'Marvel's Runaways' Episode 7 review: 'Left Hand Path' sees Nico dip her toes into darker waters with Morgan Le Fay's coven
Magic is a surprisingly complicated thing for something that tends to offer quick solutions with no explanation, but the schools of magic essentially boil down to two sides - light and dark. On what some circles refer to as the "right-hand path," you have magic that's all about positive vibes, nature, and harmony. The side of righteousness, and good, with nary a sacrificial blade in sight...and then you have the left-hand path, where things get dark. Seeking the power she needs to save her friends, Nico Minoru (Lyrica Okana) has joined Morgan Le Fay (Elizabeth Hurley) on that left hand path, and we find out just where that dark path leads.
The Runaways have their first real confrontation with Morgan's dark magic as a stray evil cell phone takes possession of Molly Hernandez (Allegra Acosta). With all her sweetness and light it's easy to forget what a threat Molly would be if she was truly unleashed. Even with Karolina Dean (Virgina Gardener) on their side, Chase, and Gert Yorkes (Ariela Barer) and her are only able to stop Molly by destroying the cell phone possessing her. Deciding to fight influence with influence, the Runaways upload a video of their own, only for Morgan to magic it off the internet(handy). It's interesting, as most medieval magician villains tend to be confounded by technology, but Morgan has found a way to make both work for her. What Morgan hasn't accounted for, however, is for one of the Runaways' allies being a sentient computer program containing the mind and soul of Janet Stein (Ever Carradine).
Despite all the weirdness of Dark Dimensions, technomagic and alien body-swapping, the strangest part of what's essentially Part 2 of Season 3 is that the Runaways count Pride count as allies, now. It's hard to remember them as series antagonists when they seem so much like plucky adult sidekicks to the Runaways' exploits. It's something the show is digging its heels in about, though, and considering how entertaining the members of the Pride are, suspending disbelief goes a long way towards being able to enjoy their appearances.
Nico, in the meanwhile, wakes up from what is lightly implied to have been a coven-initiation party turned orgy. Morgan does not work alone, she has established a coven of sultry young witches who will make you distrustful of any hot woman with dark make-up who appears on the show from here on out - and you will be right every time.
When Nico realizes that Morgan has no intention of teaching Nico how to access the Dark Dimension before Nico hands her the Staff of One, Nico rescues her parents - first Tina Minoru (Brittany Ishibashi) from where Morgan had her committed, then Tina in turn rescuing her husband Robert Minoru (James Yaegashi). It’s a Minoru family special, and we see the Minorus at their best, functioning with a togetherness that would have been unfathomable back in Season 1.
Through all her appearances, despite the obvious evil inherent in her every action, Morgan has never once dropped the facade of a reasonable charmer, giving everyone the impression that Morgan is very much on their side. She drops the facade when she feels John stealing her book of spells, the Darkhold, and for a few glorious moments she lets all her inner wickedness come to the surface. It is glorious. She radiates a triumphant maliciousness that is terrifying, chilling and exciting all at once; Elizabeth Hurley at her best.
Thanks to her father’s sacrifice and cleverness, Nico has access to the Darkhold’s spells, but it’s come at a steep cost. Morgan has killed her father, captured all of her friends, and most of the city with her mind-controlling cell phones. Nico’s never been in a darker place - but all that is about to take a turn, as the episode’s cliffhanger brings the much-awaited Cloak & Dagger to Los Angeles. It’s crossover time.