Hargreeves siblings who discovered their powers from a young age, Harlan obtained his abilities in a truly unique way. Based on the comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy is once again dominating the streaming ranks with its highly-anticipated follow-up season.
After Vanya (Ellen Page) was transported to Dallas in 1963 following the explosive season 1 finale, she was hit by a car driven by Sissy. The Cooper family took her in, allowing her to live at their rural farm while she recovered from the accident. The harrowing event left her with amnesia, and while she tried to look for answers regarding her identity, she grew closer to the Coopers, particularly Sissy and Harlan, presumably risking meddling in the timeline. The boy was unable to communicate clearly but nonetheless, he found a way to bond with Vanya.
A tragic accident eventually resulted in Harlan acquiring some of Vanya's powers and seeing as Vanya was to blame for Harlan's newfound state, she felt responsible for the boy's wellbeing. Her siblings assisted in protecting Harlan but The Umbrella Academy only scratched the surface when it came to his arsenal of powers. It's unlikely that viewers have seen the last of Harlan, but for now, here's an explanation into his powers.
Harlan's Powers Gained From Vanya
Vanya formed a close relationship with Harlan while staying with the Cooper family. In fact, she was the only one who seemed capable of calming the young boy down in order to stop his episodes. When Vanya and Sissy argued about their current arrangement, Harlan ran off before ending up at the bottom of the nearby lake. Having drowned, Vanya unknowingly transferred some of her powers while giving him R. He came back to life and shortly after, started to experience these new abilities. Not only did he have a telepathic connection to Vanya, but he also had her power to absorb energy from soundwaves. Like her, he also had a lot of trouble controlling the newfound powers requiring Vanya to help calm him in the final episode.
How Powerful Harlan Is
Through sound absorption, Harlan could project the energy to manipulate or repel objects, a power typically associated with Diego. He showcased these skills when he deflected the bullet right into his father's chest after his shotgun unintentionally fired in Harlan's direction as his parents fought. When Vanya was tortured by the FBI for suspicion of being a Russian spy, it also seemed to charge Harlan's powers. He felt her pain through their telepathic connection, and soon after the encounter with his father, Harlan lost all control, seemingly showing off an amplified version of Vanya's powers. At the family farm, Harlan then unleashed a continuous burst of sonic energy that formed a sort of energy shield, and he was stuck in the center. Though Vanya hadn't fully mastered her own power at this point, Harlan's abilities looked much more volatile in nature, making it seem like his power level is higher. Having gained them at such a young age, Harlan's powers could have grown to an unbelievable level, but viewers may never see his full potential considering Vanya took back her energy from the young boy so he could get his normal life back.
Harlan's Powers After Vanya's Intervention
Despite Vanya's actions in taking a major burden away from Harlan, she failed to completely wipe out his powers. While Harlan and his mother drive toward their new life, he was shown in the backseat of the car spinning a toy above his hand. This revealed that Harlan had retained his telekinetic abilities, and also, crucially that he was able to use them with minimal effort, and that might not be all. If Harlan was able to keep some of his powers, he might be able to unlock something stronger down the line and in time, he could exhibit energy projection, flight, and the return of sound absorption. And with Vanya no longer in the equation, Harlan could become a major threat in The Umbrella Academy season 3 and beyond.