Look, I don’t want to sound too over the top here, but I think we need to lock up whoever decided to use Muse’s “Map of the Problematique” for the final episode of The Umbrella Academy, instead of literally any song by My Chemical Romance. Is that too much? Yes? Probably? But after four seasons, it blows my mind that the finale of a show based on My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way’s comic book, we never got a song by My Chemical Romance.
To be clear, it’s not that Muse is bad, or “Map of the Problematique” is bad. Muse is good, and that song is good. And in fact, My Chemical Romance and Muse aren’t just two bands with complimentary styles… They’re also friends. Decades ago, My Chemical Romance toured in the US, with Muse as their opening band. And then they switched it up in the UK, with MCR opening for Muse at Wembley Stadium.
So that’s cool that we got a Muse song kicking off the “everyone getting ready for war” montage in Umbrella Academy Season 4, Episode 6 “End of the Beginning.” It fits the pump-up tone of the final episode… But it’s also not My Chemical Romance, after 36 episodes of television that could have — and should have — used songs from the band.
To provide a little more context in case you’re coming into this 100% clean… Gerard Way and Gabrial Bá co-created The Umbrella Academy comic book, which inspired the show. Way is also the lead vocalist for the incredibly popular band My Chemical Romance, which was active from 2001 to 2013, followed by a reunion that began with a gig in 2019, followed by a tour from 2020-2023. So it’s not like Way had a falling out with his band or anything and kept them off the soundtrack for the series.
And in fact, My Chemical Romance’s “The End” played in the trailer for Umbrella Academy‘s final season. The first track off their hit album The Black Parade, as you can imagine playing “The End” is the perfect song choice for kicking off the final season. It would have given a different tone to the beginning of the finale, mind you. “The End” is sadder than “Map of the Problematique,” which has a much more driving beat to it, and tinge of danger. But also: the song is titled “The End.” This is the final episode, and the episode is titled “End of the Beginning.” Come on, folks.
Another bit of context here: Gerard Way has provided songs to Umbrella Academy, though mostly covers. In Season 1, Episode 5, he covered “Happy Together” featuring Ray Toro. Then in the Season 1 finale, Way and Toro covered “Hazy Shade of Winter.” Then for Season 2, Episode 9, Way contributed an original song “Here Comes the End,” featuring Judith Hill.
That’s great and all, but Way didn’t contribute any songs for Seasons 3 or 4. And My Chemical Romance, as we’ve previously established, contributed songs exactly never. For a series that has been so musically inclined, it’s a little mind-boggling that we didn’t get any MCR at any point in the series… And when the driving beat kicked in at the top of the finale, for a brief moment I thought we were getting that sweet MCR payoff.
But nope! Perhaps they thought playing My Chemical Romance was too on the nose for the show. Maybe none of the songs fit, in their opinion. I would certainly disagree, and to emphasize I don’t actually think anyone needs to go to jail for this. However, a dirty look might be appropriate. Or at the very least, a reedit of the finale with a little MCR thrown in there, in place of Muse. I’m sure the latter band won’t mind — they’re friends.
