The Umbrella Academy

The show features a highly diverse cast, including several prominent characters whose races were changed from the original comics. The series places a massive focus on LGBTQ+ representation. Klaus is a very visible gender-fluid character who loves men. Viktor is played by trans actor Elliot Page, and his real-life transition was written directly into the main story in Season 3. These major casting and character choices are highly visible and are treated as very important by the creators.

The characters often use modern terms to talk about social issues. In Season 2, many conversations focus on racism, inequality, and the struggles of the civil rights movement. In Season 3, the show pauses the action for several scenes where characters talk about gender identity, pronouns, and the importance of accepting someone who transitions. These speeches feel very modern and are designed to teach the audience about these topics.

Personal identity and social-justice issues are major parts of the plot. Klaus’s romance with another man is a key emotional storyline that spans multiple seasons. Viktor's transition from female to male is treated as a major victory, with his siblings immediately accepting him and throwing him a party. Allison's entire plot in Season 2 is about fighting historical racism. These identity struggles are core to the main narrative.

The show is highly critical of traditional social norms. The traditional nuclear family is shown as a bad, toxic thing that causes deep emotional scars. Stronger male characters like Luther and Diego are often made to look silly, weak, or incompetent next to their female or queer siblings. Additionally, the show paints historical American institutions, like the police and the government in the 1960s, as deeply racist and corrupt.

The TV show makes huge changes to the original comic books to add modern social themes. In the comics, Allison is white and Vanya remains a woman. The show changed Allison’s race to focus on racial issues. More importantly, the writers completely changed the canon by turning Vanya into Viktor in Season 3 to match the actor's real-life transition. Klaus's queer identity is also much more prominent than in the source material.

Many viewers and online critics complained that the show became too woke in its later seasons. Critics argued that Viktor's transition was forced into the script to please activists and that it hurt the flow of the sci-fi plot. Others felt that the family’s perfect, modern reaction to Viktor's transition was unrealistic for a group of highly toxic characters. Many fans were also unhappy with the changes made to the original comics.

The key creative leaders have a strong history of supporting progressive causes. Comic creator Gerard Way (Woke score 80/100) is a vocal advocate for trans rights. Showrunner Steve Blackman (Woke score 64/100) worked with activists to rewrite the show to include a trans character. Writers like Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (Woke score 57/100) and Jeremy Slater (Woke score 48/100) are known for pushing for diverse and queer characters in their work.