Now streaming: Future Man and the Umbrella Academy

STREAMING—Though it would make a great band name, Future Man and The Umbrella Academy are two different television series now at your streaming fingertips.

The two shows tackle time travel and its ramifications in a way that is absorbing. Part of the richness in the quality of these shows is the fastidious attention to detail both in sets and costume design. Their characters are icing on the cake.

Netflix’s Umbrella Academy follows a very peculiar event on one particular day in 1989 when 43 infants are born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven of the children are adopted by an eccentric billionaire who trains them to save the world. Six survive their teens only to find themselves estranged and then drawn back together again after the passing of their father.

The series is based on a collection of comics and graphic novels filled with twists and turns, created and written by My Chemical Romance lead singer, Gerard Way.

The recent release of season 2 has spurred a streaming frenzy, and rightly so, Ellen Page (Inception, Juno) delivers a high-impact performance alongside an ensemble cast and blazing soundtrack.

While the story of the Hargreeves kids continues to unfurl about 45 minutes at a time, Future Man, ironically, has no future but is no less riveting.

Binge watchers beware, Hulu confirmed in April 2019 that the third installment would be the show’s last. It is complete. That means it’s up to you to ration your passion or not.

The show stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) as Josh Futturman, an underachieving janitor who plays video games obsessively and, after unexpected recruitment, is called upon to save the world.

Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) and Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express) appear in the cast alongside Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson, who are Tiger and Wolf, respectively. The pair of extraterrestrial warriors go on a mission to find the savior of their time.

Unlike The Umbrella Academy, Future Man has more elements of comedy and satire than drama. Episode length averages about 30 minutes, with a total of 34 episodes. There’s much to see.