Parents' Guide to

Runaways

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Underage drinking, sci-fi violence in superhero soap opera.

TV Hulu Drama 2017
Runaways Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 10 parent reviews

mediak267
mediak267 Parent of 12 and 18-year-old
March 16, 2022
age 14+

Why are so many ppl acting like this is soo inappropriate?!?

I don't understand all the bad reviews. As a huge Marvel fan I don't find it as interesting as some other Marvel IP's nor does it have the same feel as the MCU, but after the second episode I was hooked. As far as this being inappropriate, some people may be super conservative and that's their choice, but this is on Disney plus for a reason, because it's been evaluated as age appropriate. All the horrible things that are mentioned are handled in an age appropriate manner. Nothing explicit is shown. As far as the lesbian kissing scene, it's two girls kissing. So what. If it were a guy and a girl nothing would have been mentioned because it's not a steamy sex scene. Another comment I saw someone make was concerning a mention of menstruation. So what. It's something that half the world goes through once a month. Nothing to be freaked out about. I don't go through it because I'm a guy, but it's no secret that people should be ashamed of talking about. Masterbation is mentioned but so what. If you think teens don't do it you're mistaken and have forgotten what it's like to be a teen. While it is definitely a private thing it's not a shameful thing. Treatment as a shameful act can lead to unhealthy feelings about it, and intamcy in general. And the "rape" scene, the intent of rape is implied. No rape on or off screen and no attempted rape. It is heavily implied that they boys intend to rape her. Other reviews say the girl that was carried upstairs passed out from doing drugs. That is inaccurate, they must not havd been watching very closely. She was handed a pill which she later threw away. She passed out from taking off a bracelet that is integral to her character. Before anything goes too far a guy steps in and saves her before any harm comes to her. While this show gets near some adult-like themes, overall I agree with it's official 14 + rating and find this show appropriate for any 14 year old and potentially appropriate for some as young as 12 if parents use discretion as far as evaluating their individual child's maturity level.
2 people found this helpful.
Lana Lang Maximoff
Lana Lang Maximoff Adult
July 30, 2021
age 14+

It isn’t as bad

The TV show is essentially a teen soap opera. Therefore, it is supposed to appeal to kids from ages 13+. Yes, there are drugs present in one episode, but against the character’s better judgement, she chose not to take it. Yes, two boys attempt to rape a girl, but is saved when her friend saves her. The kids also grieve the loss of their friend, this is not a bad thing. If you ask me, I think it will teach one how to properly deal with loss—to depend on one another. The core of the show is friends turned family. A lot of good messages can be learned from the show.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 10 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (10):
Kids say (60):

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

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate