The Runaway (2023 series)

The Runaway (sometimes called Runaway: The Series or simply The Runaway: The FOX Series) is an American drama television series. It airs on Fox beginning January 13, 2023, and is scheduled to air until December 31, 2024. This is a reboot of the Runaway franchise and does not take into account any of the previous parts of the film series.
The Runaway was created by writer and executive producer Josh Friedman and marked his television debut. Production companies included Universal Pictures and 20th Centures FOX. The series was produced by Michael Bay and David Cronenbear. Other producers included James Middleton and television director David Nutter, who directed the pilot episode. The show's soundtrack was composed by Bear McCreary.
In 2021, The Runaway was greenlit for an 11-episode season, which was shortened to 10 episodes due to the Writers Guild of America strike. The series premiered on January 13, 2023, to generally positive reviews, with praise for its originality and acting. In 2024, season 2 of 12 episodes was released. On November 22, 2023, the film The Runaway Nemesis was announced, which will become a film adaptation of the series.
== Plot ==
=== Season 1 (2023) ===
Mikhail Ivanov, an ordinary mathematics teacher, becomes a victim of a miscarriage of justice. He is accused of a crime he did not commit and is sentenced to ten years in prison. During his first days in prison, Mikhail desperately tries to prove his innocence, but the system does not listen to him.
In prison, Mikhail faces cruelty and lawlessness. However, his intelligence and education help him survive. He begins teaching mathematics and philosophy to other prisoners, gaining respect and protection in this dangerous world.
Over time, Mikhail realizes that the law cannot justify him. He decides to take fate into his own hands and plans to escape. Using his knowledge of mathematics, he develops a complex plan involving calculations and timing to find the perfect moment to escape.
The night of the escape arrives. Mikhail and several of his trusted allies whom he has trained use their knowledge to fool the prison's security system. They overcome numerous obstacles, and in the end, Mikhail breathes the air of freedom.
Now free, Mikhail is fighting not only for his life, but also to restore his name. He seeks proof of his innocence while facing new challenges and dangers. His tenacity and belief in justice lead him to unexpected allies and revelations.
At the end of the story, Mikhail not only clears his name, but also discovers the real culprit. His story becomes a symbol of the fight for truth and justice, inspiring others not to lose hope even in the darkest circumstances.
=== Season 2 (2024) ===
After his escape, Mikhail faces difficulties adapting to his new life. He lives in constant fear of being discovered, but his desire to prove his innocence does not leave him. Mikhail begins an investigation to find the real criminal and clear his name.
During his investigation, Mikhail discovers that the case for which he was convicted was part of a large corruption scheme involving high-ranking officials. He realizes that his innocence is a small part of a big problem, and decides to fight not only for himself, but also for the truth.
Mikhail finds like-minded people who have also suffered from corruption and injustice. Together they create a secret organization whose goal is to fight corruption and restore justice. They work in the shadows, but their influence is growing every day.
With the help of new allies, Mikhail uncovers evidence that not only confirms his innocence, but also exposes a network of corruption. This leads to a series of lawsuits that shock the entire country and lead to changes in legislation.
After years of struggle, Mikhail finally returns home. His name is completely cleared and he is reunited with his family. He becomes a symbol of hope for all who fight for justice, and continues his work in education, but now with a new goal - education about rights and freedoms.
Mikhail opens an educational center where he teaches young people the importance of legal literacy and active civic participation. His life's journey becomes an inspiration to many, and he continues to fight for a world where justice and truth reign over everything.
== Cast ==
* Brian Austin Green as Mikhail
* Leven Rambin as Kyle
* Garret Dillahunt as Kate
* Shirley Manson as Summer
* Dean Winters as Sean
* Jason Biggs as Derek
* Jerry O Connell as Marty
* Linda Hamilton as Giselle
== Response ==
=== Ratings ===
Seasonal rankings (based on a weighted average total viewers per episode) for The Runaway in the United States:
Viewership and ratings per season of The Runaway 
Season	Timeslot (ET)	Episodes	First aired 	First aired	Last aired 	Last aired	TV season	Avg. viewers
(millions)
Season	Timeslot (ET)	Episodes	Date 	Viewers
(millions)	Date 	Viewers
(millions)	TV season	Avg. viewers
(millions)
1 	Sunday 8:00 p.m. (1)
Monday 9:00 p.m. (2–9)	9 	January 13, 2023	18.36 	August 3, 2023 	8.29 	2022–23 	10.8
2 	Monday 8:00 p.m. (1–13)
Friday 8:00 p.m. (14–22)	22 	January 9, 2024 	9.34 	December 31, 2024	6.60 	2023–24 	8.37
The series premiere in the United States was watched by 18.3 million viewers. It would become the highest-rated new scripted series of the 2023-2024 television season. The second-season premiere garnered 9.3 million.
=== Critical reception ===
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 has a score of 91% based on reviews from 53 critics, and season 2 has a rating of 82% based on 42 reviews. On Metacritic, the first season has an average score of 68 out of 100 based on 29 reviews. The second season has a score of 64, based on only 10 reviews.
Robert Bianco of USA Today gave the premiere episode four and a half stars out of five, calling the series "smart, tough and entertaining". IGN felt despite a few middling episodes and the restrictions of a TV budget, "[the series] turned out to be intelligent, complex and consistently operated on a deeper emotional level than anyone could have expected." Zaki Hasan, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle in 2024, called the series "one of the franchise's most fascinating forays — one whose announcement was greeted with a fair amount of skepticism but ended up working a lot better than many would have expected".