The gang struggle with life on the run, with tensions and mistrust already in danger of flaring between them. The PRIDE parents start thinking about how best to dispose of Jonah, who has no plans of going anywhere as he initiates a plan to build a new box.

One of the many things I enjoyed about Runaways in its debut season was the fact that it was content to tell its stories on its own terms, at its own pace. This meant believable, three-dimensional characters but it also meant genuine surprises along the way in the narrative, and I’m happy to say that this opening episode continues in that vein.

Living on the streets and attempting to stay away from the authorities (and therefore their parents), the kids are not exactly having the best time of it, as you might expect. None of them is really equipped for life without the privileges they’ve all taken for granted, and that would be difficult enough even without a large dinosaur to try to keep hidden as well.

After a few mishaps, they’re left with no money, which means that Alex has to go back to Darius to see if he can get some more. The rest of the group doesn’t know where his money is coming from, and are understandably a little bit sceptical. Darius isn’t exactly eager to do favours either, meaning that Alex may have to swallow his pride and maybe even his principles to earn what he needs.

The PRIDE parents meanwhile have problems of their own. None of them especially trust one another, but they’re all united by a need to get their kids back and also to get rid of Jonah before any more death and destruction are caused. Part of their cleanup involves Mollie’s distant relative Graciela, and making sure that what she knows doesn’t get made public. Stacey and Dale have a plan, but certain other factors get in the way, and old tensions resurface again.

Of course, Jonah himself has his own ideas, and a conversation with the still recovering Victor suggests that he has bigger plans afoot. He’s also getting mysterious texts from an unknown number, suggesting someone is not being completely honest with their associates and adding another layer of complexity to the narrative.

By the time the credits roll, it feels like you’ve watched a few hours of television rather than the mere hour that’s passed, in the best of ways. Whereas it packs a lot in, nothing outstays its welcome, and solid performances throughout reminded me why this show was one of the highlights of 2018.

Verdict: Straight back into its groove, filled with crunch character stuff, nice twists and more than the odd surprise. Well on track to maintaining its crown as one of the best TV shows from the Marvel stable. 8/10

Greg D. Smith