Why Vanya Should Have Been Very Different In The Umbrella Academy Season 2

The Umbrella Academy has many enticing heroes and villains, and often, the same character occupies both roles at some point in the show's happily convoluted narrative. No one on the show embodies this better than Vanya Hargreeves (Elliot Page), who starts season 1 as the non-powered runt of the Umbrella Academy litter. However, as the season progresses, the viewers (and Vanya) gradually find out that this was all a ruse by Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), who used a drug cocktail to suppress Vanya's incredibly destructive sonic force abilities. As a result, the supposedly powerless "Number Seven" rises as the terrifying White Violin, who ends up causing a particularly persistent apocalypse that seems intent on happening no matter what.

Vanya's story is simultaneously a superhero origin and a supervillain origin, and she's got the personality to match. Though peaceful and humble as a person, her powers are so dangerous that she's quite likely more powerful than the rest of the Umbrella Academy — many times over. Still, some fans have noted that her story in season 2, while captivating, just might be based on a massive plot hole. 

Here's why some people think Vanya should have been very different on The Umbrella Academy season 2.

Yeah, about those drugs that suppress Vanya's powers... 

According to Reddit user Tjakes00, the sheer withdrawal symptoms should basically put her out of commission after she stops using them. "I don't remember if they ever mentioned the exact medication she was on, but from context clues you can guess that it was an anti-anxiety medication in the "Benzo" family of drugs," the user wrote." These drugs, like Xanax or Klonopin, will subdue a person and keep their emotions at a pretty even level. However, benzo drugs have extremely rough and actually dangerous cold turkey withdrawals. Unlike opiates it is actually dangerous for someone to withdrawal cold turkey. They will have severe panic attacks and possibly life threatening seizures similar to alcohol withdrawal."

The redditor also pointed out that withdrawals are a thing in this universe, and because Klaus (Robert Sheehan) is explicitly seen suffering from them, powered individuals aren't immune. Still, even Klaus' withdrawals aren't all that accurate. "Even [Klaus'] withdrawals aren't perfectly portrayed, because he is pretty back to normal after like 24 hrs, which isn't accurate," Tjakes00 opines. "This makes the plot hole with Vanya even worse IMO, because they could have at least shown her going through it for a little bit of time like they did with Claus." 

While other people noted the drugs may be some custom Sir Reginald cocktail instead of benzodiazepines, the fact that Vanya kicks them without issue and moves from season 1 finale to season 2 with no sign of withdrawal does seem curious. 

Still, The Umbrella Academy has been known to leave a few loose threads hanging, in case it wants to return to them later. Perhaps the upcoming season 3 will address the mystery of Vanya's medication.