'Marvel's Runaways' Season 3 Episode 5 Review: 'Enter the Dreamland' is one of the darkest and grittiest episodes yet
Kudos to Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage for bringing two different and difficult storylines -- of teenagers dealing with criminal parents as well as the introduction of evil sorceress Morgan Le Fay -- together with much panache in the third season of 'Marvel's Runaways'.
Yet, the aspect that has worked best in favour of the third season is the propelling of Nico (Lyrica Okano), who is the group's most conflicted yet powerful character, to the limelight. In the previous episode, Morgan Le Fay (Elizabeth Hurley) had been at play - playing on Nico's worries and fears. The teenagers soon discover that there are things in life that are worse than alien royalty, including the demons within themselves.
In the fifth episode of 'Marvel's Runaways', the teenagers enter a dark and alternate dimension and find that their parents are there too, as themselves, and not the aliens that were possessing them. This alternate dimension materializes as their worst fears, nightmares and painful experiences and serve explanations and uncomfortable revelations about their pasts. Much to her horror, Gert (Ariela Barer) learns that her mother Stacey had erased her memory when she was younger, triggering the onset of her anxiety.
Karolina (Virginia Gardner) sees a ghoulish version of Nico and learns how alone Nico feels, causing the slight hint of doubt whether she, Karolina, is just a cure for her burning loneliness. On the other hand, Chase (Gregg Sulkin) is forced to recall the day his father beat him as a child. Nico revisits her sister Amy's death and later finds out that she is the emissary of Morgan. Amy helps them escape back to reality, but refuses to travel back with them.
Unfortunately, Alex (Rhenzy Feliz) is still stuck in this dimension and the episode ends on a rather worrying note.
This season seems determined to give the parents a redemptive arc, in any way possible. They now seem like just mere players in the larger scheme of things. You don't want to forgive and forget them by any means, but you can't help but feel a slight twinge of pity for these problematic, flawed and twisted set of people, who still try to assert that they love their children most. Resolving the burning conflict with the Pride seems to be the prime ambition of the final season, with more dark sorcery all around.
This episode titled 'Enter The Dreamland' is one of the darkest and grittiest episodes yet and leaves you with a rather unsettling feeling.
'Marvel's Runaways' is now streaming on Hulu.