Marvel’s Runaways Review: One Last Wild Ride (Season 3)

After 3 seasons, it’s time to say goodbye to Marvel’s Runaways.

But before we can say goodbye, one of the last Marvel TV series manages to go out on top, while maintaining the essence of what made the show such a fun, enjoyable series to watch.

The final season, in a way, can be broken up into two different arcs that have one connection between them: Nico’s powers and the Dark Dimension.

The first half of the season deals with where the series last left off, trying to take down the Gibbs and seemingly save those stuck in the healing algorithm, aka the tubes. The healing algorithm story offers some insight into the minds of Janet, Chase, and Karolina, each with their own desires…or so they think it is.

While Karolina’s was a dream wedding to Nico and seemed like an actual dream, Janet and Chase’s tube dreams involve the frustrating, repetitive moments that eventually get on their nerves. But while Janet’s algorithm seems to clearly depict the kind of support would have wanted from Victor and working as a brilliant scientist, Chase’s seems to be saving Gert and being commended for it.

The first 2 are clear, but the last one feels a little shallow in comparison if Chase’s perceived healing algorithm is just adulation.

The 4^th host mystery seems meant to be more suspenseful than it comes across. With the theorizing leading up to the new season, Alex’s reveal feels more satisfying in its validation of the theorizing than a gasp-worthy kind of reveal.

The reveal still works and gives Alex a substantial story that carries through to the end in a fun way, giving Rhenzy Feliz a chance to play Alex differently than we’ve seen before.

The first major arc of the season, the Gibborim’s last stand, also provides some solid comedy at the most unsuspecting moments. The comedy really comes from the 3 PRIDE parents that become the hosts: Victor, Tina, and Stacey.

Moments like Tina’s Wizard meeting as the host body on Season 3 Episode 2, adds to the comedy in that its such a departure for the usually very tough, very adult, very manipulative Tina Minoru.

Though both significant arcs are fun, I feel Morgan le Fay’s formal introduction and deep dive into the Dark Dimension and all the chaos that brought out for the runaways, and the parents is a bit meatier for everyone involved.

Everyone from the parents to the runaways are given a chance to do some substantial introspection on aspects of their lives, whether it’s their relationships with their children or relationships with their significant others.

With some of the runaways being trapped in the nightmares of their parents’ own making, there’s another level of insight that allows some of the PRIDE parents to head down the road of redemption—kind of.

While Tina and Nico find some common ground allowing for mutual understanding, and Victor imparting essential words of wisdom considering his history with Chase, Gert uncovers a dark truth—she was mindwiped when she was 13!

Marvel’s Runaways Season 3 Episode 5 allows for that introspective look at nightmares in a fascinating way and lets the hour breathe.

Interestingly, most of the parents’ redemption involves making the ultimate sacrifice for their children in some way.

From Janet staying behind and staying in the algorithm for Chase and Karolina to Robert going in for Morgan’s book and dying for it feels fitting considering all that they put their children through over the years.

The PRIDE parents’ arcs through the final season, for the most part, feels like it works and is honestly a satisfying way to end their stories.

While Morgan’s arc gives us some solid, it’s thanks to le Fay that we get one of the best episodes of the season and the perfect introduction for the big Cloak & Dagger crossover.

Seeing Ty and Tandy working with the Runaways is so much fun, from the attitudes clashing to the little moments they share with the crew they head to the Dark Dimension with.

It’s honestly a shame that we only get to see the crossover action for an episode and a little sad that we won’t get a chance to see these casts work together in a crossover capacity again. They truly make a fun, entertaining team.

Exploring the different team-ups, the Dark Dimension, and the healing algorithms adds some depth to Nico and Karolina’s relationship, and helps rebuild Gert and Chase’s in different ways that keep you hoping that things work out.

Nico and Karolina’s biggest struggle is dealing with Nico’s ties to the Dark Dimension and Morgan. It mirrors Karolina’s exploration of her powers during Season 2 in terms of secret-keeping and driving a wedge between them.

Thankfully, there’s a measure of growth in the way they address their issues that is wonderfully refreshing and makes them stronger by the end of it all.

Meanwhile, Chase and Gert have a lot to overcome since Chase left the Hostel at the end of Season 2.

It’s a slow-going process for them and involves no shortage of pleading on Chase’s part and mistrust on Gert’s, but the second half of the season offers a solid foundation leading into the final 2 episodes for an emotionally impactful story.

Their angsty moments were rough to watch, but made their comedic and sweet moments, like Chase’s confession Season 3 Episode 6, and Gert’s conversation with Chase on Season 3 Episode 9, more engaging.

You want to root for them and hope they end up on solid ground like Nico and Karolina, which makes Gert’s demise and the final episode of the season that much more painful and a gut punch.

Seeing Gert’s death, despite knowing it was inevitable thanks to the comics, hurt a lot.

Everything Chase and the Runaways go through to ensure Gert makes it out alive of their final confrontation with Morgan is incredibly touching and leads to some solidly tear-inducing moments on par with Gert’s death on Season 3 Episode 9.

What makes this moment so layered is the fact that while we’re mourning the loss of the version of Chase and the remaining Runaways through the season, we see that they all make it out of Le Fay’s confrontation alive, with another chance at life. A realization that seemingly brings double the tears.

Ultimately, Season 3 does a beautiful job of wrapping up stories in a way that makes the ending satisfying while also dropping a few clear hints of things that could have been explored.

Random Thoughts

• One of the things I appreciate about Marvel’s Runaways is that it never tries to put the onus of the storytelling on the surprise twists.
• Xavin and Molly’s mini arc is sweet and brings a certain amount of lightness to the realities the runaways deal within the first half of the season as they face off against the Gibborim. The mini arc also adds more depth to Xavin’s story after they are introduced as the betrothed to Karolina according to the prophecy.
• I honestly never thought I’d ever feel bad for Tina Minoru, but Season 3 Episode 6 proved me wrong and I am okay with that.
• Victor and Stacey going to Alien Abduction Anonymous and him telling his story was hilarious, mostly because of the delivery on James Marsters part.
• The way the concept of time travel and the rules in place to prevent catastrophic shifts in timelines and the erasure of lives lived is obvious and honestly, I am very much a fan of how the team tries their hardest to stick to those rules.

What did you think of this episode of Marvel’s Runaways? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Marvel’s Runaways Season 3 is currently streaming on Hulu. 

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