Marvel's Runaways Star Ariela Barer Opens Up About Activism, Anxiety, And Representation

The good superhero stories aren't actually about people with cool superpowers. While that's definitely part of the winning formula — Marvel's $18 billion at the worldwide box office doesn't lie — it's not the most key. Because a good superhero story is actually just a good human story; it's someone struggling with a very-real problem, be it inequality, the universal pangs of adolescence, or, in Gertrude Yorkes' case, anxiety.


In Season 2 of Marvel's Runaways, premiering on Hulu on December 21, Gertrude — or Gert, for short — comes face to face with her anxiety. Right now that Gert and her rag-tag categorize of superhero SoCal companions are on the run immediately after being framed for murder by their supervillain parents and their cult-like charity referred to Because the Pride, that leaves little time for the teenage activist give attention to her mental and emotional health. Though fiercely independent, Gert's journey this season will find her initial up more to her companions — and her new maybe-boyfriend Chase (Gregg Sulkin).


"Last season was about her learning to open up and be susceptible, and right now, it's also about being independent without pushing people away, learning that healthy in-between," actor Ariela Barer told MTV News.


And it's finding that healthy in-between that's so key to Gert's story as the perfect superheroes never stop learning. (Otherwise, we'd be stuck with some very boring and insufferably righteous heroes.) In a conversation with MTV News, Barer opened up about Gert's mental and emotional health journey this season, being a young activist, and putting a label on Gert and Chase's relationship.


MTV News: Right now that the Runaways are officially on the run in Season 2, it's a very exhilarating place to be, storytelling-wise. Did you guys feel that new energy any time whenever you were filming those first few episodes? Because it's a different vibe than Season 1.


Ariela Barer: Certainly! I don't think we've ever had so several categorize scenes. Basically every scene in the initial couple episodes, if not the majority, are sort scenes, which is certainly a new dynamic. On the positive, I love being with the sort that we have, and it's so much fun on set. And then on the downside, those scenes take forever to film, so the days were longer. Although I also feel like we bonded next-level this season, way more than we ever got to last season, which was visible in the chemistry.


MTV News: So the order chat got even more insane.


Barer: It was very active.


MTV News: What's your most overused emoji in the order chat?


Barer: I think perhaps the upside down smiley face. That one that's like, "I'm fine. I'm not dying." I think Lyrica [Okano] and I were pretty heavy handed on Bitmojis as soon as the order chat first began. Nevertheless then I got a new phone, and my Bitmojis got deleted, and then that just died.


MTV News: In Season 1, we visualize Gert's passion for social justice issues. And in Season 2, we find her confronted, quite literally, with issues like poverty, homelessness, and inequality. She's seeing things from the other side right now. What was that like?


Barer: It's something that I think every young activist can relate to, particularly those who come from positions of privilege. People use their privilege to speak up and make a change, which is fantastic, and I support that totally, yet the reality of the scenario is routinely going to be a lot more intense than what you read about online. I've even confronted this. I work with a company in L.A. That eats homeless people whenever a month in downtown, and going there really is usually the most intense experience. It's like, I'm online, and I'm mobile in different activist circles, however then just sitting down for a day and talking to people is usually different, and thus, so, so efficient in its own way. Gert comes from way more privilege than I come from. So for her, it's an even bigger culture shock to right now be on the streets.


MTV News: Gert's struggling a lot also, because she's off her anxiety medication. You visualize the effects of that, especially in those first few episodes. I know that's a crucial story line for you.


Barer: That was something I took very seriously, and I knew about this plot line from last year. It was actually going to be a Season 1 plot line. It was customary in our pilot, and then they realized it could be much more efficient once we went on the run, so I was in the know about this per year before we began shooting it. I remember talking to [series creators] Josh [Schwartz] and Stephanie [Savage] As soon as I first noticed out about it and asking them if she might would be off her medication for a while, and if there would be some resolution and growth within not having her medication. The reality of the scenario is that a lot of people don't have access to mental health care, especially homeless youths. A lot of people don't take it as seriously as physical health care. So I wanted that to be dealt with head on.


MTV News: And it's handled responsibly.


Barer: They were very responsible and in the know about handling it. I was really happy what this plot line ends up meaning for Gert, and for Gert and Chase. There was a scene in Episode 2 that ended up being cut, that I think speaks volumes about where she is, and where Gert and Chase are, because he says something about like, "Don't worry, I'm gonna be here to protect you." And she says something like, "I don't need to be protected. I just need you to be here with me." It's her own battle that she's coming to terms with, yet she also is taking help from the people around her.


MTV News: Some days you just need someone to listen.


Barer: And she's not pushing people away, yet she's also not fully dependent on the people around her. She's a single who can also connect with people.


MTV News: Speaking of Gert and Chase, in case you had to define their relationship status in Season 2, what would it be?


Barer: It really depends at what point in the season you would ask me that question. It's both of those learning to prepare an effort and be segment of a relationship in a new way, to not routinely have their best interest in mind, nevertheless alternatively have the other in mind, which is very sweet. And so they both learn a lot about each other and themselves, nevertheless I couldn't give you a definitive answer about their relationship, at least not yet.


MTV News: What about at the very begin of Season 2?


Barer: I would mention at the very begin there needs to be the "define a relationship" conversation. They both haven't nevertheless learned how to be weak together. They've tried it. It went OK last season, at best. So right now they're figuring it out for real. They realize they both feel very seriously about one another... It's vague, nevertheless it's an answer!


MTV News: Right now that you Are nearly ready 2, you know Gert at this point. Do you feel like you could supporter on her behalf with the writers and with the showrunners?


Barer: Absolutely. Luckily, this team of writers that Josh and Stephanie have put with each other are astonishing. It's a very diverse room with equal parts boys and ladies, and people of color, and every character has someone in the writers' room on their side. For me, I have Tracy, who's astonishing. We have a lot of conversations, and she is feminist, and she is a relationship expert, and she is a woman of color. And her story's astonishing. I'm an enormous Tracy fan. So she is a really excellent resource on set, and Josh and Stephanie, themselves, they're very informed people. So I never feel like I really have to stand up for Gert, however it is nice have the ability to have conversations with them about Gert and her story.


MTV News: That open dialogue is important.


Barer: There were some writers who came to me privately and talked to me about their struggles with anxiety. It was cool knowing that I had people like that in the room. It was really nice knowing that we each had people in the writers' room who were fighting for us and for these stories.


MTV News: In general, would you mention Season 2 is darker than Season 1?


Barer: Absolutely. The scenes that we explore are certainly darker. Lyrica some of the darkest work. The poor girl was going a little bit crazy by the end of the season, yet it was so worth it. I hung out with her yesterday, and we were reflecting on it, and just so excited to watch it, because it certainly took a toll with how dark it gets, although also from what I've seen, just little scenes here and there, I am so excited. And she did a wonderful job, and thus does Allegra [Acosta], who also gets some pretty intense material to work with. They're both just incredible.


MTV News: Molly is usually going through it!


Barer: Nevertheless Molly. She is a tough cookie.


MTV News: I feel like so several young ladies visualize themselves in Gert. Do you feel that way, too?


Barer: I love the fan base that's gathered around her. It's really nice that they seem to have not only noticed Gert and then some sense of representation in her, nevertheless then they have noticed a community in every other, and it's very heartwarming to be able to see the online fan base that Gert has, and that I have because of her.


MTV News: I really hope she's inspiring fans to dye their hair purple. I recently dyed my hair pink, and it's liberating.


Barer: Oh my God. That's so cool. I actually ran into someone on the street recently who'd purple hair, and I found it. I was like, "That's cool." And then she walked up to me, and was like, "I love Gert." And I was like, "Yes, it's real."