Ben Hargreeves: A Metaphor for Asian American Invisibility
The Umbrella Academy’s Number 6 represents the invisible presence, labor, and acknowledgement of Asian Americans
Netflix’s Umbrella Academy is an absolute gem: the series revolves around a dysfunctional superhero family, the impending end of the world, and the long term impacts of abuse and neglect. But what I found the most fascinating about this show was its portrayal of its only Asian American hero, Ben. Whether intentional or not, Ben and his character arc represent the necessary, yet unacknowledged, contributions of Asian Americans in society.
WARNING — Seasons 1 and 2 Spoilers Ahead!
Because Ben died when he was a teenager, Ben’s childhood was not demonstrated as vital to his character development unlike the other Hargreeves. This lack of character background and little screen time immediately places Ben on unequal footing with his other superpowered adoptive siblings. It is made clear at the beginning of Season 1 that Ben is a supporting character for Klaus’ development, not one of the heroes who will help save the world. The continual portrayal of Asian Americans as side characters rather than protagonists in film and media, as well as their lack of coverage in the media, is so pervasive in society that although disappointed, I was not shocked to see this type of portrayal in Ben.
The only person Ben can communicate with is Klaus, so the only times we see Ben on screen is when Klaus’s story is being displayed. There’s a power imbalance, namely Ben is able to see everyone, but no one can see Ben except Klaus. On more than one occasion, we have seen the emotional and physical labor Ben completes for Klaus, from providing Klaus strategies on how to escape danger from Cha Cha and Hazel to assisting Klaus in becoming an influential cult leader in the 1960’s. Despite the work that Ben has done for Klaus, he is never acknowledged for the work he does in helping his brother and saving his other siblings. In fact, Klaus often contributes to the erasure of Ben’s presence, either by denying Ben’s existence or taking credit for Ben’s pulling Diego out of a crumbling building to telling his siblings that “ghosts can’t time travel.” Yet there is a strong bond between these two brothers, and when Klaus allows Ben to use his body to interact with Jill, it is evident that though Klaus may not admit it, he is incredibly grateful to have Ben.
Ben’s last words were for Klaus: he revealed that the reason why he stayed with Klaus rather than leaving was not because of Klaus’s attempts of scaring him from entering Heaven when they were children. Upon hearing this, Klaus is able to forgive himself and move on. Ben’s last act on Earth was spent giving reassurance and love to his brother. Of all of the Hargreeves, Ben is the only one who can give Klaus the words he didn’t know he needed to hear, demonstrating just how pivotal his role was in helping Klaus come to terms with his powers and identity.
Finally, Ben is ultimately the one who prevents the apocalypse in 1963 by talking to Vanya and reminding her who she is. It’s a drastic contrast from the first season, in which Vanya’s brothers were all willing to use force and violence to stop her from ending the world. Ben uses compassion to speak to Vanya and is able to significantly chip at Vanya’s self loathing and insecurities. Ben sacrifices himself in order to save Vanya, and it is a bittersweet ending because despite his invisibility throughout the entire show to the other characters, it is clear that he has touched the lives and shaped the futures of the Hargreeves. Like Ben, Asian Americans are vital contributors to the economy, culture, and society whose contributions often go unnoticed and ignored because of underrepresentation and racism.
What’s Next For Ben?
When the Hargreeves make it back to 2019 at the end of Season 2, we see a warped future with an emo Ben taking center stage. It begs the question: will the new Sparrow Academy Ben continue this metaphor? Or will Umbrella Academy take the plunge and give us a new kind of Asian American hero the world has never seen?
