Prime Video just dropped a new series from Jonas Pate, the co-creator of Netflix's popular teen drama, "Outer Banks" — and it could be your perfect end-of-summer binge. The show in question is "The Runarounds," a new eight-part series inspired by the story of the real-life band at the heart of the story.
The new series is a coming-of-age drama that follows a group of high schoolers as they dream of making their band the next big thing; Amazon says it "captures the rush of risking everything at the edge of adulthood to chase your dreams", and as of today (September 1), all episodes are available to watch now.
If this is the first time you've come across the new series, or you're trying to decide whether to stream "The Runarounds" on Prime Video, here's a little more info about the newly-launched music drama.
What is 'The Runarounds' about?
"The Runarounds" is a music/ coming-of-age drama that follows a group of recent high school graduates from Wilmington, North Carolina, who form a rock band during the summer after graduation.
United by their passion for music and their dream of making it big, they throw themselves into making that happen. Along the way, they fall in love, stumble into trouble, and forge tight-knit bonds as they navigate the highs and lows that find them as "The Runarounds" chase their dreams.
The series stars the real-life musicians at the heart of the story — William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, and Jesse Golliher — plus Lilah Pate, Maximo Salas, Kelley Pereira, Marley Aliah, Mark Wystrach, Brooklyn Decker, Hayes MacArthur, and Shea Pritchard.
Should you stream 'The Runarounds' on Prime Video?
The first reviews are in, and "The Runarounds" has landed a mixed reaction; some critics are on board with its carefree vibe, but others very much aren't.
At the time of writing, reviews have only just gone live online, meaning the series hasn't yet bagged a rating on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes.
LA Times TV critic Robert Lloyd summed it up as "a fluffy" release, writing: "It's a fluffy show, sometimes catching something real, frequently improbable, never completely ridiculous. But the audience at which it's aimed may be happy enough with an aspirational fairy that reflects their own feelings about their own feelings, for which the music itself is a megaphone and a metaphor."
On the flipside, Variety's Aramide Tinubu said the show "doesn't work," writing: "It offers nothing new to the YA genre, and its jumbled nature makes it unlikely that viewers will make it past the pilot," adding: "This fictionalized version of The Runarounds’ rise is probably one of the worst things on television. The characters aren’t fully formed, and the dialogue is bewildering."
While I've not seen the full season, I can't offer my definitive verdict just yet, I have started streaming "The Runarounds." And, based on what I've seen so far, it feels endearing enough to keep me watching.
The joy really comes in the series' musical performances as the gang is clearly having a blast performing together. In between, the drama's okay; the cast have decent chemistry, but the story's not gonna blow you away — expect the usual beats; crushes, parental run-ins, and friendship woes, and so on — but if you're on the lookout for a bit of light, breezy teen drama fun, "The Runarounds" sure seems like it'll fit the bill.
Not sold on "The Runarounds," and still hunting for your next Prime Video watch? Check out our guide to the best shows on Prime Video for tons more streaming suggestions that deserve a spot on your watchlist.
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