The TV Show Everybody Slept On: How "The Runarounds" Channels the Golden Age of Teen Dramas

Image source: IMDB

The Runarounds captures the essence of being on the cusp of adulthood in a way that is categorically, and unabashedly fun. It's the feel-good coming of age story that Millenial and Gen Z teen drama lovers have been crying out for. Despite taking place in 2025, the show hits a nostalgic cord reminiscent of the early 2000s, seemingly drawing inspiration from shows like One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, or Dawson’s Creek. It’s also not afraid to be goofy or cringey in the name of providing viewers a glimpse of an authentically teenage experience filled with self-discovery, passion, and camaraderie. The Runarounds hooked me so completely that I was compelled to binge the whole season all in a single day, then turn around and watch it again with my mom a few weeks later. 

Coming on the heels of Prime’s mega success with Daisy Jones and the Six (another music-centered series), it's a travesty The Runarounds wasn't afforded a marketing campaign anywhere close to the former, thus resulting in its relatively lowkey viewership. However, there appears to be a growing fanbase interested in not only the show, but the real-life band that formed from it. With 200k Instagram followers and a tour in progress, they have the potential to integrate into the mainstream music scene.

Perhaps the main appeal of the show is that the band has what I believe the youths would refer to as “rizz.” Charlie, Bez, Neil, Topher, and Wyatt are as magnetic on stage as they are as characters in general. Even when they blunder, you can't help but root for them due to their relentless charm and determination to succeed. The other supporting characters are equally as endearing, namely Pete, Amanda, Bender, and Sophia, and their friendship as a whole is a big part of what makes the show so special. They support each other not only through the trials and tribulations of getting the band off the ground, but also through life's hardships. The issues brought up throughout the show are relatable for any generation, not just young adults. I appreciated that The Runarounds didn't rely on toxicity or wildly grandiose plot lines for entertainment value, instead opting for a more "everyday", but equally as legitimate, approach.

That's not to say there isn't plenty of outlandish scenarios to shake things up amidst the "teenagers next door" premise. The shenanigans the band and their friends get up to are wild, weird, and hilarious, capturing the rollercoaster of teenage behaviours and emotions. In this sense, The Runarounds draws parallels with its iconic predecessors. In nine seasons of One Tree Hill, there were definitely some creative plotlines, yet it managed to retain the "down-to-earth" quality that drew in its impressive audience. I personally haven't watched much of Dawson's Creek, but from what I have seen it employs similar narrative tactics. Small town teen dramas like these thrive on the notion that amidst all the craziness, there's still an inherent simplicity, a moral, and a tight-knit community to ground the characters.

It's hard to believe it's a coincidence that these three shows were all filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. Though the town was fictionalized in One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek, The Runarounds is actually set there, which feels like a nod to the legacy they're contributing to. Wilmington seems to have some kind of magic quality as a setting that makes it simultaneously perfectly average but also a picturesque haven from the outside world, like Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. To have this kind of backdrop as the homebase (where the towns almost become their own characters) invokes a sense of comfort in viewers that is hard to capture in television these days.

With the current state of the world, our society and our culture feeling so turbulent and highly stimulating, it makes sense that the content being produced doesn't usually lean towards nostalgic, modest stories. However, I personally feel like that's exactly what we need. It's no wonder many people choose to rewatch their favourite comfort shows over and over again, because we crave that familiarity and simpler times. Despite the presence of modern technology and social media, The Runarounds feels like it sort of transcends time. The atmosphere of the show makes it so that the characters have space to be, without being bombarded with the pressures and anxieties of the 2020s.

On a different note, as a music lover I thought the show did a great job with the soundtrack and the band's original songs. Their sound is reminiscent of 5 Seconds of Summer and The Backseat Lovers, with a sort of indie pop rock vibe. The catchy songs the band churns out only adds to the contagiously fun energy of the show, similarly to Netflix's Julie and the Phantoms, which despite its small cult following was cancelled prematurely. The Runarounds employs music in a way that emulates the stellar soundtracks that were staples of early 2000s teen dramas, particularly One Tree Hill who frequently had musical guests as well. Honestly, much of my own music taste was formed through discovering songs and artists that were featured on these shows, which is why The Runaround's music really struck a chord with me (pun intended). It gave me a feeling of excitement akin to that of my middle school fangirl days, something most Directioners, Beliebers, Jonas Brothers, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC fans can probably relate to. Amongst all the reasons why I enjoyed this show, don't we all just love to be temporarily transported back to our youth?

I urge anyone who is a sucker for a teen drama, like myself, to give The Runarounds a shot. Who knows? It might just be your new go-to comfort show. But be warned: their songs will get stuck in your head.