Farewell (for Now) to "Marvel's Runaways"

Returning to the series as the titular young heroes are Gregg Sulkin pictured at top right as genius jock Chase Stein Lyrica Okano as staffwielding wiccan Nico Minoru Rhenzy Feliz as tech brainiac Alex Wilder Virginia Gardner as lightprojecting alienhuman hybrid Karolina Dean Ariela Barer pictured at top left as dinosaurconnected telepath you read that right Gert Yorkes and Allegra Acosta as Gertamp8217s superstrengthpowered kid sister Molly along with Clarissa Thibeaux as shapeshifting alien Xavin an invaluable ally to the Runawaysamp160 Also returning are the Runaways parents who also serve as our villains under the veil of a philanthropic organization known as Pride The group includes James Marsters and Ever Carradine as Victor and Janet Stein Brittany Ishibashi and James Yaegashi as Tina and Robert Minoru Angel Parker and Ryan Sands as Katherine and Geoffrey Wilder Annie Wersching as Leslie Dean and Brigid Brannagh and Kevin Weisman as Stacey and Dale Yorke Pictured below left to right Okano Barer Feliz Gardner and SulkinLast season after a massive showdown against the villainous alien Jonah the Runaways destroyed the ship that carried his extraterrestrial family and Nico delivered a striking blow seemingly killing himamp160 The alien lifeforms however moved on to other nearby host bodies with Jonah possessing Victor Stein his wife possessing Stacey and their daughter possessing Tina Minoru After the conflict Chase Karolina and Janet Stein are captured and incapacitated by Jonah and his familySeason three picks up moments after season two ended with the Runaways set on rescuing their friends stopping Jonah once and for all and bringing justice to the young lives lost at the hands of Prideamp160 Not only are the aliens a threat to the young heroes but a dark force is also rising aiming to take hold of Nico and her potentially limitless power a threat led by Morgan Le Fay a witch who was previously shunned away to the Dark Dimension by Tina Minoru a fellow witch like her daughteramp160 Episode five of season three is a nightmarefueled roller coaster with long sequences of hallucinations powered by the Runawaysamp8217 deepest fears biggest regrets and darkest secretsamp160 These nightmares fuel a tugofwar at the center of Karolina and Nicoamp8217s relationship with their yinandyang personalities and abilities being testedIt should be noted that this season has connected the most with the Marvel Cinematic Universe especially with the addition to the narrative of the Dark Dimension an alternate reality consumed in darkness that was first introduced in the 2016 movie Doctor Strangeamp160 The dark cracked skin surrounding Nicoamp8217s eyes also reflects that of Strangeamp8217s archenemy Kaecilius who drew his power from the Dark Dimension in order to summon it forward to consume Earth The special effects used to portray Tina Nico and Morganamp8217s mystical abilities also reflect those used in Doctor StrangeDespite references to the MCU movies running throughout so many Marvel television series especially the nowcancelled Netflix shows and the soontoend Marvelamp8217s Agents of SHIELD there remained a gap between the television and movie narrativesamp160 And there was so much potential to bridge itamp160 Sadly it seems weamp8217ll never get to see that happenWhat this third season has explored so far are the sacrifices that parents are willing to make for their children even if it means losing their livesamp160 While Prideamp8217s actions are indeed criminal and monstrous it is possible to see their dark broken pasts as a slight justification for wanting a better world for their children one where they will not need to worry or want for anythingRunaways has always been more emotionally driven than its cinematic companionsamp160 The pilot of the series alone dealt with rape suicide and abusive relationshipsamp160 The first and second seasons made tremendous efforts in diversity inclusion and representation of LGBTQ relationships amp160Included on the canvas have been a successful black family that overcame adversity and an AsianAmerican family that has a leadership position in the tech industryamp160 Last season there was a story about immigration involving another Runaway Topher played by Luis Castellanos who bonded with Molly amp160Nico and Karolina have one of the most beautifully handled LGBTQ relationships Iamp8217ve seen onscreen amp160Thatamp8217s not just because their personalities are so different but because theyamp8217re both passionate strong and willing to do anything for each other and for their friends even if it means bringing justice to their parentsAnd then there is Nico who has moved front and center of lateamp160 She is as complex as ever taking on a leadership role among the Runawaysamp160 She is very much at war with herself trying to fight the darkness that is eating at her mind and soul but wanting to use that very power to save her friends and do what she thinks is rightamp160 Lyrica Okanoamp8217s performance is incredibly layered and despite having some phenomenal scene partners she stands out among the young castAt the end of the day this show is about family amp160Not just the relationships between children and parents but also the families we chooseamp160 The message is that your family members can be whomever you want them to beamp160 When you face adversity that family is who you choose to surround yourself with to uplift you and support you and empower youWatching the episodes in which the parents are possessed by Jonahamp8217s family it is clear the actors playing their respective roles are having an absolute blastamp160 Ishibashi is doing great work right now as Tina who is possessed by Jonahamp8217s presumably teenage daughter and in a complete departure from Tinaamp8217s usual stoic hardened exterior is quickly adapting to teen culture from taking selfies to questioning each of her parentsamp8217 commands with an eyerollamp160 Also noteworthy is Brigid Brannagh in dual roles as frantic and quickwitted scientist Stacey Yorkes and Jonahamp8217s wife a statuesque and ruthless queenBeginning with the pilot the directing of each episode has been topnotchamp160 Parallel tones were set at the start between the worlds of the Runaways and Prideamp160 Reflecting the reality of their lives the Runawaysamp8217 scenes have felt frantic and fastpaced due to the handheld cameras used while Prideamp8217s were shot much more statically and cinematically giving them a much more stylized feelamp160 My one gripe since season one has been the slower pacing of the storylinesamp160 That is likely due to the massive cast of characters the writers are juggling and the many relationships and plotlines that are trying to be balancedI have to admit that I was hesitant to binge through the final episodes of Marvelamp8217s Runaways because weamp8217ve known for about a month now that this third season would be its lastamp160 With its reputation of ending each season on a massive cliffhanger stranding fans in shock and leaving us wanting more I was worried that the series wouldnamp8217t get its proper sendoff into the Marvel Television graveyard joining the likes of the cancelled Daredevil Jessica Jones and othersamp160 But the writing team and cast did a wonderful job giving the show a proper goodbye despite a few loose ends particularly those involving future crossovers set up with Freeformamp8217s Cloak ampamp Dagger which was also cancelled earlier this year amp160The crossover episode with the stars of Cloak ampamp Dagger was brilliantly handled setting up great amp8220broamp8221 chemistry between Tyroneamp8217s Cloak played by Aubrey Omari Joseph and Sulkinamp8217s Chase as well as seeing the two teams work together in such a cohesive and organic way amp160Some crossovers in the superhero TV genre in the past have felt rather forced but this was a major exception amp160It does break my heart a bit that we wonamp8217t get to see this happen againAll good things must come to an end but this is Marvel that weamp8217re talking about so I fully expect all the characters in its cancelled television properties to return somewhere somehow in some form and continue their adventuresamp160 Maybe on Disney or I hope on Hulu where those stories can be as daring and dramatic as they need to beamp160All three seasons of Marvelamp8217s Runaways are currently streaming on HuluClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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Farewell (for Now) to "Marvel's Runaways"

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Juan Ayala

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Farewell (for Now) to "Marvel's Runaways"

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