{"id":35150,"date":"2026-08-09T21:00:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T16:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35150"},"modified":"2026-08-09T21:00:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T16:00:38","slug":"hbos-4-season-the-umbrella-academy-meets-smallville-action-series-deserved-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35150","title":{"rendered":"HBO&#8217;s 4-Season &#8216;The Umbrella Academy Meets Smallville&#8217; Action Series Deserved Better"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Although HBO\u2019s four-season blend of <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/smallville\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Smallville<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/The%20Umbrella%20Academy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>The Umbrella Academy<\/strong><\/em><\/a> never really found its footing in terms of tone, the series still deserved better than its divided online reputation. With <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/reacher-season-5-release-details-story-status\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Reacher<\/em> season 5 confirmed<\/a> before season 4 has even arrived and <em>War Machine 2<\/em> going forward on Netflix after the blockbuster success of the first outing in the franchise, it is fair to say that Alan Ritchson is a superstar in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>The actor has been around since the early 2000s, when he appeared as Aquaman in an episode of <em>Smallville<\/em>, but his star-making turn didn\u2019t arrive until he took on the role of the hulking titular military veteran in Prime Video\u2019s action thriller. Based on the Lee Child novel series of the same name, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/scarpetta-prime-video-character-fail-reacher\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Reacher<\/em> has proven a hit<\/a> with critics and audiences alike, breaking viewership records while consistently earning almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores.<\/p>\n<p>However, a few years before the series gave Ritchson his big break, the star was busy with a superhero series that mixed <em>Smallville<\/em> and <em>The Umbrella Academy<\/em>, but never received its flowers for attempting this tricky tonal blend. Running from 2018 until 2023, HBO\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/titans\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Titans<\/strong><\/em><\/a> was a sci-fi action thriller series that brought DC\u2019s underrated superhero team, the Teen Titans, to life in live-action. <em>Titans<\/em> focused on Dick Grayson, Nightwing, Beast Boy, Jason Todd, Starfire, Raven, Dove, Ritchson\u2019s Hawk, among some other lesser-known heroes.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"we-39-re-not-lying-titans-really-did-have-its-bright-spots\">\n                        We&#8217;re Not Lying, Titans Really Did Have Its Bright Spots<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;HBO Max&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Titans' Iain Glen as Bruce Wayne in a collared shirt and holding three Batarangs\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/titans-iain-glen-as-bruce-wayne.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><small class=\"body-img-caption\">HBO Max<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Arriving at a time when superhero shows were all the rage, <em>Titans<\/em> often got lost in the conversation about small-screen entries into the genre. However, the series did a surprisingly good job of blending its outlandish heroes and their larger-than-life superpowers with an unexpectedly gritty crime thriller plot. Season 1 earned a Rotten Tomatoes critical rating of 78%, with most reviewers praising the show\u2019s dark tone and unapologetic moments of brutality.<\/p>\n<p>Almost more like a superhero spin on <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/best-critical-role-tv-show-vox-machina-mighty-nein\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Legend of Vox Machina <\/em>or<em> The Mighty Nein<\/em><\/a> than a standard DC series, <em>Titans<\/em> made the most of the creative freedom that HBO afforded by featuring plenty of swearing, R-rated violence, and other adult content. The show was hardly <em>The Boys,<\/em> but this was arguably a good thing. Like <em>The Legend of Vox Machina<\/em>\u2019s adults-only fantasy story, <em>Titans<\/em> felt able to address the darker side of superhero stories without becoming too gleefully gruesome or pointlessly bleak.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"titans-39-biggest-problem-was-not-picking-a-lane\">\n                        Titans&#8217; Biggest Problem Was Not Picking A Lane<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Esai Morales in Titans\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/esai-morales-in-titans.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Esai Morales in Titans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> That said, this wasn\u2019t always an unambiguously good thing for the show. While it can sometimes be irritating when shows like<em> The Punisher<\/em> or <em>The Boys<\/em> lean too hard into edgy nihilism, this does at least give these superhero shows a consistent feel. In contrast, <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/titans-alan-ritchson-action-tv-show-not-enough-respect\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Titans<\/em> could often feel<\/a> very serious or very silly from scene to scene, switching between very different tones within the same episode in a way that was jarring.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Boys <\/em>masterfully balanced dark humor and more serious moments of character study, and even that superhero satire had moments where its story went too far in one direction or the other. In much the same way, <em>Titans<\/em> occasionally felt as absurd and playful as <em>The Umbrella Academy<\/em>, only to then become a thunderingly self-serious, dark, brooding superhero show in the next scene. This tonal inconsistency, sadly, held the show back from true greatness.<\/p>\n<p>That said, <em>Titans<\/em> still deserves better than its ignominious reputation. For a show that fared well with critics, especially in its later seasons, Titans is often mocked online as the zenith of the DCEU\u2019s \u201cDark and edgy reboot\u201d era. Although the series didn\u2019t quite nail the balance between <em><strong>Smallville<\/strong><\/em>\u2019s soapy melodrama and <em><strong>The Umbrella Academy<\/strong><\/em>\u2019s more offbeat wackiness, it is still fair to say that <em><strong>Titans<\/strong><\/em> had something to offer the discerning superhero fan despite its imperfections.<\/p>\n<section class=\"poll-wrapper \" id=\"poll-content-203\" data-poll-id=\"203\" data-article-id=\"6357381\" data-sections-count=\"1\" data-poll-closed=\"false\">\n<article class=\"poll poll-area\" data-style-path-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/assets\/poll.271e519e.css\">\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"display-card type-screen large\" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"true\" data-include-community-rating=\"true\" id=\"d4a3-43eb-a460afe309fc\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column\">\n<p>                        <!--    Rating block community and brand ratings --><br \/>\n                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img \" data-stnl-group-once=\"dctTDim4ZT\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"480\" height=\"720\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/05\/8e6qisexmykaihgpvbhafmmqehc-1.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n                                                                                                                            <!--  Display card tags widget --><\/p>\n<p>                                                <!--  Display card community and brand rating widget --><br \/>\n                                                                <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<dl>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Release Date<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t2018 &#8211; 2023-00-00<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Network<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDC Universe, HBO Max<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Showrunner<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAkiva Goldsman<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card media widget start --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card media widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Cast widget start --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-cast\">\n<ul class=\"cast-tab-list\">\n<li class=\"cast-tab full-width\">\n                                                                                <img width=\"100\" height=\"130\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Headshot Of Evan Jones In The screening of 'The Homesman' \" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/instar47289378-1.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/instar47289378-1.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"cast-tab full-width\">\n                                                                                <img width=\"100\" height=\"130\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cast Placeholder Image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2024\/07\/screen-hub-cast-placeholder-1.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2024\/07\/screen-hub-cast-placeholder-1.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=65&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- Cast widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch button preview --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch preview end --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-d4a3-43eb-a460afe309fc\" name=\"extra-content-d4a3-43eb-a460afe309fc\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although HBO\u2019s four-season blend of Smallville and The Umbrella Academy never really found its footing in terms of tone, the series still deserved better than its divided online reputation. With Reacher season 5 confirmed before season 4 has even arrived and War Machine 2 going forward on Netflix after the blockbuster success of the first&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/minka-kelly-as-dove-on-a-plane-in-titans.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35150"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35150\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}