Does 'The Umbrella Academy' Seem Oddly Familiar?

Oh yeah, it's just like The Haunting of Hill House.

Right from the beginning of watching The Umbrella Academy, I knew it reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House... then the similarities just kept rolling in...

There is one big difference between the two though, 'The Umbrella Academy' didn't give me nightmares. Just saying ...

Both stories start with siblings finding out someone in their family passed away.

The real story of both stories starts with the characters finding out someone in the family has died. Before this information comes out, the rest is simply just introducing the characters.

Then they come together for the funeral.

The adopted family in Umbrella Academy comes together after they hear about the death of their adopted father.

Just the same, the family in The Haunting of Hill House comes together for the very sad funeral of their sister.

Both sets of siblings haven't talked to each-other for a while.

This is quite the awkward reunion for both stories, since they have gone their separate ways as adults.

One of the siblings wrote a book giving away the family's dark history.

Oh yea, in both stories one of the siblings write a 'blood money' book.

The book they wrote pissed off the other siblings, like a lot.

The other siblings are not okay with this book. It gives away secrets and exploits their pain.

However, neither of the stories really go into detail about what is in the book.

Both stories have a junkie brother.

Klaus can't get off heroine, not really. Just like the younger brother in The Haunting of Hill House.

He uses the drugs to escape ghosts.

Both of them turn to heroine to escape ghosts. It's getting pretty similar at this point, right?

Both stories go back and forth between their childhood and the present.

I'm still not done yet, there are more similarities here.

Both stories involve a creepy unkept mansion.

Except one is haunted...

Both stories have a brother that tries to take care of them all.

The oldest brother too. Not only do they think it's their responsibility, but others suggest it too.

Both stories have a lost sibling.

Ben died in The Umbrella Academy and the youngest sister died in The Haunting of Hill House.

Their ghost follows them around.

Ben follows Klaus, he likes waffles. The youngest sister follows the sibling a lot but you can only see her when they fight.

One of the siblings comes out of the closet to their sibling(s).

Klaus comes out of the closet to his siblings, just like the physics sister comes out of the closet to her siblings.

Both times the family accepts them for who they are.

It barely phases them, they love their siblings no matter what.

Neither stories explain everything right away ...

By the end of both first seasons... I am still very confused. No really, can someone explain the endings to me?

They are both Netflix Originals.

Not only that, but they are both pretty damn good. Netflix Originals are really doing well. I can't wait for more.

Is this the new trend?

An oddly specific trend mind you... but there are things listed here that are trending. The whole 'coming out of the closet' experience is common in shows now. Ghosts are trending now... I think. Netflix Originals are definitely getting better. I wouldn't mind a trend of broken families coming together... maybe for different reasons though. Although, I do hope this heroine thing doesn't become too much of a trend...

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