The Umbrella Academy actor David Castañeda addresses the negative reception to the relationship between Five (Aidan Gallagher) and Lila (Ritu Arya) in season 4. Five and Lila becoming romantic in The Umbrella Academy‘s final season proved to be divisive, especially when considering the romantic history between Castañeda’s character, Diego, and Lila. It also changed the dynamic between Diego and Five, with the relationship between the Hargreeves brothers no longer being the same after Diego learns what transpired between his brother and his wife.

While speaking on an upcoming episode of I’ve Never Said This Before With Tommy DiDario (via The Hollywood Reporter), Castañeda shared that he is actually pleased about the fan response to Lila and Five becoming a couple. He expressed the importance of stories that challenge their audiences and elicit a strong reaction, and in this case, wants viewers to step back and ask, “Why does that make you angry? What about these characters made you feel comfort, and also, what are they showing about ourselves?” Check out the rest of Castañeda’s comments below:

I really love that they are always taking chances. I love that they’re like, “Oh, you think it’s going to be a buddy-buddy thing,” and then you flip it on Five and Diego, and it gets people angry. I saw it and I was like, “Oh my God, people are getting really angry at this.” And I think that’s good. It’s good to have some sort of reaction to something that things can be flipped upside down.

Five & Lila’s Relationship Suffers From The Umbrella Academy Season 4’s Overarching Problem

Game Of Thrones’ Final Seasons Had This Problem As Well

Five and Lila’s relationship has its fair share of issues, one being that while the relationship between the characters unfolds over the course of seven years when they are stuck traveling on a subway between various timelines, this evolution is mostly shown via a montage. Their romance feels rushed, especially in contrast with Diego and Lila’s relationship, which has gradually evolved since they first met at the beginning of season 2. This is one of many problems that The Umbrella Academy season 4 has due to only having six episodes instead of 10 as in previous seasons.

With more time dedicated to Five and Lila’s relationship, it may have felt more earned, and managed to resonate better. Their seven-year journey feels like it could have its own season, or be an entire series, given the massive scope of it. Other divisive choices, including the Hargreeves sacrificing themselves and being erased from history to fix the universe, may have also been executed better with more episodes that more naturally built to such a monumental and emotional moment.

From The Umbrella Academy‘s ending to Game of Thrones‘ final season, a reduced episode count is rarely a good thing for a series’ conclusion, especially when the ending is going to take bold narrative swings. Things being “flipped upside down” can be effective for the thoughtful reasons that Castañeda poses, but only when they are properly paced and developed. The Umbrella Academy season 4 having 10 episodes likely would have made Five and Lila’s romance, and the final season as a whole, more satisfying.