and they make sense of his frequent substance use. When Klaus wants to shrink his powers or turn them off, he turns to alcohol and drugs to make this happen.
This is why Klaus cites his sobriety as one of the reasons he doesn’t want his powers back inThe Umbrella Academyseason 4. He seems to have an easier time staying away from substances when he’s unable to see or communicate with the dead. When he can access this power, it creates a vicious cycle. Klaus uses his powers, then tries to shut them off — and this, unfortunately, repeats itself.
How Klaus' Live-Action Powers Compare To The Umbrella Academy Comics
The Netflix Show Changes His Abilities From Gerard Way’s Comics
Klaus' powers in Netflix’s adaptation ofThe Umbrella Academydiffer from the ones he has in Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s comics, one of the many changes the series makes to the source material. Klaus is much stronger inThe Umbrella Academycomics, as his abilities go far beyond channeling the dead. He also boasts the ability to use levitation and telekinesis (viaCBR), making him a force to be reckoned with. This might be why season 4 shows him flying — to make up for what was cut.
Of course, it’s easy to see whyThe Umbrella Academydownplays Klaus' abilities from the comics. They’d likely overshadow the other Hargreeves' powers, making Klaus the clear standout of the bunch. Including them would also make it difficult for enemies to get the upper hand against the Hargreeves. It makes sense, story-wise, that the Netflix series goes a different route. However, it is a bit disappointing that we never see Klaus at his full, comic-accurate potential.
The Umbrella Academy
Cast
The Umbrella Academy is based on the comic book of the same name created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Hargreeves — collectively known as The Umbrella Academy — were born with superpowers, and their adoptive father utilized their abilities. However, as they grew older, the siblings grew apart as they dealt with their trauma. They are brought back together after their father dies and Five returns from the future with grave news: The world will end, and The Umbrella Academy has to stop it before it happens.
