'Runaways' Season 2 Review Roundup
The premiere of Runaways season two is now under a week away and will see the return of Alex [...]
Michelle Jaworksi - The Daily Dot
Runaways hits the ground (pun not intended) running as we follow the six teenagers—and a genetically engineered dinosaur named Old Lace—framed for murder by their own parents. Now on their own, they quickly discover just how unprepared they are for the prospect. On top of trying to dismantle their parents' plans to drill into a hole that could result in California breaking off from the rest of the U.S., they have to fend for themselves.
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prevnextTrey Mangum - /Film
The actors in the well-cast series continue to shine with Lyrica Okano (Nico Minoru), Gregg Sulkin (Chase Stein) and Virginia Gardner (Karolina Dean) bringing their A-game all season, alongside solid performances from Rhenzy Feliz (Alex Wilder) and Ariela Barer (Gertrude Yorkes). Though she turns in good performances as well, Allegra Acosta still remains woefully miscast as Molly Hernandez, but none of this is due to the actress' performance, as Molly should have been written older or another actress should have been cast. But again, Acosta does the best with what she's given.
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prevnextCorey Plante - Inverse
Without spoiling much of anything, we do learn more about Jonah's grand plan throughout Season 2, and it's one of the most dire threats to ever face the MCU. Watching the Runaways attempt to stop him is one of the most exciting storylines Marvel has done in TV form.
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prevnextKevin Yeoman - ScreenRant
As with many streaming shows (comic book adaptations and otherwise), Runaways' biggest problem was one of pacing. It wouldn't matter if the series had been delivered as weekly appointment television or an all-at-once binge-watch. However you cut it, the first season was pretty much a slog. The drudgery was the result of a go-nowhere plot that involved an unnecessary mystery that revolved around a flaky-skinned Julian McMahon, who, as it turns out, feeds (really, really slowly) on humans and can turn into a tacky nightlight, just like Karolina. Oh, there was also a giant hole in the ground. Yes, part of the climax of season 1 involved a literal void. The unintentional bit of meta-self-owning may have helped establish a blueprint for season 2, but it also underscores a bad habit the series has of holding onto cards it should deal with more immediacy.
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prevnextKat Calamia - Newsarama
One of the most gratifying stories of the premiere was seeing the development of Karolina's character from last season on full display. Even though the teens must physically run away from their parents, Karolina, for the first time in her life, doesn't have to hide anymore. She's allowed to be open about her feelings for Nico. Their relationship is very sweet, and I can't wait to see how it develops.
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prevnextAlex McLevy - The AV Club
Quality has generally improved on this series. The freshman season fell victim to the Marvel Netflix curse, spending much too long stretching out its tale of a group of former high school friends banding together after discovering their parents were the heads of an evil society that murdered children in order to acquire wealth and power. This tap-dancing gets largely rectified in these new episodes, with the major plotline carried over from season one resolved just beyond the halfway point.
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prevnextPeyton Hinckle - ComicsVerse
Some were a little disappointed by the slow pacing of the series, but I thought it was a smart way to ramp up excitement while also giving the parents the screen-time they deserve. Still, I was among those cheering when I saw the first few scenes in "Gimme Shelter," where the kids are running through L.A. literally looking for shelter. The moment, while not a perfect parallel, is only one of many scenes that help form a strong connection between the comic and the show.
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prevnextSean P. Aune - The Nerdy
I'm thrilled to tell you that season 2 is vastly improved and it feels like a much tighter season this time around. Yes, everyone gets storylines this season, including the parents, but for the most part they all connect to the Runaways themselves in some way or trying to deal with Jonah (Julian McMahon) in some way. No more of this oddness of parents having an affair and those parents being at war with each other and so on. There are still some detours here and there, but nothing along the lines of the first season.
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