Will the series 'Run' achieve the laurels of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's show 'Fleabag'? The answer is obvious after watching the first episode.

This week, a new intriguing series titled 'Run' premiered in Russia. It is appealing for two reasons: one of the show's creators is the trendy and successful Phoebe Waller-Bridge (the mastermind behind the famous 'Fleabag'), and the cast brings together the increasingly in-demand Merritt Wever ('Marriage Story', 'Unbelievable') and the charming Domhnall Gleeson ('About Time', 'The Revenant').

If positive factors always aligned to deliver a top-tier result, we'd be living in a perfect world. Our world is far from perfect, just as the series 'Run' is far from being a true hit. But let's delve into it further.  

What About the Plot

The premise of the new HBO show, broadcast in Russia via the Amediateka service, is genuinely captivating. Two people who are attracted to each other made a pact: if one sends an SMS with the word 'run,' the other cannot refuse to meet. And, as you might guess, one of the characters invokes this agreement. After 15 years.

Problems, Problems, and More Problems

Does the plot description sound like you're in for an exciting journey and a new benchmark rom-com? Not quite. The first thing you encounter as a viewer is the unpleasantness of the titular characters' personalities, literally exuding a kind of neurosis. These are unlikeable people in every way: one is dissatisfied with her aimless life and abandons her two children at the first opportunity, while the other is an arrogant type few would want as a friend. Who would want to empathize with such characters? It's unclear.

And okay, that's only half the problem, which could be fixed by a series of situations involving the so-called transformation of personality during a shared journey. But no, the show's writers also decided to add completely pointless actions by the characters, unjustified even by absurd internal logic. I mean, guys don't rummage through their date's purse, and girls don't run to the bathroom for self-gratification 15 minutes after meeting.

You want to nitpick in almost every scene. Here, a train passes by urban landscapes, and a character has no cell reception. Nonsense? Absolutely. A desire to scatter hints about a future thriller storyline (calls from a mysterious assistant, the shrouded mystery of the characters' relationship, etc.)? No, too cheap. Attempts at an adventurous comedy? The debut episode doesn't have a single decent joke, and the forced slapstick, born of scriptwriting impotence, evokes not a smile but cringe. You won't find any wit, observation, or even mildly funny gags at the show's start. But there are references to Hitchcock's work, yeah, we viewers aren't fools.

Sometimes judging by the debut episode can be a thankless task, but with the series 'Run,' there's an immediate sense of unfounded pretentiousness. The new show's benchmarks are clearly the hit 'Fleabag,' brimming with insight, and 'Killing Eve,' with its eccentric tandem of mismatched characters, but such accolades are clearly not in the cards for this project. It's too chaotic, overly ambitious, and poorly written. It wouldn't be surprising if the plot later veers into detective territory and does so just as ineptly as it handles the comedic aspect.  

Trailer: