Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Nimer Rashed and Isher Sahota, Netflix’s ‘Run Away‘ presents a triptych of character journeys that initially don’t seem linked, but ultimately lead to a larger, more nefarious mystery. When Simon Greene is faced with the disappearance of his daughter and the murder of her boyfriend, he has to both evade the police and lead a search of his own. Here, he crosses paths with a private investigator named Elena Ravenscroft, who is working on another missing teen’s case, which may or may not be connected to a chain of murders. Connecting all of these events are two genealogy sites that keep popping up in the search history of many characters: Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry.
Over the course of this thriller series, adapted from Harlan Coben’s eponymous novel, both Simon and Elena realize that the two DNA tracing services are at the heart of solving the mystery. A deeper examination of the websites, however, reveals a harrowing truth that no one is prepared for. Thus, Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry are not just aesthetic add-ons to the show, but a defining element in its take on the building blocks of family, both literal and symbolic.
Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry Are Not Real, But Likely Based on Actual Genealogy Sites
Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry are fictional websites created by the writing team of ‘Run Away,’ comprising Tom Farrelly, Amanda Duke, and Daniel Brocklehurst. The idea for these genealogy tracing websites originally sprang from the mind of novelist Harlan Coben, whose eponymous book serves as the basis for the show. Specifically, Coben sought to merge his interest in ancestry-related services with his desire to write about cults, as well as drug-addicted youths. This trifecta of concepts went on to shape ‘Run Away’, wherein he crafted in-narrative sites called DNAYourStory and AnceStory to weave his tale. In the show, these sites are replaced by Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry, respectively. Still, the baseline remains that all of these services are fictitious and constructed solely for the screen.
It is very likely that both Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry are references to actual genealogy sites, which have taken the internet by storm in recent times. The real-life genealogy company known as Ancestry is the largest of its kind and might have served as a partial source of inspiration for the show. While its name bears an immediate resemblance to the fictional sites, it must be noted that the words “ancestry” and “DNA” are very commonly used in company names of this nature. As such, it is possible that the writers intentionally picked similar-sounding names to amp up the realism factor. Much like real genealogy services, Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry help characters in the show bond over their DNA connection, showing that the crew likely put in a lot of research into how these services work.
Writer Coben Himself Took a Genealogy Test While Crafting the Story
While penning the novel, Coben reportedly took a DNA test to get a first-hand perspective on the topic. In a conversation with Salon, he stated, “So I did one of those genealogy tests, because I wanted to do research on it. When I got the test back, I said, Wow. You have a first cousin.” However, this revelation was followed by a mixed reaction on his part, as he explained, “I was so excited. I looked and it was my first cousin, so it really wasn’t so exciting. I had nothing in my past. I was very, very boring.” It is possible that he weaved this personal experience into the storyline, especially with how game-changing the DNA results end up being towards the end of the book.
In both the book and film iterations of ‘Run Away,’ DNA and genealogy websites serve as a narrative linchpin, as they give way to most of the major plot and thematic revelations. While the crew may have used real websites as partial reference points, Discovered Ancestry and Absolute Ancestry’s integration into the larger criminal mystery is a wholly fictional choice. As the story unfolds, these services also serve as a springboard for many emotional beats, particularly in how the teen characters react to the truth about their parentage. To that end, the websites add to the story’s commentary on technological advancements and how they shape social interactions in the modern world.
Read More: Run Away Ending Explained: Who killed Aaron Corval? Does Simon Find Paige?
