Sir Reginald Hargreeves' Sparrow Academy was revealed at the end of The Umbrella Academy season 2, and the second family's name holds a particular significance. Colm Feore plays the Hargreeves' family patriarch, who acts as the driving force behind a group of superpowers crime-fighters. Based on the comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, the Netflix series is gearing up for its third season. Feore is expected to have a major role alongside a returning cast that includes Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin H. Min.
Following the disastrous events at the end of The Umbrella Academy season 1, Number Five (Gallagher) used his time travel powers to transport his fellow Hargreeves siblings away from an impending apocalypse. They were scattered throughout Dallas, Texas in the 1960s before reuniting on the brink of another worldwide meltdown. By the end of the season, the group found a way to return to the primary timeline only to discover an altered 2019. Not only was their father still alive, but he formed another group of crime-fighters: The Sparrow Academy.
Instead of adopting Five and the other members of the Umbrella Academy, Hargreeves set his sights on raising different kids who were born on October 1, 1989. The group consisted of Ben (Min), or a lookalike, a mysterious floating green cube, and five unknown figures. Little is known about the Sparrow Academy, and the same goes for their origin in the comics thus far. That said, their name implies how much of an impression the original Umbrella Academy made on Reginald when they encountered their father in 1963.
How The Significance Of Sparrows Connects To The Umbrella Academy
After meeting his future adopted children in the 1960s, Reginald viewed them as weak, having a hard time believing they had turned out the way they did with his leadership. After pointing out their flaws, Reginald clearly made a note to veer away from these particular children if he ever had the chance to adopt miracle babies. He also deemed the Umbrella Academy name a failure, electing to go with the Sparrow Academy. Sparrows, of course, are small birds, but they are known to symbolize teamwork and unity . They are also thought to bring good luck in some cultures.
By picking the Sparrow Academy as the name of his superhero team in the altered version of 2019, Reginald is prioritizing kinship. He clearly noticed the tension among the Umbrella Academy members and decided to build a replacement group that focused on unity over individualism. Since sparrows are stronger in numbers, the new name seems like the perfect title for a bonded team still at Reginald's beck and call. How the Sparrows will react to the other Hargreeves siblings is still anyone's guess, but it will certainly be a focal point of The Umbrella Academy season 3.