The Umbrella Academy season 3 is coming to Netflix on June 22, 2022. Finally. As viewers have been waiting for almost two years for more of The Umbrella Academy—after season 2 ended on a major cliffhanger. Season 2 saw the superpowered Hargreeves siblings transported to the 1960s, where the end of the world had inevitably followed them there. By the time they saved the world and got back to the present, they found that their actions have vastly altered the timeline.
In this new timeline, the Hargreeves’ adopted father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), and their brother, Ben (Justin H. Min), both previously deceased, are now alive. Not only that, but in this reality, Hargreeves created the Sparrow Academy instead of the Umbrella Academy. Just like the Umbrella Academy, the Sparrows consist of 7 superpowered individuals. However, the only member in common on both teams is Ben. Otherwise, the Sparrows are a completely new set of individuals, likely part of the 43 superpowered babies born simultaneously on October 1, 1989.
Basically, the Sparrow Academy is almost identical to the Umbrella Academy, but built with what Hargreeves thought was a better set of heroes. As a result, the team is noticeably more intense and even more scarred than The Umbrella Academy. While each of them likely comes with their own unique story, the member of the Sparrows that have attracted the most attention is Number Seven—Christopher Hargreeves.
Who (or What?) is the Cube in The Umbrella Academy?
As viewers watched The Umbrella Academy season 3 trailer, they may have noticed a floating cube hovering around the Sparrows. That is Christopher, he is a telekinetic cube. The series credits him as being portrayed by EXISTENTIAL DREAD INDUCING PSYKRONIUM CUBE. Of course, this isn’t a real person or thing, so it likely means The Umbrella Academy is hiding the identity of the actual actor behind the Cube. Meanwhile, there isn’t a whole lot of other information we have about him.
Netflix dropped a brief character description for each Sparrow and describes Christopher as a telekinetic cube that changes the temperature to freezing and induces fear. Despite being a Cube, he is a trusted member of the Sparrows and treated just like any other sibling on the team. Additionally, Christopher is described as being the loyal oracle of the Sparrows. It’s unclear if the Cube merely provides them with advice and wisdom, or if it can actually tell the future.
Needless to say, the Cube’s powers are definitely intriguing. The fact that it is nonhuman also makes us wonder just how durable and powerful it is compared to the other Sparrows. Meanwhile, it also has darker powers than we’re accustomed to with the Umbrella Academy, in that it can induce terror in others without warning. Still, we don’t really know the origins of this Cube, nor if Christopher was once a human or not. However, fans certainly have their theories.
Who is the Cube?
One of the prevailing fan theories about the Cube is that it may be Harlan Cooper (Justin Paul Kelly). Fans will recall that Harlan was introduced in season 2, as a young boy with autism living in the 1960s. When Vanya (Elliot Page), is transported to that era, she befriends Harlan and his mother, Sissy Cooper (Marin Ireland). When Harlan has an accident and almost dies, Vanya revives him with her powers. This somehow caused Vanya and Harlan to become connected, as Harlan later is able to deflect bullets and experience Vanya’s distress.
In the end, Vanya seemingly takes back Harlan’s powers, but Harlan persists in retaining telekinetic abilities. Fans posit that Harlan attracted the attention of Reginald sometimes within or following the 1960s, and was recruited by him. Of course, this would make him far too old to still be serving in the present day. That is, unless Hargreeves found a way to retain Harlan’s powers and abilities. This isn’t too far-fetched considering Hargreeves is actually an alien himself and he once saved Luther’s (Tom Hopper) life by giving him the torso of a gorilla.
Reginald is no man of morals—and turning someone into a Cube for his own benefit sounds just up his alley. Of course, there’s no confirmation that the Cube is, in fact, Harlan. Others have more fun theories, such as the Cube being voiced by Gerard Way, as a fun way to bring him into the series. Meanwhile, the Cube could range anywhere from advanced technology, to the spirit of someone deceased in the series. Only time will tell who, or what, the Cube truly is.
(featured image: Netflix)
