Liam Hoofe reviews the third episode of Marvel’s Runaways…
The opening two episodes of Marvel’s Runaways spent their time introducing us to the titular group and then their parents, who are all members of the mysterious cult PRIDE. The third episode of the show opens up with a funeral, which is always a positive sign that things are going to end well.
The funeral sequence, it is soon revealed, is a flashback to when the kids were much younger. The funeral is that of Molly’s parents, and it is Molly, the youngest member of the group, who takes a lot of the focus in this episode. There is a lot of mystery surrounding whatever incident it was that killed Molly’s parents, and this episode revealed that, in fact, the day-to-day lives of most of the children’s parents involves a lot of secrets. It would appear that Molly’s parents were killed in some sort of fire, and chances are, PRIDE were heavily involved in the incident.
Following the events of the first and second episode, the group set out trying to uncover exactly what it is their parents have been hiding from them for so long. Alex tries to find his way back into his father’s secret lair, only to be foiled at the last moment when he realises his dad is also in the house, Nico manages to get her hands on her Mother’s staff and make snow fall from the ceiling, Karolina attempts to investigate her parent’s church, and Chase and Gert set about exploring Victor Stein’s laboratory, and later, Gert’s parent’s basement. This all leads to the grand finale where Gert and Chase encounter a dinosaur, one just so happens to be sporting a nose ring, in the basement. In any other show, this could have felt ridiculous but Runaways has done a great job of establishing the more fantastical elements in its world so far, that this just felt like another piece in the puzzle.
It also turns out that PRIDE have a lot more than just their kids to attend to. The Yorkes are becoming increasingly paranoid about whether or not the children saw them, Victor Stein is having problems concerning his machine, and Robert Minorus is off having an affair with Janet Stein. If things weren’t bad enough for them, events take an even bigger turn for the worst when Destiny’s body washes up on a beach at the end of the episode.
One of the best things about this episode was watching the children narrowly avoiding getting captured by their parents. Nico’s fake encounter with Alex to distract her mother was a nice touch, while Molly playing on the fact that she is the youngest, and therefore, most vulnerable member of the group, to dodge questions from Catherine was also a great scene. Molly’s powers are also beginning to fully develop now and there is something strangely endearing about watching her recklessly pull things apart, in the way that most of us would have done, had we realised we had superpowers when we were that age.
Runaways is establishing itself as one of Marvel’s better efforts and one of the big reasons for that is because it is allowing us time to get to know each of the characters. Gert’s crush on Chase was focused on a lot this episode, and the two make a cute little couple, while Alex and Nico’s growing relationship could see two of the group’s more introverted characters find some sort of happiness in the ensuing chaos. Karolina feels like a little bit of an afterthought at the moment, but her connections with the church means she will likely be part of the much bigger picture when the season gets rolling.
Another thing I like about the show is that it is really establishing a strong sense of location. Seeing the children at home a lot will really put an emphasis on their decision to leave when the time comes. We have seen them all using their homes, specifically their bedrooms, as a safe haven, and it’s interesting to watch them slowly realising that their homes are not as safe as they thought.
With three episodes gone, Runaways is establishing itself as one of the more alternative entries into the Marvel canon. It is a show that is willing to take its time developing its cast and their surroundings, and that is something that will likely prove increasingly fruitful as the season progresses.
Are you enjoying Marvel’s Runaways? Let us know in the comments below, and let Liam know on Twitter, here- @liamhoofe
Originally published November 28, 2017. Updated April 19, 2018.
