The Best Klaus Hargreeves Moments From Season 2 of ‘The Umbrella Academy’
Robert Sheehan’s Klaus Hargreeves has been a fan favorite since the premiere episode of the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy. Despite his hedonistic lifestyle and sarcastic sense of humor, his heart is always in the right place.
Klaus is a compassionate and empathetic person even though his outward displays of altruism remain far and few between. Certain moments in season 2 of The Umbrella Academy work to convey all of Klaus’ various shades, depicting the character’s three-dimensionality and loveable nature.
[‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 2 spoilers ahead]
1. ‘What I am is sexy trash’
Toward the end of season 2, the Hargreeves are — once again — attempting to save and prevent Vanya from catalyzing Doomsday. Klaus, Allison, and Diego all hover behind a desk, unable to get close to Vanya (whose powers are emitting some fierce winds and energy).
Klaus goes on to explain why Vanya would understand if he chose not to try and help her. He explains, “Vanya would understand. She has realistic expectations of what I am. And, what I am is sexy trash.” Klaus may have his flaws, but a lack of self-awareness is not one of them. Yet, in the end, he does the right thing — he tries (despite his humorous excuse to do otherwise).
2. Klaus and Ben fight for control of Klaus’ body
Ben does not exist without Klaus. And, when Ben realizes he could enter Klaus’ physical form, he years to do so to express his affection for one of Klaus’ cult followers. In short, Klaus lets him in, but then Ben doesn’t want to leave.
Ben is arguably more responsible, and the siblings must get to a meeting point to make it back to 2019; thus, Ben knows they’re both better off if he’s behind the wheel. The two proceed to fight over Klaus’ body — Klaus tries to pull him out; Ben pushes himself back in. This goes on and on until Klaus finally vomits Ben out, and explains, “Your possession privilege is revoked…stay out of me!”
While the moment ends with humor, it begins with Klaus making quite the selfless decision, despite always claiming to be self-serving.
3. Klaus Hargreeves buys paint from Dave
In the first season of The Umbrella Academy, Klaus wound up in the Vietnam War. He fell in love with a fellow soldier, Dave, who died in battle. In this season, Klaus is planted in Texas pre-war, and he tries to save a young Dave from enlisting in the army, as such leads to his demise.
Dave doesn’t know who Klaus is yet, and Klaus knows the attempt is futile. He knows he will feel immense pain, for the man he loves won’t even recognize him. Whether Klaus does this for himself — for one last look — or for Dave remains unclear, making the gesture quite complex.
4. Klaus is the first to get in the car with Vanya to save Sissy
There’s a moment in season 2 when Vanya decides she’s going to leave her family and drive to Sissy and her son — the woman and child she now loves deeply. At first, none of the other Hargreeves siblings get in the car, leaving audiences to fear that, once again, Vanya will become the excluded and discounted sibling. Yet, Klaus is the first to jump in the passenger seat, explaining he won’t let her go alone. Soon after, all the other Hargreeves kids are loaded in the car, but Klaus initiates the gesture. Once again, his warmth and compassion come shooting to the surface.
