Misfits

  

"Misfits comes from the UK, is filled with unattractive and very annoying characters and is essentially Skins meets Heroes. So why do we find it so strangely compelling?" This is a quote taken from a review from Boxcutters and I think neatly sums up the Channel 4 show. I repeatedly saw it advertised on youtube but had been told that it wasn't good so it took me a while to finally watch and when I did I was torn as to whether or not the show was good or bad. Of course labeling a show good or bad comes with consequences and writing off a show completely doesn't account for some of the good points. Can a show ever be wholly bad or good? But enough of the philosophical lesson what was my reaction to the show.

I'm of the opinion close to Boxcutters, Misfits is a show that has taken a possible cast of Skins and meshed it with the plot of heroes with both pitfalls and triumphs. The series begins with a group of kids or rather young adults but really they all look so young that its hard to see them as in their 20s or maybe its the way they act that makes it seem weird that their supposed to be in their 20s. This bunch of misfits are together for community service and are caught in a freak storm which gives them special powers (Much like the solar eclipse from Heroes). As the series progresses we find out which characters have which power leaving Nathan who is immortal for the end. Simon (Iwan Rheon) turns invisible, Kelly (Lauren Socha) is telepathic, Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is able to rewind time and see things before they happen eventually also going into the future and Alisha (Antonia Thomas) who has the stupidest power to make people extremely attracted to her which is eventually more of a burden than anything because the people she touches get so wrapped up in the sexual frenzy they try to rape her.

Unlike Heroes and more in line with Skins the series isn't focused on the superhero aspect of their powers and they actually end up killing two people who threaten them, first physically and second by finding out about the first killing. They group isn't necessarily evil in superhero terms but they aren't golden either. The first series lacked direction a bit. It was like the writers didn't know what to do with these kids who had these powers that was something different from what has already been explored. The first series is really all about them killing their first community officer and then the second one finding out about it. The series ends with the "death" of Nathan at the hands of an ulter-conservative group controlled by someone else with powers.

The second series is where it all gets rather interesting. A masked man enters the scene saving different characters along the way. Alisha finds out that is is Simon from the future who has come back to save her so the future he knows will survive. Alisha who had previously been seeing Curtis breaks off their relationship as she falls for the future Simon. Thankfully Alisha's character gets more interesting as before she was just eye candy who was obsessed with sex but couldn't have it. Her relationship with Curtis was strange and they fell into a routine of masturbating in front of each other. Not exactly a fulfilling sex life which is ultimately their failing as a couple. Future Simon for some unexplained reason is able to touch her and their relationship doesn't take long to take off. She quickly falls of Future Simon but is conflicted when he tells her that she needs to love the present Simon so he can become the Future Simon she first fell in love with. It's a nice little love story that brought some fresh air and purpose to the series.

After Future Simon dies, the series continues with more and more people stepping forward who have powers and it become a national and in fact global phenomenon. Of course you have your evil people who are initially praised and then overlooked as more interesting powers come forward. Namely the guy who can move milk and dairy products which seems cool at first but when a girl comes forward who can heal with a touch he uses his power for evil instead of good. All is eventually righted.

The Christmas special finds a man who can take away powers and pays people for it. Alisha is the first to jump at the chance to help her budding romance with present-Simon and they are now living together in Future Simon's flat. Nathan takes up with a pregnant girl he meets and sells his power so he can help support her. All of them sell their abilities at the urging of Alisha but then Curtis's new girlfriend who had inherited a power after a heart transplant dies and Curtis is unable to save her. They return to the man to regain their powers but they don't necessarily get the same power, for example Curtis's power has already been bought by someone else and Alisha's power was bought by a corrupt priest whom they kill.

Before the start of the new series and with the news that Nathan (Robert Sheehan) is not returning channel 4 did a short film showing that Nathan had taken the power of a magician and is caught and put in jail for cheating a casino in Vegas. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he came back, at least there's a possibility of his coming back as he didn't die without his immortality. It also introduces the new guy who is taking over for Nathan.

I do think that the series has potential and I enjoyed the first two series although at times I felt like it had little direction the characters made up for it by being interesting.


Nathan was the most fun and he'll be hard to replace but as the series progressed I found myself drawn more towards Simon and I love what they have done with his character and his growing self confidence. However, we've seen his death so I know it's coming, although time travel can be tricky so it may be a long time coming of it could be in this next series. I'll keep my eye on it.