Runaways: A Teen Drama with Supervillain Parents
An intriguing and unusual premise, but ultimately underwhelming, this teen series revolves around a group of high schoolers who discover their parents are supervillains.
Alex, Nico, Karolina, Gert, Chase, and Molly were once inseparable friends, bound together by their parents’ involvement in a powerful philanthropic organization. However, tragedy struck when Nico’s sister died, sending the group into a spiral of depression and disbanding their friendship. After two years of separation, Alex, yearning for companionship, reunites the former friends. Their reunion takes a dark turn when they stumble upon a shocking secret: their parents’ organization is a front for a mysterious cult that performs human sacrifices. Adding to the chaos, the teens begin to develop their own unique superpowers. These strange events bring the six back together as they grapple with their newfound abilities and decide what to do next.
Initially conceived as a film, “Runaways” was ultimately developed into a television series by Marvel for Hulu.
Marvel continues its expansion onto the small screen with “Runaways,” a series based on the comic book of the same name. The story centers on the children of supervillains who rebel against their parents and embrace their own heroic destinies. The series cleverly blends popular comic book tropes. As the teens unlock their powers, they discover a diverse range of abilities, including super strength, witchcraft, alien heritage, engineering genius, strategic planning, and the ability to telepathically control a dinosaur. Yes, you read that right – a dinosaur. Albeit a small one, but powerful enough to aid in their superheroic endeavors.
Too Many Characters, Too Little Depth
The central problem with “Runaways” becomes apparent when you start listing the characters. Six teenagers and ten parents (Gert and Molly are adoptive sisters) – is that too many main characters? The series attempts to give everyone equal screen time, juggling a multitude of storylines. This results in a fragmented and superficial narrative. A 45-minute episode might only dedicate a few minutes to each central character’s individual story. And that’s not even considering the recurring and supporting characters who also need their share of screen time.
James Marsters, who plays Chase’s father, Victor Stein, is known for his role as the vampire Spike in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
This approach prevents the main characters from becoming complete stereotypes, but they don’t stray far from familiar high school tropes. For example, Chase is a jock with a passion for engineering, while Gert is a fierce feminist with a secret romantic side. The other characters are even less developed, and the actors’ charisma isn’t enough to carry the show.
Missed Casting Opportunities
It’s evident that creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (“The O.C.,” “Gossip Girl”) aimed to cast a mix of promising newcomers and established stars. However, they didn’t quite hit the mark. When Gregg Sulkin, who was a weak point in the teen rom-com “Faking It,” is one of the more memorable actors, it’s clear the casting could have been better.
Intrigue and Mystery
Despite its flaws, “Runaways” has a significant strength: its intriguing plot. From the end of the first episode, the show constantly introduces twists and turns, keeping viewers guessing. The large cast of characters works to its advantage here, as each character has their own secrets, both in their “real” and “fantastic” lives.
Is this enough to make the show captivating? Perhaps, if you’re interested in teen superhero stories and soapy dramas about teenagers and adults. However, it’s difficult to give a high rating to a series with only one redeeming quality. Especially since the first three episodes of “Runaways” lack action for a superhero show. However, this may change as the characters become more comfortable with their powers and confront their parents directly.