Saagar Kote
Created by Jonas Pate, Prime Video’s ‘The Runarounds’ is a young adult drama series that narrates the story of a group of young friends who pursue their ambitions in the music industry. The show intricately explores the themes of passion, love, and friendship. As the young high school graduates follow their dreams, they encounter challenges at both the personal and professional fronts that lead them towards the path of self-discovery. The story also navigates the trials and tribulations of the characters’ relationships with each other, as they learn to work as a musical team. The narrative is supported by intricate visuals and musical numbers that enhance the experience. All of it is supported by the compelling performances of Lilah Pate, Marley Aliah, and Maximo Salas, among others. If the characters, plot, themes, and style of the show entertained you, these young adult shows, similar to ‘The Runarounds,’ will keep you intrigued.
12. Soundtrack (2019)
Created by Joshua Safran, Netflix’s musical drama series ‘Soundtrack’ is powered by the portrayals of Samson Hughes by Paul James, Eleanor O’Brien by Callie Hernandez, and Annette Sands by Marianne Jean-Baptiste. It narrates the transformative power of music through the experiences of the main characters. The show is a chronicling of the journeys of the characters, as they explore the complexities of life and love in the world of Los Angeles. Akin to the world of ‘The Runarounds,’ it deals with the complexities of relationships and the power that music holds over them. Despite the differences in plot elements, both stories feature characters who redeem themselves through their love for music.
11. Vinyl (2016)
Created by Mick Jagger, Martin Scorsese, Rich Cohen, and Terence Winter, HBO’s drama series ‘Vinyl’ is an exploration of the life of a man named Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale) during the ups and downs of the 70s in New York City. The protagonist, who owns a music label, tries to survive the storm of change in the music industry due to the introduction and spread of new genres. In his arduous journey, he is confronted by an unexpected twist that threatens to destroy his life and legacy. Despite the plot differences, the show is spiritually connected to ‘The Runarounds,’ and its characters, as it explores the power of music, although in a different context. Both shows feature characters whose lives and survival depend on their skills and success in music.
10. Roadies (2016)
Showtime’s ‘Roadies’ is an exploration of the lives of the members of a crew responsible for organizing the tour of a popular rock band across the United States. A Cameron Crowe creation, the comedy drama series follows the trials and tribulations of Shelli Anderson (Carla Gugino), Kelly Ann Mason (Imogen Poots), and others who work behind the scenes to ensure that the events go on smoothly. Despite being about what happens in often unexplored backgrounds of stages, it has similarities with ‘The Runarounds,’ as it deals with characters who are connected either directly or indirectly through music. The elements of song performances and group dynamics are also common in both stories.
9. Girls5eva (2021-)
Peacock’s ‘Girls5eva’ follows the lives of the members of a girl band who reunite after many years to redeem themselves. The comedy drama show navigates the lives of band members Dawn Solano (Sara Bareilles), Summer Dutkowsky (Busy Philipps), Gloria McManus (Paula Pell), and Wickie Roy (Renée Elise Goldsberry), as they deal with the past, present, and their long-held passion for music. Created by Meredith Scardino, it reflects the world and characters of ‘The Runarounds,’ due to its themes of redemption, loyalty, and friendship. Characters in both shows must use their musical skills in challenging scenarios in order to prove themselves.
8. High School (2022)
Powered by the compelling portrayals of Railey Gilliland and Seazynn Gilliland as real-life sisters Tegan and Sara Quin, respectively, Amazon Freevee’s ‘High School’ is based on the eponymous memoir of the Quin sisters. Developed by Clea DuVall and the Quin siblings, the young adult drama series narrates the ups and downs of their youth, as they explore the world of music and the changing culture of the 90s in America. The duo encounters personal and professional challenges as they go on a complex journey of self-discovery and passion. Their identities and romantic feelings are also explored in the story, which resembles the themes of teenage ambitions in ‘The Runarounds.’ The stories are linked by their visual and thematic flavors.
7. I’m In The Band (2009-2011)
Created by Michael B. Kaplan and Ron Rappaport, ‘I’m in the Band’ is a sitcom that chronicles a tale of friendship, redemption, and music. It narrates the experiences of a down-on-its-luck band that takes a chance on a young boy called Tripp Campbell (Logan Miller), by giving him the opportunity to join their band as a guitarist. What follows is a wild ride of music, friendship, and passion. The visual style of the show connects it to ‘The Runarounds.’ Both stories feature an exploration of friendships linked to the performance and passion of music. The transformative power of music is explored in both shows through the experiences of the characters.
6. The Naked Brothers Band (2007-2009)
The musical drama series ‘The Naked Brothers Band’ is based on the film ‘The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie,’ directed by Polly Draper, who is also the creator of the show. Told in the mockumentary style, it chronicles the experiences of Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff, who play themselves in the film, which is a combination of both fiction and reality, where some members play themselves, whereas others play imagined characters. The show deals with the ups and downs of a band, while also exploring the hilarious dynamics between the members. Akin to ‘The Runarounds,’ it deals with the ideas of music and passion, while also exploring the chaos in the lives of youngsters who bond due to their passion for music.
5. Big Time Rush (2009-2013)
Created by Scott Fellows, the young adult drama series ‘Big Time Rush’ follows the lives of Kendall Knight (Kendall Schmidt), James Diamond (James Maslow), Carlos Garcia (Carlos Pena Jr.), and Logan Mitchell (Logan Henderson). Interestingly, the characters are fictional versions of the actors whose portrayals add a sense of authenticity to the story. The nucleus of the show is its exploration of the adventures of the main characters who get the opportunity to form a music band after being approached by a music producer. The show traces their hilarious experiences as they go through the world of music together. On the lines of ‘The Runarounds,’ it deals with the elements of passion and friendship in an intricate manner. Despite the tonal differences, both shows examine the power of music and the complexities of bands in their own ways.
4. Bandish Bandits (2020-)
Prime Video’s Indian musical drama series ‘Bandish Bandits’ follows the lives of a classical singer called Radhe Rathod (Ritwik Bhowmik) and a pop singer named Tamanna Sharma (Shreya Chaudhry), who form an unlikely music team to take on the world. The show deals with the issues of legacy, talent, love, and competition. Crafted by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, it explores the dreams of the main characters and the complexities of their love story. Akin to ‘The Runarounds,’ it focuses on music as the primary theme, while also dealing with the emotional states of the main characters, who go to great lengths to prove their musical skills.
3. Kaya (2007)
Created by Deborah Joy LeVine, the drama series ‘Kaya’ revolves around the lives of Kaya (Danielle Savre), Don Lawson (Mike Dopud), Gunnar (Cory Monteith), and others as they navigate the ups and downs of their careers in music. What starts as a great journey of achievements soon leads to a scenario wherein an incident causes the group to disband. The emotional crux of the story lies in its depiction of the complexities of relationships between young adults and how passion and friendship clash. As the characters try to redeem themselves, they face issues related to ego, loyalty, and love. On the lines of ‘The Runarounds,’ the show deals with the lives of young people in intricate ways, while also exploring the nuances of music and its power to transform people.
2. The Get Down (2016-2017)
Netflix’s young adult drama series ‘The Get Down’ chronicles the culture of the 70s in New York City. It narrates the experiences and ambitions of a group of people who pursue their dreams through their foray into the world of hip-hop, disco, and punk. The atmospheric tale created by Stephen Adly Guirgis and Baz Luhrmann poignantly looks at the inception of modern music culture of America through the lives of Ezekiel ‘Books’ Figuero (Justice Smith), Shaolin Fantastic (Shameik Moore), Ra-Ra Kipling (Skylan Brooks), and others. Akin to ‘The Runarounds,’ it features young characters who forge their own path in life, while also looking at how music shapes culture and leads to genuine human connections.
1. Daisy Jones & The Six (2023)
Based on the novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Prime Video’s musical drama series ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ is created by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. It explores the complex lives of the members of a music band, including Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin). The nucleus of the show lies in its navigation of the trials and tribulations of the band, which ended just as it was reaching the peak of its fame in the 70s. After many years, the former band members go on a journey of difficult revelations about the past, which adds to the intensity of the narrative. The show is spiritually and thematically connected to ‘The Runarounds’ and its characters, due to its grounded portrayal of group dynamics and musical skills.
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