Featuring a bunch of misfit superhumans, The Umbrella Academy has had a cult following with its offbeat humor, reinvention of the superhero genre, and a slew of high-octane action sequences. Be it with the heroes fighting against each other or time-traveling assassins, the of the Umbrella Academy can unleash their powers to dangerous levels when provoked.
It's not just the fight choreography that is stunning in such sequences but even the music choice. The Umbrella Academy has a well-curated soundtrack of songs from multiple genres and eras. From Backstreet Boys' Everybody to Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, there's a random track for every adrenaline-fueled fight.
Escape From Asylum
While being trapped in a psychiatric clinic, Diego strikes an unlikely friendship with Lila in the initial episodes of Season 2. Not realizing her true purpose, Diego becomes smitten with her and also cooperates with her escape plan. Always ready with a blade, he uses a knife to escape from his room and reunites with Lila. The duo ends up beating the guards in self-defense as they are being chased by the Swedes.
Even though Diego and Lila don't confront the Swedes, the scene is still thrilling for its fast-paced camera work with scenes transitioning from one spot to another in quick succession. It also offers the first glimpse at Lila's proficient close combat skills.
Diego Thrashes Hazel
Even though Hazel and his partner Cha Cha have been violently pursuing Number 5, Hazel is willing to reach a compromise. But before he even starts speaking, Diego arrives at the scene and bashes him with all his might.
While he has had plenty of knife-throwing moments, Diego gets to show off his hand-to-hand combat skills in this scene. From fast backflips to wild plunges, he takes a few seconds to immobilize Hazel and even stabs him in the leg. Despite the smoothness of Diego's moves, the fight is still one-sided right from the start as Hazel wasn't ready for a duel.
Diego Vs Luther
At Reginald Hargreeves' funeral, old wounds are reopened and the rivalry between Diego and Luther is reignited. When Diego mocks Luther and says that their mother never loved him, the usually calm-headed Luther turns aggressive and attacks Diego with a volley of punches.
Diego is quick to respond with his own punches but when the counter-attacks aren't effective enough, he just throws a knife near Luther's arm. The fight scene is not as ambitious as other action sequences on the show but it still shows the troubled relationship Luther and Diego share and the violent limits to which they can go to prove a point.
Boutique Shootout
Compared to Number 5, Hazel and Cha Cha have done their share of worst things but without any superpowers. But in this particular scene, Number 5 is slightly weakened as the latter two launch a surprise attack. As Number 5 finds Dolores (the mannequin he's smitten with), Hazel and Cha Cha arrive with a lot of firepowers.
Number 5 uses his ability to create spatial jumps to save himself and Dolores while the Queen classic song Don't Stop Me Now plays in the background. This is an interesting scene as Dolores' presence prevents 5 from using his powers to the fullest limit. The editing and music synchronization is also stylish as usual.
Diner Shootout
If not Hazel and Cha Cha, the Commission Board keeps on sending its operatives to track down Number 5 as he hops between timelines. When he's caught in a diner late at night, Number 5 doesn't hold back at all.
Even though he is surrounded by gun-wielding men who are twice his size, Number 5 uses the true extent of his teleportation powers to kick them around and stab them with knives. He's stealthy, smooth, and ruthless revealing his violent tendencies that are touched upon further in the series. To top it all, a bizarrely catchy electronic tune called Electronic Istanbul serves as the song of choice this time.
Bank Heist
The Umbrella Academy started fighting crimes right from a young age as is evident from the one time they foiled a bank heist. From Number Five's teleportation to Allison's "rumor" power, the children overpower the bank robbers in a matter of seconds.
Apart from the usual action, what's exciting about the scene is Ben's introduction. Even though his future version hasn't been explored much, Ben's younger self is shown to turn into a tentacled creature that can cause a lot of bloodshed. The stakes aren't that high in this fairly simple battle but it still serves as the perfect way to introduce audiences to the Umbrella Academy's powers.
Number 5 Vs Lila
When Number 5 discovers Lila's true intentions, he doesn't think much and directly attacks her. His folly is to not understand the extreme power that Lila wields. Roundhouse kicks are exchanged and the two chase each other in slow-motion until 5 realizes that Lila can mimic anyone's powers. The spatial jumps are of no use as Lila can just ape his movements.
Even though 5 is able to overpower her and pins her to the ground, it is definitely a close fight to the finish. The significance of the scene further comes out of the fact that The Handler is Lila's mother. If all of this wasn't enough, a rendition of Billie Eilish's Bad Guy serves as background music.
Allison Vs The Swedes
When the last two remaining Swedes attack Allison in her own home, she is forced to resort to her powers of manipulation. Initially, she does resort to some basic self-defense like attacking the Swedes with knives. Finally, on getting her voice back, she utters in one of the Swedes' ears, "I heard a rumor...you killed your brother".
With the Swede actually killing his brother, Allison did show her worst side but it was the only option to survive this experience. Contrasting with the intense atmosphere of the scene is the background peppy number Everybody by Backstreet Boys. Despite the randomness, the song goes well with the offbeat humor that the show evokes.
The White Violin
Towards the end of the first season of The Umbrella Academy, Vanya unleashes a villainous side as she turns into White Violin. While she's immersed in playing the violin and absorbing large amounts of energy, her superpowered siblings go against the Commission. Diego, in particular, has an intense duel with Cha Cha who eventually gets vaporized.
As Vanya is about to bring an apocalypse on Earth, time is of the essence in this fight. The chaotic ambiance and multiple transitions from one character to the other are what make the fight all the more memorable.
Showdown With The Commission
Taking hints from the debut season's climax is the ambitious showdown of Season 2. This time, the amphitheater is replaced with a more widespread snowy setting that only seems apt given the number of enemies the Umbrella Academy faces here. Lila's ability to mimic powers weakens the team as she even copies Vanya's telekinetic powers.
With tensions already rising high, hundreds of Commission also arrive at the spot leading to an all-out war. The sheer scale of the fight is notable but probably the best part is that finally, fans get to see the siblings united in the battlefield. Letting go of their individual differences, each member of the Academy tries stopping Lila in their own ways.