Marvel's 'Runaways' Episode 6 Review: 'Merry Meet Again' starts the series in a whole new direction with Morgan Le Fay
It has been six months for the rest of the world as the 'Runaways' were trapped in the Dark Dimension, and though the show never left the 'Runaways' point of view, the time skip makes it feel like an all-new season has begun.
With the Gibborim banished, and the Pride essentially dismantled, the Runaways finally have a chance to get their bearings and consider a normal life. Their respite is brief, however, as Morgan Le Fay (Elizabeth Hurley) makes herself known and the Runaways are in more trouble than ever before.
The Runaways have been on one, long chaotic ride ever since the first night they saw their parents performing a sacrificial ritual. Missing six months is just the latest addition to a major disruption of their normal lives.
While some embraced the new reality they live in, others, like Gert (Ariela Barer), are hoping to be able to return to some semblance of a normal life as she catches up on a world that's passed her by.
Unfortunately, that world isn't quite out of trouble just yet. In the six months they've been gone, Morgan Le Fay (Elizabeth Hurley) has established quite a foothold on the real world. No longer just a voice in Nico's (Lyrica Okano) head, she's managed to seduce and enchant her way to the head of Wizard industries.
She's released an enchanted cell phone line that's been enchanted to slowly take over people's minds - the metaphor for the dangers of teenagers becoming too obsessed with their phones is awkward, but you can’t argue with results.
Having healed and ensorcelled Robert Minoru (James Yaegashi), Morgan Le Fay is playing her best version of an evil stepmother. She's used her boundless charisma to charm nearly all of Los Angeles, gaslighting anyone who'd dare think of evil, and she's attempting to draw Nico into her web.
She couldn't have come to Nico at a more opportune time — Nico has been struggling with the darkness inside her for a while, now. Nico has been caught between needing to use her powers to do more — in particular, save Alex (Rhenzy Feliz) from the Dark Dimension — while being afraid of losing control.
Morgan is offering Nico just what she wants just when she needs it the most, and Nico is done being afraid.
Despite her manipulative nature, Morgan Le Fay is a refreshingly direct villain for the series. The Pride have always been ambiguous villains — ambiguous enough for them to smoothly transition from being the main series antagonists to just being awkward, lost parents to the Runaways.
The Gibborim, while certainly a threat, ultimately just wanted to go home. Morgan Le Fay is using mind control devices to take over the world, and though she offers her help and support, she is undeniably the season's Big Bad, and she's wonderful at it.
Elizabeth Hurley brings a wicked grace to Morgan Le Fay and despite knowing her nefarious scheme, it’s not hard to see why one would be seduced by her charms, as Nico does.
This places Nico and Karolina’s (Virginia Gardner) relationship in a rocky place, especially with Karolina still dealing with the fear of Nico's darkness.
With a new series villain firmly in place, Season 3 of 'Marvel's Runaway' takes a sharp turn in a new direction, and Episode 6 is a solid start to what's essentially Part 2 of Season 3.