Marvel’s Runaways S1 Ep. 1: ‘Reunion’ & Ep. 2: ‘Rewind’ Review (Spoilers)
One of Marvel’s most highly-anticipated shows is now ours to view in all its glory and in episode one of the debut season, things get off to an eerie start. With a young girl named, Destiny is trying to avoid a pair of muggers, who are actually attempting to save her, only to be “rescued” by two women from the Church of Gibborim.
We then flash forward to six months from the rescue of Destiny and meet the first member of the Runaways crew, Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz). Secluded from his family while playing video games in his room, Alex is still trying to get over the loss of his friend, Amy, which ultimately tore his group of friends apart. His parents, Catherine (Angel Parker) and Geoffrey (Ryan Sands) have been urging him to stop being to introverted, but Alex assures them that he is fine and he enjoys his own company; reminding them that not many people can actually say that.
Returning back to school, Alex realizes that he wants to get the group back together – he misses Gert (Ariela Barer), Chase (Gregg Sulkin), Molly (Allegra Acosta), Karolina (Virginia Gardner) and Nico (Lyrica Okano) more than he could have imagined, wishing things could go back to how they were before Amy died. Since Alex is aware that his parents and his friends’ parents will be getting together for a “charity” meeting, he invites everyone over to his place for pizza and games – just like old times. Alex simply asking the question, causes a disagreement and they’re all back to square one of disliking one another.
Gert overhears Chase needs help in Spanish class and offers to tutor him. Chase agrees and although he is meant to meet with Gert that night, he decides to go to a party with his jock friends instead. While at the party, he sees Karolina. She has decided to rebel by attending the party and when she takes off her church bracelet, her hands begin to glow with a strange ambient light. However, Karolina’s shock and amazement is short-lived as she passes out. When Chase’s two friends bring Karolina upstairs to one of the bedrooms, Chase stops them from assaulting her, hitting the two before helping Karolina out of the party.
In the meantime, Molly has discovered she has super strength and when she gets picked up by Gert, when she doesn’t want to stay at home alone – after feeding Gert’s pets, they find their way to Alex’s place; so do Karolina and Chase, and lastly, Nico. The get together between old friends starts off in an awkward place as it’s been so long since they’ve even considered themselves friends but things change when they discover a secret passage in the house. Unsure of where it leads and curiosity getting the better of them, the teens head into the passageway, only to discover their parents partaking in some kind of ritual where Destiny is being sacrificed.
Molly, Gert, Nico, Alex, Chase and Karolina witnessing their parents performing the ritual. (Courtesy of Marvel and Corus Entertainment)
Episode two flips the script on us and while it is much of the same thing from the first episode, this time around, it comes from the perspective of the parents. We are able to learn more about them and what has happened in their lives since Amy’s death. It does not go unnoticed that the parents suffered as much a blow as their children did when Amy died, especially her own parents, Robert (James Yaegashi) and Tina (Brittany Ishibashi).
After Nico accidentally breaks one of Amy’s tennis trophies, her mother’s reaction speaks volumes. Tina has Amy’s room in the exact same condition that Amy left it – a shrine to her deceased daughter – which no one is allowed to enter, not even her husband. This moment goes to show how deep loss can run and just how much in can separate a family unit. But despite the sadness, it brought the parents closer together – the exact opposite of what happened with the kids, and one must wonder why.
Could it be that the loss brought them together, or is there an ulterior motive? Perhaps Amy’s death had something to do with the cult all of them are currently a part of. But of course, we won’t know until we delve further into the season, which I am anxiously excited for.
So, let’s begin with the word creepy! Sure, most of us have seen our parents doing things we young people would deem as questionable, but hopefully no one has ever experienced our parents participating in a sacrificial ritual. One thing’s for certain, how we’d react in a situation like that is definitely one that could either tear people apart or bring them together, and that’s exactly what we get with the Runaways.
Each character has a story that is told throughout the first and second episodes which are not only utterly believable, but relatable as well. Whether it’s dealing with the loss of a friend, trying to figure out their purpose, or dealing with bullying and trying to fit in, every single person can find a little bit of something to latch onto in Runaways. The acting is great and the story has just enough drama and comedy, while laced with enough suspense to keep the viewers intrigued and guessing.
It might be early to say this, but Marvel’s Runaways seems like the perfect addition to the rest of the MCU. It is a great fit into the storyline that follows the continuity of the Marvel films and other television series. We are only two episodes in, but I am already looking forward to seeing what episode three has in store.
Be sure to check out Marvel’s Runaways which is now streaming on Hulu with a new episode being released on Tuesdays. For Canadian viewers, be sure to catch new episodes Wednesday nights at 8:00pm ET on Showcase.
