Abhiroop Das
Co-directed by Nimer Rashed and Isher Sahota, Netflix’s ‘Run Away‘ blends together a tale of a father looking for his daughter, with that of a private investigator tracking a string of gruesome murders. Connected to both of these narratives is a third, far more chaotic journey, undertaken by Dee Dee and Ash, a duo of serial killers. While the two have been together since childhood, Dee Dee’s recent turn to spirituality appears to have caused some rifts. Still, when her cult, The Shining Truth, hands her a kill list, it is business as usual. Thus, this thriller TV series, adapted from Harlan Coben’s eponymous novel, briefly turns into a travelogue, as Dee Dee and Ash travel the country in stolen cars, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. However, behind this violent facade lies a story of inner turmoil, brought forth through the ups and downs of their dynamic.
Maeve Courtier-Lilley Brings Dee Dee’s Cruelty and Chaos to Life
In ‘Run Away,’ Dee Dee is an assassin who, along with Ash, is tasked with striking names off a rather long kill list. Having grown up with Ash in a foster home, she bears the psychological trauma to this day. Joining a spiritual cult known as The Shining Truth seemingly works as an emotional outlet for her, but things soon go gnarly in her murderous journey. Across episodes, Dee Dee’s personality alternates between bubbly optimism and cold ruthlessness. Actor Maeve Courtier-Lilley does justice to both ends of this personality spectrum with her compelling performance. While Courtier-Lilley’s is still an up-and-coming name in the industry, she has already made her presence felt with a series of iconic roles, and the character of Dee Dee adds another feather to her cap.
Following her on-screen debut with the TV series ‘Doctors,’ Courtier-Lilley stepped into the role of Luna, a major character in ‘The Outpost.’ The actor is perhaps most famous for her work in ‘Grand Turismo’ and ‘The Red King,’ where she essays Audrey and Winter Bain, respectively. Additionally, she also features in titles such as ‘Still Waters’ and ‘Champagne Problems‘ as Mabli and Skyler Price, respectively. Courtier-Lilley’s social media updates about the behind-the-scenes of ‘Run Away’ show how much fun she had filming with the cast and crew. As Dee Dee’s character is shaped by the many masks she dons in her daily interactions, Courtier-Lilley had a perfect canvas to flex her acting abilities and further enrich her role in the larger narrative.
Jon Pointing Molds Ash Into a Quiet But Fierce Screen Presence
While Dee Dee is the “talker” of the serial killing duo, her partner and lifelong friend, Ash, does most of the murders in the show. Despite being mostly reserved when it comes to conversations, Ash proves himself to be the beating heart of the plot surrounding the cult, which is best evident in his emotional dynamic with Dee Dee. Given the heavy detailing and subtlety surrounding Ash’s character, portraying him can be a daunting task for any actor, but Jon Pointing steps into the role with ease, elevating it to another level. The actor is perhaps most famous for his work in the dramedy series, ‘Big Boys,’ where he plays Danny. As such, the stark contrast between that role and Ash in ‘Run Away’ speaks to Pointing’s range as a creative artist.
With more than 20 acting credits under his belt already, Pointing has proven himself to be a reliable name in the industry, and his accumulated skill set is on full display in how he approaches Ash as a character. Pointing is also a writer and has penned the screenplay for some of his earliest works, which include short films such as ‘Life Guru’ and ‘The Last Day.’ The actor’s claim to fame came in the form of the TV show, ‘Plebs,’ where he dons the garb of Jason. Additionally, he has played major roles in shows such as ‘Pls Like,’ ‘Smothered,’ and ‘Sweetpea,’ where he plays Charlie South, Tom, and Craig, respectively. Pointing’s dynamic with his co-star, Courtier-Lilley, is what makes their characters work, both individually and as a serial-killing pair that wreaks havoc throughout the story.
Read More: Run Away Ending Explained: Who killed Aaron Corval? Does Simon Find Paige?
