The Runarounds is a TV show directed and created by Jonas Pate. The band is also real, and the show is partially based on the band’s true stories. It follows the journey of a boy named Charlie (William Lipton) who is in a band but faces a difficult decision to remove his best friend from the group due to their lack of musical talent. As he brings in a new member to fill the spot, the band embarks on an emotional and exciting ride filled with romance, heartbreak, passion, hope and even action. Amidst the ups and downs of band life, Charlie was in love with the kind, seemingly perfect Sophia (Lilah Pate) at school. But with graduation quickly approaching, he struggles to find the confidence to tell her how he feels finally.

The Runarounds is a fantastic show that, from the very first episode, pulls you into the story and introduces you to this group of friends. I loved how the story made you feel different emotions throughout the episodes. The cast is fantastic and all have amazing chemistry together. The band is formed by William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, and Jesse Golliher.  Despite the musicians playing characters, lots of the show has truth to the cast’s own experiences. The band is very talented, not only as actors but as musicians and singers and I loved the music throughout the show. The bond between the whole group of teen actors shines through the screen, and you can see how much fun they had making it.

Another highlight of the show is that, at the end of each episode, you get some behind-the-scenes footage in the credits. Not only does the show showcase the band’s struggles and their attempts to make it, but it also has lots of moments of heart through family dynamics and secrets, and it deals with some realistic issues. So, not only is it fun, but sometimes it leans more into deeper and more emotional moments. I was surprised, but this show also had some action moments throughout, from car chases to shootings and more. This made the episodes feel exciting and more tense, as you couldn’t tell what would happen next. The relationship between Charlie and Sophia is one you are rooting for throughout the show, hoping for them to be together. William and Lilah have great romantic chemistry together. As we get to know the characters more, we see that Sophia is not as perfect as we all first thought, and the show did a good job of showing this side to her. It was also great to see her act more like herself now that the pressure of school is over.

Maximo Salas plays Pete and brings lots of comedy to his role. He has lots of funny moments throughout, and I also liked how there are no bullies or horrible people on this show. Yes, there can be people who are mean in the teen group, but none are horrible, which is rare for a teen show. I also liked how all the characters are vastly different from each other, with very different personalities, but no one is unkind. Some can be slightly mean at times, but the main group all have good hearts. For example, in one of the final episodes, one of the girls’ roommates is unique, but they accept her for who she is. The show is also visually great to look at and really gives off summer vibes, from the colouring to more.

The colourful outfits are also good, with boys and girls wearing summery styles like Vans, cool boots, and sandals, boys in shorts, and girls in dresses. Another cool highlight of the outfits was that the boys wore jewellery and necklaces while the girls didn’t. This was a clever touch and made the band more stylish.

I was lucky enough to interview the band members and the actors of The Runarounds. When I spoke with the band, they explained that they performed every song live, and this really showed while watching. The energy of the live music added so much to the performance. The sound of the band is a mix of soft pop and rock, and I enjoyed the songs. Each song had its own vibe, and style. Another cool aspect of the show is that one of the lead roles is played by Lilah Pate, who is the creator Jonas Pate’s kid. This is a fun connection that adds a personal touch to the production. 

The Runarounds did have a few minor issues. I felt the story took a couple of episodes to really get going, as the pacing at the start was a little slow. At times, I found it hard to remember all the character’s names, especially side characters. Like many teen shows, it leans on the familiar trope of boys fighting over a girl they like, when a simple conversation would have been more realistic. To me, it feels less believable when jealousy turns physical, but it adds more drama and excitement. These are just slight issues for a great show. Overall, The Runarounds is an amazing show that brings together a talented cast, great music, and impressive performances from the band. It delivers exciting action scenes, heartfelt romance, and just the right amount of drama, all while making you root for the characters and their journeys. The show pulls you in and keeps you invested, leaving you wanting to see how everything unfolds. I highly recommend watching! 4 🌟