Runarounds: Answers to Burning Questions Following Band Predictions for ‘Dark’
The Runarounds concluded on an optimistic note, hinting at potential disappointments ahead for its characters—so what can fans look forward to in season 2?
The season 1 finale, which aired on Monday, September 1, featured Charlie (William Lipton) in a voice-over, providing insight into the possible futures of each band member if they choose not to pursue their music career.
“Hopefully [that doesn’t happen]. It really affected me. It was quite dark,” Lipton exclusively shared with Us Weekly during a joint interview with Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, and Jesse Golliher. “In that moment, it feels like they lost. They had one summer to make their dreams come true, and despite all their efforts, it just didn’t work out.”
Though the band finally secured a record deal, the finale still suggested a more sobering outcome for each character.
“At that moment, Charlie is contemplating the realistic outcomes for his friends. They might not land that deal, but he’s grateful for the unique summer they shared,” Lipton remarked. “Recording that voiceover made me emotional. It was a truly beautiful moment, especially since many of our characters resonate with that experience.”
Season 2 is expected to begin with a more uplifting tone as The Runarounds face new challenges on their path to success. Golliher and Murdock have expressed they would love to see their characters find girlfriends, while Lipton suggested introducing a “dance act” to the musical group.
Based on a teleplay by Outer Banks co-creator Jonas Pate and David Wilcox, the series follows the real band of the same name. Lipton, Ellis, Yun, Murdock, and Golliher came together as a musical group in 2021 after Pate issued a casting call looking for a group to appear on Outer Banks. They were selected from 5,000 musicians who applied. The episode was filmed in 2022, coinciding with The Runarounds‘ EP recording and tour.
“When we first got together, we played a lot of music, but we also worked on some acting scenes. Thankfully, Mr. Chase Stokes was there to guide us through it,” Ellis shared.
He noted, “It was our first true attempt at acting. Chase was incredible; without his support, I’m not sure where I’d be today.”
Murdock further explained the brief crossover with Outer Banks in season 3, emphasizing it was “not meant to be overly serious,” adding, “It was more for us in real life, stemming from the creation, and it doesn’t significantly tie into the overall universe.”
In addition to the musical ensemble, The Runarounds features Brooklyn Decker, Maximo Salas, Marley Aliah, Hayes MacArthur, Mark Wystrach, Shea Pritchard, Lilah Pate, and Kelley Pereira. J. Anthony Crane and Cullen Moss have made brief appearances in different roles from those they currently portray on Outer Banks.
Before The Runarounds debuted, Jonas confirmed in December 2024 that Prime Video had already greenlit a second season even before the show premiered. He also mentioned he was in the early stages of writing a prequel to Outer Banks, titled Kildare, which would introduce a new cast of young actors and delve into the origins of each group in the show’s fictional Figure 8 town.
Outer Banks is currently available for streaming on Netflix, while The Runarounds can be watched on Prime Video.
