Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Underage drinking, sci-fi violence in superhero soap opera.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Runaways
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 59 kid reviews
Kids say the show presents an intriguing narrative about teens navigating complex issues, though many reviews emphasize its mature themes, including violence, sexual content, and drug use, making it unsuitable for younger viewers. While some appreciate its representation and storyline, there are strong concerns regarding the depicted content, which leads many to recommend it for older teens, ideally those over 13, while some argue it should be reserved for those 17 and older.
- mature themes
- violence and sexual content
- mixed parental opinions
- age recommendations
- representation issues
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Teens tend to think their parents are lame, annoying, out of touch. But what if your parents were actually evil supervillains? When RUNAWAYS' six Los Angeles teens accidentally stumble onto their parents' terrible secret, they know they can't just stand by and let things happen. But these are no ordinary teens. Gifted with superpowers that let them see, hear, understand, and do things that other people can't, these misfits band together to try to figure out their parents' devastating plan. They may have nothing in common -- but trying to save the world is a pretty good common goal to start with.
Is It Any Good?
With multiple storylines, more than a dozen main characters, and a mishmash of genres, this superhero soap should be a great big mess -- instead, it's complex and compelling. The last time such an appealing group of teens with nothing in common were pulled together, they were doing detention together in The Breakfast Club. Here, they're working on something a little more serious than sneaking around their high school, but Runaways scores by anchoring its otherworldly elements in high school drama, where a cheerleader audition takes on as much emotional weight as working out why your parents like to gather in a mysterious basement temple in red robes making human sacrifices. And so jock-with-a-heart Chase (Gregg Sulkin), "perfect church girl" (who happens to be gay) Karolina (Virginia Gardner), punky feminist Gert (Ariela Barer), grieving goth Nico (Lyrica Okano), insecure wannabe Molly (Allegra Acosta), and lonely brain Alex (Rhenzy Feliz) have something new in common.
Runaways excels, too, at ferreting out the emotional core of its high-concept plot. Adolescents discovering their powers (and the obvious puberty metaphor) is a superhero trope, but when Molly realizes what she thought were period cramps were instead the onset of her super-strength, she jumps into the air with infectious glee. "Yes! Yes! I did it!" she crows. Now this is a character with agency, and it's thrilling to watch. Try this exciting, escapist drama out for whole-family viewing -- it's got something for everybody.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different genres Runaways fits into. Is it a superhero show? A teen soap opera? A drama about rich people with fancy problems? Does the mix of genres make this show more interesting, or less so?
How do the teens in Runaways demonstrate courage and teamwork in opposing their parents and the Church of Gibborim? Why are these important character strengths?
A common drama plot device is to bring together a group of strangers who don't have a lot in common and build them into a team. A common way to strengthen their bonds is to give them a common enemy. What is the common enemy in Runaways?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 21, 2017
- Cast : Gregg Sulkin , Virginia Gardner , Rhenzy Feliz , Ariela Barer
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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