Runaways (TV Series 2017–2019) Poster

(2017–2019)

User Reviews

Review this title
286 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
7/10
evil parents needed
SnoopyStyle19 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Teens Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Molly Hernandez, Chase Stein, Alex Wilder, and Gertrude Yorkes are former friends from a wealthy L. A. neighborhood who grew apart after the death of Nico's sister Amy. Their parents are members of the Church of Gibborim which picks up street kids for sacrifice. Hoping to reunite his friends, Alex gathers them at his home and they witness the sacrifice. Their parents are actually a supervillain collective called the Pride. In fear of their own parents, the kids runaway and in the process, discover their own superpowers.

The first season is interesting. It introduces interesting characters with interesting stories. I haven't read the comics and I have no preconceived notions. It seems to me that the story could have wrapped up after two seasons. There is a problem in the show's foundations. The parents need to be the evil villains that they are battling. They start running out of villains and there is a rush to fill in those roles. The body snatching story is messy. Morgan le Fay is simply dumped into the show and then struggles to find any traction. The first season has great promise. The second season keeps pace and the third season struggles a little. If it had been given more time, the third season could have been salvaged and the show could have lasted. It would work easier with evil villain parents.
12 out of 15 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Comic Fan Seal of Approval
kitcass-0621623 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Runaways was my first ever comic book, Its the reason I fell in love with comics at all. I've been waiting for a runaways movie for years, and wasn't sure what to think when it was announced as a series instead, but i was hopeful. After 3 episodes I can say I still believe it would have been better adapted as a movie. The pacing is slow because they have to stretch it out, and a big budget studio would have allowed for a CGI Old Lace, which would be preferable to the puppet they're currently working with.

I do, however, think this show is very enjoyable. I'm a comic fan, but I also know that changes must be mad when adapting, and none of the changes have been absurd. Making the parents have their own stories and motives, as well as stretching out the time between the kids finding out and them going on the run was necessary, simply to fill the time a TV show needs to fill. Changes to the story, such as Molly's background and the Gibborim are yet to be seen, but I think it's half stretching time, and half updating a story that's nearly 15 years old. (who else remembers 2003 vanilla racist Chase).

Overall, a fun story that's not 100% a loyal adaptation, and a little slow paced, but definitely worth watching, especially if you're not a nitpicky comic fan. I still think it would have been better as a movie, but it feels wrong to blame the Hulu team for a mistake made by the MCU, and the show is doing it's best.
52 out of 101 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Runaways Season 1
rns-2441916 January 2018
It more than keeps me occupied. There are a lot worst things on TV, Old Lace is my favourite character ;)
13 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Did you really expect a panel-for-panel remake?
pinemaples25 January 2018
I just marathoned the first half of season 1, and I'm shocked at all the 1-star reviews. Every negative review I've seen says that the entire thing is teen drama, that it's too slow, and that it's nothing like the comics. One person I noticed only watched the first two episodes and said he's surprised there's no LGBT stuff. To him in particular, I ask did you even pay attention at all? Almost every time Karolina was on screen, there were massive lesbian undertones, and it was awesome. To everyone else: 1. Only maybe 1/4th of each episode is what you might call "teen drama", because, guess what? They're teens, and so is a big portion of the audience. I think you can stomach 12 minutes of drama sprinkled in around the mystery, tension, and good old comic book weirdness. 2. If it's too slow, you're too ADHD. My brother's best friend, one of the most ADD people I've ever met and has barely enough of an attention span to watch a 23-minute episode of Boruto, had his eyes glued to the screen the entire time and was dying for another episode each time one ended. 3. Saying it's nothing like the comics is an INSANE exaggeration. All the major plot points hit in much the same way they do in the comics, and of course they're gonna add in more stuff that wasn't in the books because if they didn't, and just did a shot-for-shot remake, the whole thing would be over in 2 episodes. Everything they added was very much in the spirit of the original story, and gave us a lot of extra character development, not only for the main 6 kids, but for the villains too, who got next to no facetime in the original story. Not to mention, this is probably the most faithful production Marvel has ever put out, considering this is essentially adapting an entire graphic novel, whereas pretty much everything else, movie or TV show, had either mixed and matched comic storylines, or been completely original. I think they did an outstanding job sticking to the source material for reference points, and given us something that even fans of the original story will be trying to figure out while enjoying their favorite characters recreated on the small screen. This show is amazing, and I can't wait for season 2.
17 out of 28 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Season 3 was disappointing
ankitak-6434030 January 2020
Disappointed with this series. Season 3 was not as good as the previous two seasons. Wouldn't have watched season 4 if it was renewed so glad it's cancelled.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
It's ok..
frantzen798 September 2021
It is a difficult show to rate really. It has it's ups and downs. But it is definitely better than Cloak and Dagger and Inhumans, which admittely doesn't say much.

But we have more interesting characters and story here at least. There's a bit of humour to, and the first season had a fun soundtrack on top of it.

What bugs me is the traps it keeps falling in. For instance all the forced conflicts. For some reason certain characters just need to have a falling out every other episode, and then later make up. It becomes tiresome after a while.

Then there's the fact that some of the kids keep having positive relations with their parents, completely ignoring the face that they are psychotic mass murderers. That was pretty lame.

Still i'd give it 6.5/10 if IMDB allowed for half stars.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Not as bad as I thought
corruptedxrose1 December 2017
Honestly, not sure why some reviewers are giving this show so much flack.. so it's not exactly like the comics.. big deal. Not everything in the MCU is gonna be right down to a T. MCU has always put a little spin on their films and TV programs. People are saying this show is slow to start, I prefer that. I like learning about the characters and their backgrounds before diving into the action and suspense.

I say, give the show a chance.. it's literally on its fifth episode. Give it time to grow.
136 out of 220 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Decent, but *not* for kids
fibulator7776 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"All inclusive" bunch of 20 somethings pretending to be early teens with lesbian sex scenes, several times where teens engage in sex, drinking, drugs, etc. "Here, have a drink. It's what adults do to forget their problems." Quote from the show (might be off by a couple words, but the meaning is the same). At one point, a mother hands her son a shot of hard liquor.

If you can get past that, it's a pretty enjoyable show.

Third season goes off the rails. It makes exactly 0 sense for the parents to try using *extreme* force to get their kids to move back home... as if they'd stay... The ultimate bad guys are defeated by a literal and literary handwave. Not kidding. A single handwave defeated all of them at one time, in an instant. So they could introduce a new bad guy in the middle of season 3... who's beat the exact same way... a handwave. For most of season 3, they almost never use any of their powers. I don't think Dino was used even once... the gauntlets were a joke the entire series... There's no way a 10 (stud) would go coocoo for a 2 with severe mental health issues. Somewhere the church leader went from not pregnant to 6 months pregnant overnight (and in-show they just acted as if she'd always been pregnant)... a couple hours later... she's like 8 months pregnant. More than half the time they have a technical super-genius acting like a stupid jock. It makes no sense.

Season 3 was just a hot mess, and easily skipped and you wouldn't miss anything. Just imagine all of the bad guys group up together to shoot light out of their hands... everyone grounded... and one of them simply waves their hand of infinite power... and in a literal POOF of smoke, wins.
4 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Season 2
lisbetheve23 December 2018
This season was incredible. They improve so much since season one. We got to see some ery good action scenes and also the history development was bery good. We got to discovered more about the main characters ambitions. Good performance by all the cast, specially Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer and Gregg Sulkin. I'm Just goona have to wait for season three now.
60 out of 107 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
gets better mid season 2 and all of 3
danieldwilkinson30 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
At first i wasnt a big fan of this show, the concept was cool, but i felt the parents as "villain" didnt pose much of a threat like villains normally do. I stopped watching for a few years until i learned of the cloak and dagger cross over.

Second season slowly made the show better(not as far as parents being villains) then when the second half of season 2 came around it was finally to my liking enough. Nico was my favorite followed by karolina, alex, chase, old lace, molly, gert. In the crossover episode of season 3 tandy(dagger) said my favorite quote "you two are light and dark, like ty and me, you balance each other out". The reason its my favorite is cause it made me reflect on everything nico and karolina went through together(it also helped make moments in season 3 with them better), all of the dark moments that nico experienced, karolina was there by her side keeping her from stepping too far into the dark.

As far as the adults go....tina, gefforey, and robert were my favorites, but not til season 3. I also liked darius and was so mad catherine killed him, she eventually got what she deserved.

The time travel was cool, but i think they should have gone back for darius, not gert. Also the note alex found in the end, who wrote it!?! Future alex? Someone else?
4 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Wanted to like it
dananevels4 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I tried. I really tried. I like many of the actors in this show. I watched all of season 1. I read the comics a while ago but I hardly remember them. I have no problem taking the show on it's own merits. So please believe me when I say it is incredibly boring. So dull. Bring a pillow for your pillow dull. They don't even runaway until the end of season 1.

So, I thought, maybe season 2 will be better. They've run away. Maybe there will be some interesting plotlines. I watched a few episodes. Nope. I can't keep giving this show hours of my life that it has not earned.

It took me some time, but I know what the problem with this show is. There is not even an ounce of humor. It is excruciatingly dour. That is poor writing. It makes the show tonally flat and painful to watch. Lighten up. I know that teenage angst sells, but come on. Add a little humor. Even the campy CW teen dramas add a little humor. This is Marvel, not DC.
63 out of 89 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Greatness and imagination
ErikSziraki30 November 2017
This is a true light in the dark of a show! I dare you to watch 4 episodes despite all the BS in other reviews. In fact I double dare you! If you like the superhero genre, this will stand out as one of the best since season 1 of Heroes. The show demands that you pay attention, both to the subtleties in the characters, and to the in your face stunning cinematics.

And if you haven't seen the trailer yet, DON'T! Saw the trailer after two episodes and Just as I suspected I'm glad i did't watch it before I started episode 1.

I never write reviews. So if this is the review that will make you watch this show, I'm grateful. Because if the series continue for more seasons in the magnificent way the first four episodes have, we're all in for a treat.

I'm the person who didn't bother to watch season 2 of Arrow because it's just to repetitive and boring. Same with many of the other «Marvels».

Just watch it.
106 out of 198 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
One of my favorite ones...
spiderdib3 July 2020
I'm a huge fan of this series but I'd say I am because of the characters (and also the awesome first season), the series kind of messed up in season 2 but got recovered by season 3.

So I will say that if you're interested in watching it then do it only if you're not really into the comics and you only want what the bio and trailer describes what are giving you as part of the audience of Marvel's Runaways.

Don't get me wrong, I DID ENJOYED IT, that's why I'd say it's one of my favorite shows ever, you will surely love the runaways team, I bet you will.

P.S: Get prepare to stan Gertchase.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
I don't get it
karlbest16 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this at first, then it slowed down, way down and I gave no more craps. I had to force myself to finish it. I really don't see or get the point in it. I wanted action, Marvelesque type stuff, instead I got a bunch of over aged "teenagers" with vocabulary of 30 year olds, that can hack multi billion dollar corporations, out smart people with money, power, powers, etc. and a totally lackluster story with zero freaking point. So please, someone explain to me how this show is good. Don't waste your time on it.
115 out of 180 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Like the adults, hate the kids
wienke-3862030 December 2019
Worst Marvel show to date and it's not even close. Ok, in defense of the show, it was released on Hulu and was aimed at young teens, but come on, there still should be some standards!

Even for young teens, the writing and dialogue are remedial and the drama is over the top. Most of the characters are fairly unlikable, and in the end, it's difficult to give two craps about any of them, and on a more specific note, Molly may be the most annoying character ever depicted on television. I mean seriously, who writes this dialogue?

I think Marvel made a good decision canceling all their shows as they really seem to be providing watered down content lately. Between this garbage, Cloak & Dagger, Inhumans, and The Gifted, things were really going downhill fast.

If you want good Marvel content, try Agents of Shield or Legion and pass on this one. This show is only for those of us who insist on watching any Marvel offering regardless of how awful the writing.
12 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Interesting enough to keep your attention...for alittle
danburkhart18 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Season one started out so good, but season two and three failed, reason being...the characters never grew or learned from experiences. Their character flaws seemed to regress with each episode. Every time someone made a mistake the rest of the crew lashes out on them. No one balances the overreaction dynamic. Chase keeps the abuse train rolling by going for a girl who verbally abuses him every episode. Nico stays brooding and hostile towards her parents though they try to help her several times. Gert stays hostile and sarcastic towards males and to get parents even though both try to help her. And season three Alex is left behind in the first few episodes while no one even attempted to find him in the dark place. Yet his character was the only one who tried to bring them together again in season one. Characters can be flawed...in fact great characters usually are. But to not grow from experiences or show proper emotion in given situations (ie all the teens were extremely rude to the great magician in the dark place, even though he wanted to help them...typical spoiled behavior...yet they lived on their own and fought against evil forces) no growth for characters doesn't make for flawed characters it makes for a flawed show with much better potential then what is has already shown. Why do the males in this show get made to look stupid and annoying by the females. Female empowerment should be shown, but with a purpose and direction. This show makes it hard to cheer for the runaways, I'm more of fan of the parents...yet their supposed to be supervillains. Cloak and dagger was a better marvel show. Of course all the Netflix marvel shows are top tier. DC has done a much better job with flawed character shows with the likes of umbrella academy, Titans, and doom patrol.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Pride before a fall.
southdavid13 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked the first season of Marvel's "Runaways". It was an interesting plot and the kids, though looking initially like obvious teenage tropes were well written and had funny sparky dialogue. The second season I was less enamoured with, the villain that should have been wrapped up in season one is continued with, and the plot settled into a lot of repetition. Season three finally wraps up that alien arc - about halfway through, before a shorter and more interesting switch to a new villain.

It's that familiarity of Runaways that ultimately killed its potential. Running with the Pride/Aliens as the antagonists for two and a half seasons just couldn't sustain my interest, particularly as the various characters swapped sides over and over until I just couldn't remember who was with whom, and why, or why they swapped back. I can't help but feel the overall series would have been much better if Pride/Aliens were the villain for the first season, then Morgan Le Fey for the second and Evil Alex for the third. The parents should have been relegated to guest stars after the first run and more time could have been spent on the kids.

Morgan Le Fey is a decent villain (and my god! Elizabeth Hurley looks amazing) and I like there there's a shift in the magic to bring it closer to what we've seen in "Doctor Strange". In fact, I did spend a lot or time wondering why he wouldn't have gotten involved in a story that clearly is right in his wheelhouse - that's the drawback of crafting a connected world. Speaking of which, there is a cross over with the show "Cloak and Dagger" which I haven't seen yet, but provided more of that welcome variety.

I'd like to see the characters crop up again in other iterations of the universe, but for now, I feel like the story of "Runaways" is one of wasted potential.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
SUPER GOOD
katarinaisnotcool24 December 2018
Amazing character development, great action scenes, a super amazing second season! interpreted and reformed the original comic storyline into something amazing!
23 out of 42 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
I like how yongstar want to change the world
anime-akuma31 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
That they runway from home to stop their parents bad deeds that put them into a great denger that is why I like this show and want season 2
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Marvel nailed it!
musamir25 December 2018
If you have read the comics you wouldn't like the series that much but if you just watch it as a separate series with its own storyline, its one of the bests. marvel did a great job her, with all the action, suspense and everything. I am already waiting for the third season.
33 out of 65 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
It's okay
subhdeep-074395 August 2018
It's better than average. I would ideally give it 6.5 out of 10. Concept was good but still it could have been a bit better.
5 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Really bad
kfilippopoulou18 June 2019
Watched the entire first season and the 1st episode of the the second season... It's really bad... Bad script... Bad acting... Bad direction... Really sucks... I don't know why it has a 7 on the ratings... 🤔
63 out of 102 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Very good TV and very promising
namob-4367321 November 2017
This show is one of the best installments of Marvel yet. Agents of Shield is still the best Marvel has done, including the movies, and this is actually not far away from that high level of greatness.

Granted I have only seen the first 3 episodes, but a very compelling and original storyline together with very good actors make this show a must see in today's landscape. There is so much crap on TV and it is good to see something this fun and engaging. Although I believe that this show will mostly speak to teenagers, and most likely resonate very well in that demographic, this is for everyone.

The parents are super creepy. Normal, but rich, well behaved parents engaging in ritual sacrifice and although a couple of them have reservations, they do murder folk and then they go home and put on dinner... Almost a scary story kind of a vibe.

The only negatives I can think of so far is that few things are explained, but that is so far. I must assume we will get a bit more exposition as things move along. Perhaps I can also mention the "finding the secret passageway" sequence since that felt a bit off writing- and dialogue-wise. A little too convenient. And finally yes there is a dinosaur and yes there are "powers", but very little of it so far. Some people want action and fast paced superpower-y things, I do to, but first we need to get to know them and flush out all the characters and this show does it perfectly so far, but a few (Americans especially) might find it slow going.

This is great TV and highly recommended. A strong 8 so far, almost a 9.

A small edit: Just saw episode 4, and the creepiness factor just increased, so did dinosaurs, kidnappings, alien glows, multiple murders and tons of other things. I saw someone writing this is for kids, and I said above this is mostly aimed at teenagers, but I can definitely say that this is not for children. This is decently scary and the show feels more and more like an episode of the Twilight Zone then a Marvel show. Great stuff and I will increase that almost 9 to an actual (weak) 9. Been a long time since I looked forward to a next episode so much as I do from this show.
80 out of 175 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Underrated gem!
AJaybird18 January 2021
I haven't read the comics, so this is coming purely from a TV series reviewer on how they have enjoyed this show. This show was always on my radar, and honestly should be given a show despite the reviews emanating in this section. So firstly I highly suggest a watch!

I find it personally to be a more honest depiction of how teenagers would deal with the issues that are faced with. This show presents this moral dilemma from seeing people black and white, and the reality that the world is morally grey, giving view of how these teenagers have to question their world with their newfound knowledge.

This show also gives a good amount of diverse and LGBT representation I believe is sorely needed in media, and this show heralds it forward with normalising it by it being 'just fact' with the teens realities.

In terms of effects, I think they all work, especially some scenes where there is a certain character which I'm always guessing if they are either using a prop head of VFX. Sometimes it looks 'obvious' but I hand it to the budget and that VFX can point out the 'otherworldly' nature of it in comparison to the live action. It however does get a bit wonky in an episode in season 3, but I believe it is because of the limited budget they may have had pertaining to the crossover in that episode.

There is an issue with the other reviews I've been seeing here, and I think you should disregard them and give this show a shot. Many of these reviews are short without explanation, and are in regards to how a character is 'too annoying'. It is a character trait of hers, and personally I've met people in real life like her (especially in the generation that this show portrays). However, I do agree that this show does not use this character more because of budgeting issues, and honestly as much as I love the actor they probably should've done an alternative for the character for this issue.

If you can understand that it is not the show trying to be 'woke' but just an aspect of a character that had this trait in the comics, then I believe that this show is honestly needing more attention, especially after the cancellation... so please give this show a watch! It's made me interested enough to check out the comics after finishing it!
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
It's like someone read the Wikipedia page and looked at the character design only
lalabrak7922 November 2017
If you are a fan of the comics, this show is definitely not for you. Almost all the background story of each character has changed, and there are a lot of materials that do not exist on the show that reminds me of B or C rated drama shows that have been canceled after one season. None of the charms of the comic book has been incorporated. It feels like the writers just read an the outline of the story, looked at the character designs, and decided they'll make up everything else.

Even if I didn't read the comics, the dialogues and writings are weak at best.
131 out of 231 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed