The Umbrella Academy: Luther Hargreeves (ISFJ)

Luther has been typed by most people as an ISTJ. We initially went that direction as well, but as the show progressed, we came to realize that his leadership role within the academy had caused us to accidentally assume Te. On further study, he appears to actually be an ISFJ.

Si:

“Since the last time I destroyed the world by overestimating my own importance.”

“Yeah, well, you’re always saying that.”

“I know your feeble mind only responds to age and authority.” – Number 5 to Luther

Luther Hargreeves is the loyal, cautious type. In season one, when realizing Vanya is the one to destroy the world, Luther locks her up, in spite of protests from the others, viewing that as the only way to ensure the world’s protection. Even as a kid, his carefulness and desire to be prepared is suggested when he’s shown bringing an axe and a rope to the secret hideout with Allison, just in case.

Luther is not big on change, which is demonstrated by the fact that he’s the only one that never left the Umbrella Academy upon reaching adulthood. Various members of the academy, such as Number 5 and Diego frequently give him a hard time about his loyalties to their father, and failure to leave. He willingly participates in a long term, solo mission to the moon, in which he consistently gathers data to send back to his father.

He also tends to respond to metrics that suggest experience, such as age and authority, which is common for high Si. Luther is also shown relying strongly on his own past experiences. When Number Five finds him in season two, claiming that the world is ending, Luther is extremely critical, and keeps reiterating that he said that last time. He suggests that they’re the ones that cause it, like last time, and initially declares that they should do nothing, thus preventing doomsday.

Fe:

“Love shouldn’t have to hurt this much.”

“I’m just happy that we’re home and together again.”

Luther appears to demonstrate Fe rather than Te. The first indication of this is shown in one of the very first episodes, after they’d all been bickering and fighting. He turns on a record which can be heard throughout the house, which triggers nostalgia in the siblings. Appealing to sentimentality would be an Fe move. Similarly, throughout the series, Luther is referred to as sensitive by multiple people. While he is very reserved, he is shown being openly emotional on occasion, like when he’s crying and yelling for Allison after being dropped in Dallas, Texas. Other hints that Luther is using Fe can be seen when he apologizes for giving Allison mouth-to-mouth, even though he’d just saved her life because of it.

Luther is shown framing things in terms of values. When being accused of having never become his own person, he rationalizes that he stayed in the Academy because the world needed him. He never declares loyalty specifically to their father, but rather to a collective cause. He’s also family focused, having been shown making statements about how he’s glad they’re all together again.

Luther appears to lack the critical nature of high Te. He keeps wanting to give his father the benefit of the doubt, and keeps wanting to believe in him. Ultimately, this ends up crushing him several times over, when his father continually disappoints him. Examples can be seen when discovering that the moon mission was pointless, and when he goes to visit his father in the past.

Ti:

While Te tends to layout clear plans for the sake of efficiency, especially when coupled with Si, Luther is actually shown doing the exact opposite during the one clear instance where we see Diego ask him what the plan to stop Vanya is. Luther produces an extremely general plan, that was basically no more than ‘go in and get her’. This is indicative of Ti, rather than Te.

Luther is also shown letting himself get twisted around on a logical level, which suggests lower Ti or at the very least, a lack of Te. When Luther and Number Five meet up with an older version of Number Five, Luther is initially there to back up the younger version of Number Five. However, the older version talks to Luther separately, and lays out a convincing argument to actually kill the younger version, so they both can return to the future and fix everything. Of course, the younger Five approaches him later with his own arguments, and etcetera. As events unfold, Luther is shown seeming very hesitant and uncertain, and waffling between sides, unsure which one makes the most sense.

Ne:

Luther’s inferior Ne is demonstrated in his struggle with change. Diego accuses him of failing to be able to let go of the way things used to be. Him sticking with what he knows and never branching out beyond that suggests inferior Ne. When he’s dropped into the past in Dallas, he even manages to place himself in a similar situation as he’s always known, where he’s working as a driver and fighter under Jack Ruby.

Luther also expresses a desire to be more like Klaus, after discovering that his time on the moon was a waste. When first learning this, he goes into a metaphorical tailspin, getting completely drunk and generally indulgent. He interacts with Klaus during all this, mentioning that Klaus always seemed so carefree, wishing that he was that way himself. This not only shows falling into the grip of inferior extraverted perceiving function, but also inferior Ne admiring dominant Ne.