We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals

"We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals" is the first episode of the American superhero web television series The Umbrella Academy based on the comic book series of the same name. The episode, which was originally released on Netflix on February 15, 2019, was directed by Peter Hoar and written by series developer Jeremy Slater.

This article is about the TV episode. For the comic book issue, see The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite § Issue #2: "We Only See Each Other At Weddings And Funerals".

"We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals"
The Umbrella Academy episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byPeter Hoar
Teleplay byJeremy Slater
Produced by
  • Jamie Neese
  • Jason Neese
  • Chris Tongue
Featured music
Original release dateFebruary 15, 2019
Running time59 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

Plot

On October 1, 1989, forty-three women give birth to forty-three children, despite none of them showing any sign of pregnancy until labor began. Seven of those children were adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves, and turned into a superhero team known as "The Umbrella Academy".

In the present, five of these children, now grown-up, live separate lives. Luther "Number 1" lives on the moon, Diego "Number 2" stops a home invasion, Allison "Number 3" walks on the red carpet at a film premiere, Klaus "Number 4" leaves rehab and immediately begins to use drugs, and Vanya "Number 7" plays the violin. After watching the news, they all learn about Sir Reginald Hargreeves's death.

The children decide to reunite in their old home, the Academy, to talk about their father's death. Visiting his father's bedroom, Luther begins to suspect that his father was murdered by one of the others, as his monocle is missing. Diego reassures Luther that the coroner stated that Sir Reginald died of heart failure but Luther remains suspicious.

In a flashback to the Umbrella Academy's first public appearance, the Academy successfully stop a bank robbery. Sir Reginald and Vanya watch the action from a rooftop, and Vanya asks why she can't help. Sir Reginald tells Vanya that she just isn't special, and later in an interview, he tells the public that he adopted six children, instead of seven.

Back in the present, a lightning storm causes the group to go outside. Once there, they watch as a young Five "Number 5", one of the siblings, arrives at the Academy through a strange ball of blue energy. Five explains that he traveled to the future, came back, and became stuck in his 13-year-old body, though he's actually a 58-year-old man. Later, the group holds a funeral for Sir Reginald.

In a flashback, Sir Reginald trains and monitors all the children. He also gives all of them a tattoo of an umbrella on their wrists, except Vanya, who draws her own umbrella tattoo using a pen. In the present, the group part ways.

Five visits a coffee shop, where he kills several men who try to kidnap him. At a river, Diego is revealed to have taken Sir Reginald's monocle, which he dumps in a river. Klaus, who has the ability to talk to dead people, begins to talk with his dead sibling, Ben "Number 6". The episode ends with Five visiting Vanya, where he tells her that in eight days the human race will come to an end, but he doesn't know why or how.

Development

"We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals" was written by series developer Jeremy Slater.[1] The opening scene was filmed in the Wallace Emerson Community Centre, the bank sequence was filmed at the LIUNA Station, and Vanya's introduction took place in the Elgin Theatre.[2]

Reception

Critical reception

On Vulture, the episode received a rating of 5/5 stars, with journalist Scott Meslow praising the pacing of the episode, especially the opening montage, stating that "In a kinetic, terrifically edited montage — set to a violin medley of songs from Phantom of the Opera, of all things — we are formally introduced to the Hargreeves children."[3] Kate Kosturski, writing for the online website Multiversity Comics, applauded the development of the episode and its finale, stating that "As with any good premiere, the majority of this episode built the world of the Hargreeves family, but we get a taste of what’s to come this season in the last act."[4]

Some critics pointed out similarities between The Umbrella Academy, DC Universe's Doom Patrol and Marvel Comics's X-Men series, both positively and negatively.[5][6][7][8]

Accolades

At the 2020 ADG Excellence in Production Design Award, "We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals" won the award for Excellence in Production Design for a One-Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series.[9] At the 71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the episode was nominated for the Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More) Emmy award.[10]

References
  1. "Umbrella Academy Series Based on Comic Books Headed to Netflix". Variety. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  2. Moon, Ra (February 15, 2019). "The Umbrella Academy Filming Locations: The house and the city where the Netflix series is filmed". Atlas of Wonders. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  3. Scott Meslow (February 15, 2019). "The Umbrella Academy Series Premiere Recap: Reunited (and It Feels So Bad)". Vulture. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  4. Kate Kosturski (February 16, 2019). "Five Thoughts on The Umbrella Academy's "We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals"". Multiversity Comics. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019.
  5. "Umbrella Academy, Doom Patrol, and the X-Men are similar for a good reason". polygon.com. Polygon. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  6. "Netflix's The Umbrella Academy feels like a bleak X-Men story". theverge.com. The Verge. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  7. "Netflix's Umbrella Academy Is Your New X-Men—Ugh". wired.com. Wired. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  8. "Netflix's The Umbrella Academy a Not-So-Super Fusion of X-Men and Watchmen". rogerebert.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  9. Giardina, Carolyn (February 1, 2019). "'Parasite,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Win Art Directors Guild Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  10. "The Umbrella Academy Awards & Nominations". Collider. July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
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