Marvel's Runaways: Series Finale Ending Explained | Screen Rant
The third and final season of Runaways is out now on Hulu, and here's how the Marvel series came to an end. Picking up almost immediately after the events of season 2, Runaways' third season has unfinished storylines to get through before Morgan le Fay (Elizabeth Hurley) takes center stage. She only has a minor presence at first as she communicates with Nico Minoru (Lyrica Okano), who is focused on trying to save Karolina Dean (Virginia Gardner), Chase Stein (Gregg Sulkin), and Janet Stein (Ever Carradine) from the Gibborim aliens.
After the rescue is complete, Nico, Karolina, Chase, Gert Yorkes (Ariela Barer), and Molly Hernandez (Allegra Acosta) work together to get rid of the Gibborim for good - and free Victor Stein (James Marsters), Stacey Yorkes (Brigid Brannagh), Tina Minoru (Brittany Ishibashi), and Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz) from their control. This is only achieved once Nico uses a spell Morgan tells her, which also frees the witch from the Dark Dimension. After a six month stint in the Dark Dimension themselves, those trapped in there are forced to leave Alex behind in order to not lose their memories. Once they return to the real world, though, they discover that Morgan's plot to take over the world has already begun.
During the six month absence of the Runaways, Victor, Stacey, and Tina, Morgan is named the new CEO of Wizard. The company begins handing out magical smartphones for free that Morgan has helped develop. Morgan uses these phones to influence those who use them and make her more powerful. Her grand plan is to merge the Dark Dimension with Earth, using the Staff of One and the army that will travel to this planet to reign over humanity. But, after Tyrone Johnson aka Cloak (Aubrey Joseph) and Tandy Bowen aka Dagger (Olivia Holt) help the Runaways rescue Alex from the Dark Dimension, they gear up for their final showdown. Here's how Runaways came to an end.
Before discussing the finale itself, we must first go through the penultimate episode of the series, as it shakes up the show ahead of the finale episode. Episode nine of Runaways brings the kids and remaining parents together to figure out how to stop Morgan. They all assemble in the Hostel and quickly divvy up responsibilities: Victor, Chase, and Alex - with the help of a now-A.I. version of Janet - set out to take down the cell phone towers in California so Morgan can't draw power from those using the Wizard phones; Tina and Nico attempt to figure out a spell that sends Morgan back to the Dark Dimension and enchant salt that can contain her power; Dale Yorkes (Kevin Weisman) creates a serum using Karolina's DNA that will protect them all from being put under Morgan's control by the sounds the phones make and tests it on Gert and Molly; and Stacey and Leslie Dean (Annie Wersching) tend to the injury Geoffrey Wilder (Ryan Sands) sustained saving Molly from Morgan.
After considering going to find Morgan, they figure out that Morgan will come to them in order to acquire the Staff of One, and it isn't too long before she does just that. When Morgan arrives, Nico attempts to kill her by using a dagger previously made by Tandy that Nico infused with dark energy. This doesn't work though and results in Morgan making a speech about people being able to join her side and avoid endless torture. Alex is the first to kneel and pledge loyalty to Morgan, but the other Runaways except for Nico do the same. However, this was merely them stalling long enough for Victor and Janet's virus to kick in to drain Morgan's power. This still isn't enough to defeat her, as she tries to take control of Nico - knowing that she can't take the Staff of One from her. Karolina uses her powers to fight back and protect Nico, but she's not strong enough to stop Morgan.
As the sorceress attacks a defenseless Karolina, Gert and Molly come to try and stop her, but they are both thrown back with ease. After she recovers, Gert stands up to Morgan again and distracts her with a speech. Gert circles Morgan as she talks and lays the enchanted salt around her. Now confined to the circle, Tina emerges to use a spell from the Darkhold to send Morgan back to the Dark Dimension. Appearing to be victorious, Gert collapses as it is revealed she was impaled by a chandelier from Morgan's prior attack. She dies in Chase's arms, leaving the Runaways, the parents, and Old Lace in disbelief.
When the series finale then begins, Chase is making a video log on June 14th, 2028 prior to him traveling back in time to 2022 for the three-year anniversary of Gert's death. The first Runaway shown is Karolina, who is now a student at UCLA and in a relationship - but not with Nico. Molly is a senior at Atlas Academy and leads their dance team. She continues to live at the Hostel with Old Lace and Chase, who rarely leaves his room as he attempts to crack time travel. Chase is working with Alex, who still has the Gibborim's book (the Abstract), to develop the technology. Alex is otherwise working for Wilder Innovators and helping out those in need. Meanwhile, Nico has just returned to town after being gone for three years learning more about her powers, as made clear as she levitates during mediation.
The reason for Chase traveling to 2022 is then revealed, as Alex from 2028 shows up at Nico's door unexpectedly. After asking how he knew she was back in town, Alex pulls a gun on Nico and pulls the trigger. His attempt at murder is not successful though, as Nico's increased power enables her to stop the bullet in mid-air. 2028 Chase then arrives to ensure Nico's safety while Alex escapes, bringing Chase to re-assemble the Runaways to explain what is going on. He explains that, in the future, a bomb is planted in Alex's office to kill him, but he survives and believes that one of the Runaways is responsible. The future version of Alex does not know which of the Runaways is responsible for the attempt on his life as Chase says some of them follow in their parents' footsteps. Clearly, Runaways isn't operating by the same time travel rules used in Avengers: Endgame.
The Runaways do discover 2028 Alex's whereabouts in 2019, but he goes back in time again before they can detain him. 2028 Alex first decided to attack the Runaways in 2022 as that's when Nico brought them back together, so his second destination also looked to find them at a time when they were apart. He goes back to the day that the kids learned of what their parents and Pride really did. Instead of going after 2028 Alex by himself, 2028 Chase provides the 2022 versions of Alex, Molly, Karolina, and Nico with time travel devices of their own. Together, they look after their past selves to make sure 2028 Alex doesn't kill anyone.
As the 2022 versions of the Runaways relive their high school days, they are able to stop Alex from doing any harm. They discuss what to do with him and the 2022 Alex to make sure he doesn't become this person, with Nico suggesting exiling him to protect the rest. Alex agrees to go back to 2022 after talking to Chase, who tells the others to do the same as he has a mission of his own: going back to the battle with Morgan to save Gert's life. Instead of going by himself, Molly, Karolina, and Nico from 2022 and 2028 Alex agree to help him save Gert, knowing it could end with their deaths or the lives they know being erased.
Now back to that fateful night, the last several minutes of Runaways re-enacts the events of episode 9, but in a shortened amount of time. The mission begins when Chase intercepts Gert as she goes to get the enchanted salt. He takes her place as the one who will stall Morgan and trap her, but Morgan catches on to what he is doing. She throws shards of glass at 2028's Chase, who barely manages to finish the salt circle. This allows Tina to once again send Morgan back to the Dark Dimension. With the roles reversed, 2028 Chase dies in Gert's arms after successfully saving her life and changing the past he knew.
After these events, all of the future versions of the Runaways vanish before the eyes of the regular kids and parents. The next day, the Runaways gather to leave the Hostel and go out for breakfast after their big win. Right as they are about to leave, Alex realizes that he doesn't have his wallet with him. He runs back to his desk to grab it and finds a piece of paper underneath it with his handwriting. It is a note left by 2028 Alex that reads, "1) Infiltrate Wilder Innovators, 2) Hide Mancha, 3) Kill Nico." The series ends with him folding up the note and leaving with his friends - but people that he could turn against depending on what he makes of this note. However, the future is one Runaways leaves the imaginations of fans to decide.