Who is Aaron Corval in ‘Run Away’? Harlan Coben’s thriller explains show's biggest twist and what comes next
'Run Away' on Netflix doesn't provide any easy answers when it comes to unravelling its mysteries. Creator Harlan Coben, who also wrote the novel on which the British limited series is based, and showrunner Danny Brocklehurst went to great lengths to ensure that the layers of suspense are intact right up to the emotional finale. One lingering question that the show answered towards its conclusion was the secret ties between Aaron and the Greene family, including Paige, her mother, Ingrid, and father, Simon.
Played by Thomas Flynn, Aaron is initially portrayed as the antagonist and Paige's disturbed boyfriend. He is up to no good and, as per Tudum, is seen ruining Paige's life after he forcefully resumes her addiction and checks her out of rehab. As the distressed father, Simon isn't left with much choice. He categorically blames Aaron for taking Paige away from the family, and he happens to attack him in a violent altercation. Unfortunately, the attack is soon recorded and finds its way online. Several twists later, Aaron is found murdered, and the primary suspicion falls on Simon himself. Coben summed up their approach to storytelling when he said, "We love twists and turns. In our view, it gets better with each episode."
As the 'Run Away' plot progresses, Detective Ruby Todd and Isaac Fagbenle are hot on the trail of Simon. Desperate to prove his innocence, the latter looks up an interested neighbour who recounted the events of the night in which Aaron was killed. However, things don't look up for Simon right until the finale, when the events surrounding Aaron's death are finally explained by Paige. By this time, Simon's wife, Ingrid, is in a coma after being shot. Paige reveals that Aaron had assaulted her abuser in university and was fond of her, but he had his own cross to bear and was deeply troubled. After Aaron assaulted her again, she sought Ingrid's help to settle the dispute. Thereafter, upon visiting Aaron's apartment the next day, she found Ingrid lying dead.
It is soon revealed that Ingrid killed Aaron and was consequently shot by the drug dealers with whom Aaron was involved. The mystery of Aaron's identity remained, and Simon started investigating in this direction. His efforts soon led him to the disturbing discovery that Aaron was really Paige's cousin. This is seconded by Simon learning that the two slept in separate beds at their apartment.
Seeing that the secret was partially out, Ingrid finally revealed that in her youth, she was part of a cult known as Beacon of the Shining Youth, and had been impregnated by the cult's powerful leader known as The One. After her delivery, she was falsely told that the baby had suffered a miscarriage, and Aaron was thus separated from his mother. On the other hand, according to multiple production sources, Netflix has no plans to make a sequel to 'Run Away' as of January 2026. It was made as a limited series similar to Coben's earlier novels, 'Fool Me Once' and 'Stay Close'. So for now, you can catch all the episodes of 'Run Away' for streaming on Netflix.
