In Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, Aidan Gallagher functions as the leader of the dysfunctional family (no matter how wrong his leadership may be). He is a middle-aged man who sits in the body of a teenager, and comes up with plans to save the world. As a result, he has many conversations with various members of Hargreeves, and often tells his plans, insults her stupidity, or mocks his trauma of children. However, two relationships from all of Family Five’s Dynamics received a little extra attention this season.
During an interview with Looper, Gallagher discussed the relationships his character has with the various Hargreeves. Asked if he enjoyed dynamics above others in season 2, Vanya and Diego came to mind.
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Aidan Gallagher discusses Number Five in relation to Vanya and Diego in ‘The Umbrella Academy’
Looper asked Aidan Gallagher, “Is there a particular character combination that you really enjoyed, whether as an actor or a viewer?” Aidan Gallagher explained that the show took some time to highlight his character’s relationships with Diego and Vanya in season two. And, as an actor, he faced Ellen Page with a challenge that Gallagher accepted with open arms. Gallagher said:
Well, I’ve always appreciated the subtlety that Vanya brings out of Five and the challenge it poses as an actor to stop in a scene with Ellen Page. But there are also some really interesting bows this season with Diego and me talking back and forth. Those two have a tendency to kind of head over heels and really fight for dominance. But Five is this very poised, very short, very analytical character, and Diego is this more humanistic character. And to fight those two first types, but then get kind of comfortable with each other, it was fun …
Looper
Ellen Page is quite a accomplished actor. While the cast has the stock full of talent, Ellen Page appeared in a handful of big blockbusters and award-winning TV productions. Fan Tales of the City en X-Men no My Days of Mercy en After falling in love with Rome, it should come as no surprise that Gallagher experienced in more scenes with Page. Their subtlety is powerful and effective, as Gallagher notes – and a young actor can learn a lot from them.
However, working with Page’s Vanya this season was not the only treatment for Gallagher; Five got to have a lot of fun with Diego as he tried to avoid the clip star messing with history forever.
Because Five and Diego are polar opposites, they create great scene partners, noting and exploiting those behind the production for maximum effect. What strikes a scene in which a little Number Five butcher puts Diego in his place? Gallagher notes that while his scenes with Vanya and Diego were particularly rewarding, all the dynamics deliver important glimpses into the characters. He said: “Each of us has our own little bows with different siblings in season”
