‘The Runarounds,’ set to the soundtrack of a real band, is teen wish fulfillment

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Hello there! Let me introduce you to The Runarounds, a fresh new band from Pinocchio that masterfully blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination. Allow me to present Charlie (William Lipton) on guitar – he’s got a soft spot for romance; Neil (Axel Ellis), another guitarist who’s more than just a fan of marijuana (he enjoys reading Ferlinghetti); Topher (Jeremy Yun) on lead guitar, known for his reserved nature; Wyatt (Jesse Golliher) on bass, often quiet but never forgotten; and Bez (Zendé Murdock) on drums, stepping in for Pete (Maximo Salas), who has taken on the role of a “manager.” If he isn’t named after Pete Best, then I’ll have to eat my Beatles fan club card!

A diverse group of over 5,000 musicians responded to an open audition call, and they were selected to appear in a popular TV series titled “The Runarounds,” which focuses on the lives of teenagers and their musical endeavors. This show will be available to stream on Prime Video starting from Monday.

This captivating mix is brought to you by Jonas Pate, the mind behind the Netflix teenage adventure series “Outer Banks.” Much like the show, it’s a dreamy tale rooted in Pate’s home state of North Carolina, specifically the charming coastal city of Wilmington, known for its picturesque landscapes and quaint homes. Similar to the show, it explores themes of youthful freedom and adventure, but unlike it, everyone here maintains a fully-clothed appearance, in both literal and figurative terms.

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Teen-focused shows like “Wednesday,” “Wolf Pack,” and “Cobra Kai” are exploring deeper, more mature themes through intricate narratives that span multiple generations and feature complex characters, marking a shift towards darker storytelling.

The eight-episode series kicks off as high school concludes, signifying festivities and a segment featuring a graduation address (which will be delivered by Sophia, portrayed by Lilah Pate, Jonas’ daughter). Eighteen-year-old Charlie is hesitant to inform his parents about his decision not to attend college despite having been accepted. His future, as he sees it, hinges on securing a contract by the end of summer – a concept more applicable to the 20th century music industry but fitting for this vintage-styled series. Additionally, capturing the attention of Sophia, the attractive, academically accomplished girl he’s harbored feelings for since the past four years, becomes his other major concern.

Charlie, Toph, Neil, and Pete had been playing various gigs with an unfavorable name that I won’t mention here, feeling quite proud of their band despite some reservations about Pete’s drumming skills. It wasn’t until the pilot episode that they finally recognized Pete’s shortcomings as a drummer. Following introspection and advertisements, they discovered Bez, an exceptionally talented drummer who made one question why he hadn’t joined other bands yet or if there was simply no music scene nearby. He also introduced his friend Wyatt, who took up the bass, giving birth to a new band. Wyatt’s quiet demeanor, captivating smile, and resemblance to young Jeff Tweedy immediately made him the most compelling member of their group.

As I join Sophia, a poet whose words could easily become melodies, our female presence is enriched by Amanda Kelley Pereira, Topher’s girlfriend who exhibits both control and competence. She will turn out to be an unexpected asset for our band. Additionally, there’s Bender, Marley Aliah, who moves around with cameras, has a slight resemblance to Neil, and embodies a somewhat intimidating yet effortlessly cool, far-from-pixieish dream girl persona. Although they don’t officially become band members, as actors, they significantly boost our nonprofessional counterparts.

Lipton, the only professional actor among us (with 328 episodes under his belt on “General Hospital”), unfortunately comes across as less genuine compared to the untrained others. This could be due in part to the burden of carrying the heaviest storylines and delivering lines such as, “I want to write love songs that change the world.

Much like ‘Outer Banks’ and many teen shows before it, characters often find themselves butting heads with their parents. This dynamic resonates with young viewers who may sometimes face similar issues at home, albeit over trivial matters due to parental involvement. In this series, the roles of Charlie’s parents are played by Brooklyn Decker, a character who teaches film, and Hayes MacArthur, whose character has spent 12 years working on a novel, meaning he hasn’t published anything yet. Somehow they remain married, despite financial tensions arising, and there exists a significant family secret that could potentially shake things up. Charlie’s sassy younger sister, Tatum (Willa Dunn), playfully questions her father about his work done in a bathrobe.

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The creators behind Netflix’s action-filled teen drama series discuss the Season 3 finale and offer insights into what lies ahead for the Pogues in upcoming seasons.

This version maintains the original’s meaning while using more common, easy-to-understand language that may be more accessible to a wider audience. It also rephrases some elements, such as replacing “break down” with “discuss,” and “preview” with “offer insights into what lies ahead.” These changes help to create a clearer, more natural-sounding sentence structure.

1. Neil’s father, who struggles with health issues, hopes that his son will take over his painting business.
2. Topher’s family members are traditional and snobbish, pushing him towards a career in finance like Amanda does.
3. Bez’s father is also a musician, but feels that his son’s time is being wasted with the Runarounds.
4. Wyatt’s mother seems to be addicted to something and doesn’t care for him.
5. Sophia’s father has been self-medicating since her mother passed away some years ago, leaving her to deal with the aftermath. She confesses that she feels like she’s doing everything right on paper but lacks a sense of vitality. (“I don’t feel alive,” she admits.) Wouldn’t it be nice to spend time with your friends, playing in a band?

In simpler terms, Wyatt manages to secure both employment and shelter, while the band locates a practice space in a music store owned by Catesby (Mark Wystrach), an adult who spent nearly two decades in Nashville, encountering both triumphs and setbacks, and once knew Charlie’s mother. Coincidentally, the shop seems to have no customers at all. To spark inspiration, he sends the children on a journey deep into the countryside to witness a clandestine performance by his old friend Dexter Romweber (a real person who passed away, portrayed by Brad Carter in the movie). This event will not only stir their nerves and challenge their minds but also leave them with a mix of motivating and discouraging advice before he vanishes into the night, along with a fictionalized ending.

Occasionally, they give a performance – be it at a graduation celebration, a county fair, a wedding reception, a roadside bar, or an elite opening act where the crowd reacts as if they’re background actors in a TV show (the kids can definitely play their instruments, and the songs aren’t terrible). On their journey to achieve their goal, they’ll encounter setbacks and obstacles. They’ll argue, they’ll squabble. They’ll make errors, they’ll make compromises, they’ll create problems, but nothing so severe that can’t be resolved with an apology, money, or assistance from someone to help them out (I believe that in the past, no underage kid has ever been arrested and jailed for sneaking into clubs, although it might be different in Wilmington). They’ll experiment with substances, stay up all night talking intimately, which feels very teenage. Wearing “Wizard of Oz” costumes, on the other hand, seems less authentic.

For music enthusiasts, there are subtle nods: Catesby instructing Wyatt to install a couple of P13 pickups into a 1968 Silvertone guitar; progressing from the two to the five chord; alluding to legendary rock venues (the 40 Watt, the 9:30). “This isn’t some cheap Squier I received for Christmas,” Neil exclaims in frustration as his Gretsch White Falcon goes missing. The scene where Charlie jumps off a roof onto a pool during Pete’s party seems to pay tribute to the “I am a golden god” moment from “Almost Famous”; later, they will borrow an idea from the Beatles.

In a similar fashion to previous manufactured bands, it’s hard to discern what’s genuine and what’s merchandise for Runarounds. You can purchase official Runarounds merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies, beach towels, sweatbands, and lighters. Their album, produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and released by major label Arista, is available on all popular music streaming platforms. They’ve scheduled tour dates from mid-September to late October in the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast at authentic rock venues. However, whether they will perform under their character names during these shows remains uncertain. Unlike the Monkees, they might not use their real identities. If they share driving duties, I hope they are more responsible than their on-screen counterparts. Living out of Motels 6 or on floors is unlikely for them unless circumstances at Amazon have deteriorated significantly.

The program often has a soft, whimsical feel, occasionally touching on something genuine, but more often veering towards the fantastical, never quite reaching the absurd. Its intended viewers might find satisfaction in an idealized fable that mirrors their own emotions and experiences, with the music serving as both amplifier and symbol for those feelings.

“All good pop songs are a little corny,” says Charlie.

“Maybe,” replies Sophia, which is the right answer.

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2025-09-01 16:31