The season finale of Marvel’s Runaways — aptly named, ‘Split Up’ — delivered on all accounts. While the show kept us guessing throughout every single episode, we’ve been adequately supplied with answers along the way. However, it wouldn’t be a true Runaways episode without a few more cliff hanging questions that would absolutely blow our minds.
The episode starts with an origin story for Xavin (Clarissa Thibeaux) — who’s essentially Data from Star Trek: TNG) and Braniac from Supergirl — an alien stowaway with shape-shifting abilities. She explains that she is destined to be with Karolina (Virginia Gardner) to bring peace to the universe. I really like the character and I think she is a perfect fit for the Runaways. Later in the episode Xavin would reveal that Leslie’s baby is indeed alien, and that Jonah (Julian McMahon) will eventually be coming for the child.
Elsewhere, the Runaways reluctantly meet up with Chase (Gregg Sulkin), who has joined up with PRIDE. Chase does everything he can to prevent the kids from getting hurt or captured by their parents, but the group can’t trust their former ally. What ensues is an actually really fun sequence where superpower resistant drones chase the kids, resulting in nearly each runaway squaring off with his or her parent.
Nico (Lyrica Okano) has a really epic fight with both of her parents that is just awesome. She becomes possessed by the staff again and rage blasts her parents, nearly killing her father, Robert (James Yaegashi). Her mother, Tina (Brittany Ishibashi) says she’s seen this before, so I’m super interested in this staff possessing Nico storyline. Don’t forget, we don’t know anything at all about this staff or where it came from.
Meanwhile, Alex (Rhenzy Feliz) cleverly sets up his parents to be arrested with some manufactured fingerprints on a gun. Gert (Ariela Barer) is captured by her father for a “road trip” of sorts and is reunited with our favorite dinosaur, Old Lace. Dale (Kevin Weisman) provides some much needed comic relief in this series, and I’d actually really like to see him join up with the kids as Leslie (Annie Wersching) has.
Karolina is captured by Victor Stein (James Marsters), who we finally find out is a body snatching Jonah. I think it’s absolutely brilliant having James Marsters and Julian McMahon play the same evil character as they are both phenomenal in the role. Jonah manages to capture Chase and his mother, who have finally become wise to his true identity.
So now Victor, Tina, and Stacey are all possessed by aliens. Here’s the kicker. They think that one of the kids could be possessed by an alien as well! This could be the big twist we were waiting for. In any case we’re not finding out until next season!
I honestly think this could be a giant misdirect, but if I had to pick one of the kids, I would have to narrow it down to either Alex or Niko. Alex’s behavior has certainly changed a lot throughout the episodes, and he has absolutely no remorse for anything he’s done to his parents. Niko would be an obvious choice, but already has a perfect subplot going with the staff. Molly has been a consistent adorable powerhouse (and scene stealer) so I don’t think it’s her. Gert has consistently annoyed me with her feelings with just about everything, so I don’t think it’s her either. Karolina is already part alien, and Chase has been captured by the aliens.
Social media is going wild with fan theories at the moment. But again, my gut tells me this is just a giant misdirect to keep us guessing until Season 3 premieres. In any case, Season Two has left us counting down the days until the Runaways come back into our homes.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Runaways Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y2T3SOlbmg
