Recently there was a TCA Panel for Runaways, which we now know will come to Hulu in November.  A variety of details have come out, but one of the more interesting ones has to do with the perspectives in the series.  Fans of the property will know that Runaways tells the story of a group of teenagers who find out that their parents are super villains.  The comics play with what is happening versus what the kids oversee, and it looks like some of that will play out in the series too.

The tendency to make villains relatable is becoming pervasive now in comic book media.  Similar thoughts have been shared recently about Doctor Strange, The Defenders, and other properties.  In this property, it will be important to balance out the villains well.  If they are too strong in their evil the show could start to feel uncomfortable given the problem of child abuse in the real world.  No one wants to feel weird watching a show that would make that subject feel underplayed or even romanticized.  Balancing those characters out will be important.

The perspective switch in the first two episodes is an interesting take.  It seems to be a risk that could really pay off or make the show feel a bit tedious.  Recently Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ran a similar idea with some of the team stuck in another dimension.  The action played out twice, once in the real world and once in the “upside down” to borrow a Stranger Things term.  The danger of dragging down the plot is significant, but if certain elements are kept secret and revealed along the way, it could also work out brilliantly.  At the very least, it seems to be a character centric decision.

There is a lot to process there, but the big story is that characterization is central to the approach to the show.  Marvel generally does this well, but sometimes in the midst of super powers and velociraptors creators can forget about character in favor of spectacle.  This show seems to be far from that mistake.  Instead, the writers and actors are carefully considering how every person in the room will process a key moment.  And remember, there are going to be about 18 people in that room!

Those details also fit the comic characters perfectly.  Gregg Sulkin‘s Chase has the worst relationship with his parents in the comics as well but also is a fiercely loyal character.  Rhenzy Feliz‘s Alex is cold and calculating while Allegra Acosta‘s Molly is the youngest and most temperamental.  All of this is just pitch perfect to the source material.  That is probably the most important thing in all of the build up thus far to Runaways: comic fidelity.  From the first images to the paparazzi type set photos to the leaked trailers to this panel, at every step it is obvious that the show runner and writers are being faithful to the comics.  And given how cinema/TV ready the property is, that is an awesome decision.

What do you think of all these comments?  Are you glad they are sticking to the source material or would you like to see some more adaptation?

Source: Twitter