A guide to Harlan's powers in The Umbrella Academy season 2

1 August 2020, 09:55

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A guide to Harlan's powers, and what that final scene means for season 3.

The Umbrella Academy season 2 introduces us to a number of new characters, including one that could have a huge impact on the future of the show: Harlan.

Vanya (Ellen Page) crosses paths with Harlan and his mother Sissy after she's run over by Sissy in the '60s. Vanya moves in with them as a carer for Harlan, who is autistic, and the two develop a close bond.

A few episodes into the season, Vanya ends up saving Harlan's life, but in doing so, appears to change the course of the timeline quite drastically.

Viewers are then left with a bunch of unanswered questions and a huge cliffhanger ending that will be stuck on all of our minds until season 3 drops.

READ MORE: The Umbrella Academy season 3: Release date, cast, spoilers and news

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for The Umbrella Academy season 2...

What are Harlan's powers and how did Vanya give them to him?

During Vanya's stay at the ranch with Sissy and Harlan, Sissy and her husband get into a huge fight, resulting in Harlan running away and drowning in a nearby lake.

Using her powers, Vanya is able to move the water and locate Harlan. As she gives him CPR to save his life, she unknowingly transfers particles of her own power to him.

As the season goes on, the powers that have been transferred to Harlan manifest when he gets angry, deflecting a bullet shot by his father. The power transfer also links Harlan to Vanya. When Vanya is interrogated by the FBI, and ends up releasing a huge bubble of constant energy as protection, Harlan enters a similar trance-like state back at home, with his powers spiralling out of control.

WARNING: More spoilers ahead...

Does Harlan still have powers?

Vanya manages to snap Harlan out of his trance by transferring his power back to her, and she believes she's managed to remove all of it. But it's later revealed in a cut-away scene in the final moments of the season that Harlan still possess some kind of ability.

As Sissy drives to New Mexico, Harlan can be seen in the back of the car, with a toy bird hovering in his hand. It's unclear if that one particle left with Harlan will grow into something bigger and more powerful.

Is Harlan part of the Sparrow Academy?

The shot of the bird floating in Harlan's hand is obviously no coincidence. With Sir Reginald Hargreeves' new academy being called The Sparrow Academy, there definitely seems to be a link there.

Seeing as Hargreeves is told about the Umbrella Academy in the '60s, could he have sought Harlan out and used him as as inspiration for his new academy?

Given that the final scene takes place in 2019, 56 years on from 1963, Harlan is clearly not one of the teens. But there's a chance he could be involved somewhere down the line. Maybe he's something to do with that floating box? Season 3 could not come sooner.