The Umbrella Academy: Every Sparrow Symbol Hidden In Season 2
Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy is full of sparrow symbols as a hint to the explosive twist ending. The show’s official social media page confirmed in the wake of its release on Netflix that the show-runners had hidden 43 separate sparrow logos throughout each of the season’s ten episodes, sending fans on a hunt to spot them all. They’re randomly dotted throughout The Umbrella Academy with seemingly no real reason for their locations other than for fun.
Given the ending of season 2 of The Umbrella Academy, it seems that the show’s frequent use of bird imagery – including the sparrow symbols – was all an elaborate hint at the appearance of the Sparrow Academy. There are other key sparrows on top of the official logos, too. Harlan has a wooden toy sparrow that seems to be something of a totem for him (and which reveals that he still has powers at the end of the season), the third episode’s Umbrella logo is a swarm of the birds, and, of course, the Sparrow Academy logo revealed in the final episode includes a sparrow as one of its emblems.
Could these sparrow symbols have a meaning beyond subconsciously hinting at the Sparrow Academy’s appearance at the end of the season? Could they be indicating points in the timeline where the Academy (either Sparrow or Umbrella) had changed something previously? It surely can’t be an accident that there are 43 sparrows and 43 children all born October 1 1989. Or are they just Easter eggs designed to give fans more reason to watch The Umbrella Academy repeatedly? Now that fans have had a chance to find them all, here’s a complete guide to where and when the sparrows appear.
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 1 – “Back Where We Started”
The first sparrow appearance comes courtesy of the Swedes. Their introduction sees them seize a Goldfield Farms Dairy Products Truck as their new vehicle to pursue the Umbrella Academy. The sparrow is the Farms’ logo. Timestamp: 09.43
The second is printed on a tile in the bathroom of Diego’s psych hospital ward. As the camera pans down the corridor towards Diego and Lila’s group session with Doctor Moncton, the sparrow logo is visible on the wall next to the sink. Timstamp: 13.43
The vinyl record that Harlan plays – Johann Sebastien Bach’s “Chaconne” – has the third sparrow logo emblazoned in its center. Timestamp: 21.22
The fourth sparrow symbol appears when Klaus and Ben head back towards Dallas in 1963 from San Francisco and walk into Jay’s Elbow Room bar after their stolen car breaks down. As Klaus talks to the barman about when the next bus to Dallas is due, one shot reveals that there’s a draft beer pump at the other end of the bar (under the mounted fish) with a sparrow emblem on it. Timestamp: 25.36
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 2 – “The Frankel Footage”
The first sparrow of the second episode and the fifth overall is located on the US Mail bin outside of the Carousel Club where Luther works for gangster Jack Ruby. After Number 1 throws Sissy’s inebriated husband Carl out of the club and Vanya comes to collect him, the red and blue bin sits to the left of screen. Timestamp: 11.19
The sixth sparrow is part of a chart pinned to the side of Elliott’s HAM radio that he uses to monitor police reports in his apartment. It’s visible as Five listens to the report about Diego and Lila’s asylum escape. Timestamp: 15.47
Staying in Elliott’s apartment, the seventh sparrow symbol is printed on what appears to be a white double-decker bread bin on the bench next to Five as he, Diego, Lila and the tied-up Elliott watch The Frankel Footage of the day of JFK’s assassination. Timestamp: 23.12
Sparrow number eight is hidden on the side of the refrigerator in the house owned by the tragic cat lady the Swedes kill to commandeer her property as their headquarters. It’s visible as Axel cooks in the kitchen in his underpants. Timestamp: 29.07
The ninth and final sparrow of episode 2 appears as Diego and Five search for Reginald Hargreeves (and before the former is stabbed) at D.S. Umbrella Manufacturing Co. While looking for clues on his whereabouts, Five picks up an invitation to Hoyt Hillenkoetter’s gala at the Mexican Consulate and another piece of paper is visible on the desk beneath it, marked with the sparrow symbol. Timestamp: 42.44
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 3 – “The Swedish Job”
Sparrow 10 appears as the header of a document on a clipboard beside the typewriter Ben uses to scare the cop into releasing Raymond from the cells in the police station. Timestamp: 19.10
The Handler has the eleventh sparrow embroidered on her bath towel. Timestamp: 27.53
When Klaus goes to warn Dave not to join the army, there’s a single sparrow symbol (the 12th) on one of the paint cans on a shelf in the hardware Dave works in. The rest of the cans have tree symbols. Timestamp: 34.51
The 13th sparrow is found in the background of the pet store on the middle one of three bags of feed above the fishtank. Timestamp: 44.08
The next sparrow emblem (14) is on the cover of the room service menu that Lila consults after letting herself into the motel room. Timestamp: 45.25
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 4 – “The Majestic 12″
The first sparrow in episode 3 and the fifteenth overall appears in the flashback to Lila’s past when she’s seen eating ice cream in The Handler’s office. The symbol is printed on a box on Lila’s new mother’s desk. Timestamp: 02.01
The sixteenth symbol appears as a sticker on the door of the liquor store where Klaus heads to drown his sorrows when Dave punches him. Timestamp: 19.09
Sparrow number 17 is visible on part of the kitchen wall inside the Mexican Consulate when the Swedes take over hors d’oeuvres duties for the party guest. Timestamp: 30.16
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 5 – “Valhalla”
The first sparrow to show up in episode 5, and the eighteenth in total is see on a file sitting next to Pogo’s drawing of his “family” on Reginald Hargreeves’ desk. Timestamp: 04.34
Number 19 – which is one of the smallest sparrows – is part of the framed chart mounted on the back of the hotel room door when Lila enters. Timestamp: 18.53
The 20th sparrow is the logo on the vacuum cleaner the Swedes use to clean up copious amounts of cat hair. Timestamp: 24.42
When Five follows Lila into the Nu-Shol paint factory, the twenty-first sparrow is part of a sign hanging at the top of the frame. Timestamp: 38.06
And the final sparrow of the episode and the 22nd all told is on the label of the bottle of wine that Sissy and Carl share on their date night when Vanya realizes Sissy is still sleeping with her husband. Timestamp: 41.33
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 6 – “A Light Supper”
The first sparrow in the sixth episode appears on the calendar on the wall of Odessa’s Salon when the story jumps back in time to show Allison’s story. Timestamp: 02.20
Sparrow number 24 is in the bottom left corner of the”Safety First Wear Goggles” sign next to Lila at the paint factory.
Umbrella Academy Easter Egg Revealed Five’s Future With Dolores
After Allison shows her powers to Raymond, she takes him to a tailor where the store clerk refuses them service. Behind him on the top shelf of a shoe display is a sign for Hargadon (presumably the shoe manufacturer in-universe, but also an easter egg nod to The Umbrella Academy costume designer Christopher Hargadon), which has the 25th sparrow emblem in the bottom corner. Timestamp: 15.33
The 26th sparrow is on the top corner of the table banner at the Bingo Blitz that The Handler takes Lila to. Timestamp: 18.38
The final sparrow of the episode (27th in total) is stamped on the hand-written note The Handler gives to Five telling him where The Commission Board is meeting so he can kill them. Timestamp: 47.36
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 7 – “Öga for Öga”
Before killing The Commission Board, Five “buys” some Pogo-Gogo chocolate (named after Pogo, perhaps), which has the 28th sparrow on within the logo. Timestamp: 01.46
The next sparrow (number 29) is on the corner of the fire ax emergency sign when Five chooses his weapon of choice. Timestamp: 02.25
When Carl tells Vanya he knows about her and Sissy, he insists she leaves the farm. She packs a suitcase, which has the thirtieth sparrow printed on the bottom. Timestamp: 36.06
The final sparrow of the episode (number 31 overall) is printed on a brown paper bag left by the trash cans in the alleyway in which Klaus attempts to kick Ben out of his body. Timestamp: 39.28
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 8 – “The Seven Stages”
The eighth episode begins in the same alleyway where Klaus manages to vomit out Ben. The first sparrow (number 32) is printed on the side of a green bin. Timestamp: 04.30
The thirty-third sparrow is on the bulletin board of Sir Reginald’s secret room where Diego learns his involvement in the plot to assassinate JFK. Timestamp: 09.40
Sparrow number 34 turns up in the pub in which Five and Luther meet Old Five. It’s printed on a poster on the wall proudly proclaiming Kennedy as “Our First Irish-American President!” Timestamp: 20.23
The final sparrow of the episode (and 35th overall) is on the telephone beside the desk in the FBI building in which Vanya is tortured, triggering her powers. Timestamp: 43.17
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 9 – “743”
Sparrow 36 and the first in the penultimate episode is daubed on the railings on the side of the bridge over which Luther and Old Five walk on their way to the Grassy Knoll. Timestamp: 05.13
The thirty-seventh sparrow appears as part of a drawing in Harlan’s bedroom visible when he passes out because of his power link to Vanya and Sissy finds him. Timestamp: 11.48
When Old Five opens his non-time travel briefcase, one of the newspapers within has the 38th sparrow stamped on it. Timestamp: 14.40
The final sparrow of the episode and 39th in total is printed on the bottom of the Commission kill order that The Handler stamps to falsely approve the murder of Lila’s parents in the tell-tale flash-back. Timestamp: 24.39
Hidden Sparrow Academy Logos In Episode 10 – “The End of Something”
The final episode’s first sparrow (and number 40 in total) is the logo on the side of the tractor that Diego and Five take cover behind when The Commission agents attack. Timestamp: 17.14
Sparrow number 41 is on the label of the bottle of scotch that Raymond puts on the table when he finds the letter Allison leaves him. Timestamp: 41.45
The second to last sparrow (number 42) is a tiny logo printed on the inside of the bus that Dave boards on his way to military training. Timestamp: 43.15
And finally, the 43rd and final sparrow is on the back of the television set that Jack Ruby witnesses JFK’s assassination on before heading out to shoot Lee Harvey Oswald. Timestamp: 43.51
In short, the sparrows were there all along, and they laid a trail all the way through the second season of The Umbrella Academy until the grand reveal of the Sparrow Academy in the finale’s last moments. What do they mean? Were they clues of important flashpoints in time? Were they no more than fun Easter eggs? Perhaps The Umbrella Academy season 3 will confirm it once it’s confirmed.
About The Author
Best Posts
Related Posts
Shameless: Each Gallagher Ranked By Their Skills As A Hustler
The Gallaghers have used everything in their power to survive and thrive on Shameless. That means each family member has to have skills as a hustler.
Godzilla Ugly Christmas Sweater Will Keep You Warm With His Atomic Breath
Popular entertainment retail store FYE releases a Godzilla Christmas sweater for fans of the King of the Monsters as the holiday season rolls in.
My Hero Academia Needs The Most-Hated Mineta More Than Ever
Even though Grape Juice is one of the most hated characters in My Hero Academia, there are still a few ways he can make himself useful.
Will The Walking Dead Zombies Eventually Die On Their Own?
The world of The Walking Dead is overrun by flesh-eating zombies,, but there's a good chance they'll all eventually cease being a threat.
Rocky: Dolph Lundgren Hints A Drago Spinoff Is In Development
Actor Dolph Lundgren says that a Rocky spinoff project based on his infamous villain Ivan Drago is in development, following his return in Creed II.
Real Steel Disney+ Show In Development With Original Director Producing
A Real Steel Disney+ show is in early development with original director Shawn Levy producing, but it isn't known if the show is a reboot or sequel.
Hamilton: Why The Musical Features Hip-Hop and Rap
Part of Hamilton's charm is the show's clever use of hip-hop and rap influences, both of which serve specific purposes in the narrative.
Pokémon BDSP: Where To Find The Electirizer Item (& What It’s For)
The Electirizer Item allows trainers to evolve their Electabuzz into Electivire in Pokémon BDSP. This item is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond.