Article first published as TV Review: RUNAWAYS at Seat42F.
The latest entry into the Marvel
Cinematic Universe is RUNAWAYS, premiering this week on Hulu. Based on
the Brian K. Vaughn (Saga) comic of the same name, and developed by
Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl, Chuck), the show
follows a group of high schoolers who, a long time ago, used to be
friends. A tragic loss a year ago of one of the gang has split them
apart. When they reunite one evening, witnessing their parents doing
unspeakable evil brings them back together. But I’m definitely getting
ahead of myself.
RUNAWAYS lacks any immediate connections
to the rest of the MCU, film or television series. It is the first of
several new series with young protagonists, and the first for the
streaming service Hulu. Without name dropping any famous heroes, though,
or perhaps because of it, RUNAWAYS carves out its own time and place.
Even if a few of the adults act like villainous guest stars in Agents of
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Like this review, RUNAWAYS takes its
sweet time getting started. Over the first hour (actually, about
fifty-three minutes), we are introduced to our six core teens: Alex
(Rhenzy Feliz, Casual), Nico (Lyrica Okano, The Affair), Chase (Gregg
Sulkin, Faking It), Karolina (Virginia Gardner, The Goldbergs), and
sisters-by-adoption Molly (Allegra Acosta, 100 Things to Do Before High
School) and Gert (Ariela Barer, Yo Gabba Gabba!). These peeps will have
powers, but the show holds those close to its vest, instead just giving
us peeks at each’s starting personality. Which we know will soon be
changing because of circumstances.
At the same time, as Savage and Schwartz
did in Gossip Girl, the action is balanced with the ten parents of
these six teens. Although the grown-ups don’t get as much development,
initially among the actors portraying them are familiar faces like James
Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ever Carradine (The Handmaid’s
Tale), Annie Wersching (24), Kevin Weisman (Alias), Angel Parker (Trial
& Error), Ryan Sands (The Wire), and Brigid Brannagh (Army Wives).
So there’s some cred here, especially in genre TV.
The thing is, though, with sixteen
leads, not one of the characters is shown in any depth in the pilot. Nor
is the plot really moved forward all that much, with the action not
getting moving until the very end of episode one. Perhaps that is why
Hulu is making three episodes available right away, before doling out
the rest weekly. RUNAWAYS certainly needs more than a single installment
to hook potential viewers.
I feel like I’m being a bit vague
because so is this series. The deceased member of the group, Amy, is
Nico’s sister, but that’s as deep as we get into her in the first hour.
We know her passing has affected the kids, and to a lesser extent, or so
it seems, their parents. But other than that, we don’t know much about
the mystery. We don’t know how she died or why that has created a wedge
among friends. We don’t know how this past event will play into the
current story.
Honestly, the best scene in episode one
is the one in which the parents meet shortly before their ceremony. In
it, we see all their various personalities and how they clash. One
wonders how the group came together at all, but clearly there is a
shared, powerful purpose, a key element for groups of superheroes and
supervillains in any decent series. If RUNAWAYS had more of this, I
think it would be more compelling.
As it is, the show isn’t bad, just slow,
and seemingly unnecessarily so. I applaud the writers and producers for
not rushing into the central thread too quickly and making us learn
about the characters afterwards, which has unfortunately been done too
many times lately. But if we’re given fifty minutes to get to know our
players first, delaying the jump into the premise comic book fans are
already familiar with, let’s get to know them, which I don’t feel is
done very effectively. Many of the earlier scenes don’t seem like
they’ll pay off later.
Still, Marvel has a pretty solid track
record, and this series looks to be well-made and well-cast, so I’m
willing to give it the benefit of the doubt for now. Even if episodes
two and three don’t quite get things moving as rapidly as I’d like
following the plodding pilot.
RUNAWAYS’ first three episodes are available on Hulu this Tuesday, with subsequent installments to follow weekly.
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