The Umbrella Academy’s final season left a lot to be desired, with questions left unanswered, and a lack of explanation for things like what happened to the other 43 kids with powers in the series. In 2019, the show got off to a great start when it introduced the world to a team of alternative superheroes that were unlike most of those that appear in Marvel and DC. The Umbrella Academy revolved around a group of seven kids, each with distinct gifts, who fell apart years earlier, and find their way back together to fight back the apocalypse.

However, what makes the story more interesting is the intrigue and mystery around these kids, who were all born at the same time, on the same day, to mothers who were not pregnant prior to that day. While the show focuses on seven, and then expands to include some others, it’s revealed that 43 of these special children exist in The Umbrella Academy. But, after the final season, the show still fails to dig deeper on these 43 kids and what happened, despite the fact that they had powers and were living among normal humans.

The Umbrella Academy Season 4 Suggests The Other 43 Kids Didn’t Exist In Reginald’s Timeline

They Were Erased In The Latest Timeline

The Umbrella Academy season 4 does insinuate that none of the other 43 kids existed in Reginald’s timeline, but it does so in an unclear and incomplete way. Reginald Hargreeves resets the timeline at the end of season 3, with specific conditions for his new reality. One condition was that the kids would lose their powers, but it seemed like Allison was able to make a deal that meant she got her daughter back, and her siblings were pulled through to the new reality.

However, this deal appears inconsistent, with the new reality including Allison’s siblings, and Lila, and Ben from the Sparrow Academy. So, why wasn’t Sloane included, or did she just exist somewhere else with no powers and no memories, unlike the rest of the group? The show failed to properly explain or define what was going on with the other 43 kids, and it unfortunately means that this is one of the mysteries that will die with the series and no clear answer.

The Other 43 Kids Could Have Also Been Wiped Out By The Umbrella Academy’s Cleanse

The Cleanse Completely Changed Everything In The Umbrella Academy

The Cleanse was a complex and underexplained element of The Umbrella Academy season 4, but it was pivotal to the entire season and the conclusion of the show. Essentially, The Cleanse is triggered by two elements, marigold and durango, coming together and creating a chain reaction. These elements were created by Reginald’s wife, Abigail, and they are a way for the universe to correct itself after meddling from Abigail.

While the marigold gave the seven powers, along with the rest of the 43 kids, the durango acts as an antibody, to heal and repair a world that shouldn’t contain these elements. As a result, there is a possibility that the other 43 kids were gradually swallowed up by The Cleanse and that’s why they didn’t appear in this timeline, but that is uncertain. However, it does give at least some sort of explanation that could make sense within the universe of the show, and the multiple timelines where Five was never able to fix and put a stop to the apocalypse.

Are The Umbrella Academy’s 43 Kids & Their Marigold A Plot Hole?

Another Misstep In The Umbrella Academy’s Messy Season 4

A big part of The Umbrella Academy season 4 sees the core group consume marigold to get their powers back and fight the cleanse. However, it does appear to complicate things further in terms of the 43 kids. If the Umbrella’s marigold was still present in the timeline, just not in them, then presumably all the other marigold continued to be present in the rest of the world. Could other kids have found their marigold and consumed it, sure, but without a team behind them, it would likely be much more challenging.

The Umbrella Academy season 4 does insinuate that none of the other 43 kids existed in Reginald’s timeline, but it does so in an unclear and incomplete way.

However, the cleanse swept over the whole of the timeline to reset the timeline. While it started with Ben and Jennifer combining his marigold with her durango, it grew to consume the rest of the umbrellas. Then, presumably, it continued growing and swallowing up everything in existence until the timeline could be reset without either marigold or durango in it. The Umbrella Academy could have done a better job explaining and clarifying the 43 kids, but it chose to focus on the umbrellas, and showcase their ending, as opposed to solving other mysteries that came up along the way.