Marvel's Runaways

Runaways has a deliberately enigmatic narrative that serves as a strong selling point as well as a frequent source of frustration.

Sometimes the sheer number of characters gets a bit unwieldy, and the interpersonal drama is less thrilling than the prospect of colorful superhero action (which goes mostly unfulfilled in the first four episodes). But the teen characters are likable and grounded, and worth watching even when they aren’t tapping into their superpowers.

Runaways could be great if it dug into the question of whether it’s possible to be a bad person and a good parent, a different take on leading a double life than is standard in superhero fare. But this first part of the season, at least, doesn’t seize that opportunity to stand out. Like most teenagers, Runaways just wants to fit in.

The series attempts to transpose ordinary pubescent strife onto an extraordinary framework, using relatable teen struggles to temper the plot's absurdity. But the resulting incongruity, between the magnitude of the teens' discovery and the playfulness of their subsequent detective work, leaves us waiting for these young people to realistically process what they've witnessed.

Unless you’re already a fan of the Marvel’s Runaways comic books, don’t expect to understand what’s going on here, or why you should keep watching Hulu’s singular take on an over-explored franchise.

Ultimately, Runaways seems a little too tentative for its own good--which is weird, given that the drama is about wielding power, for both good and ill.