Today I’d like to talk to you all about a quirky little show from across the pond that may have gone under most of your radars – Mostly went under mine too, I watched the first episode and then never bothered to keep up. A friend recommended I give it another go and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it.
Misfits is a British television series about a group of young people forced to work together doing community service as a part of their probations (they’ve all committed various offenses which are explored during the first season.) Before they even begin, they, along with their parole officer and various other people in their town, are caught in a freak storm which imbues them with super-powers. Not the most fascinating premise, on the surface. Just knowing that, a jaded comic fan (or Heroes fan) might be quick to dismiss the show but they manage to keep it interesting.
For one thing, the storm which empowers them turns their Probation Officer into an insane berserker. Who they then kill. And bury under a bridge.
Right off that bat we’ve got a group of characters who aren’t bonded together because they find themselves with super-powers, or an evil organization after them, or a desire to save the world: they stick together because they’ve killed someone and desperately don’t want to get caught. While having a slightly episodic nature, the overall plot of the first season is them trying to keep their asses covered.
There’s none of that “how do we use our powers” or “where do they come from” nonsense, and their encounters with other super-powered beings aren’t grandiose brawls, they’re often very simple and easily resolved: There’s a girl who makes people she’s mad at go bald, a guy who runs around naked and barking like a dog, a girl who can force her views on others with her voice.
With “villains” like that, obviously the show’s got to rest on the strength of it’s characters (and the writing, which isn’t bad at all)
First up there’s Curtis (played by Nathan Stewart-Jarret) who has the coolest power in the bunch, re-winding time. Aside from Alicia, he’s the only character who has a first season episode dedicated to the difficulties he’s having with his powers (it’s also the best episode of the season and a damn good time-travel story.) His power only activates under moments of extreme emotional distress.
Then there’s Nathan (played by Robert Sheehan,) is a huge jackass and the only character who doesn’t seem to have a power, something he never stops whining about. As you would expect, behind his wise-cracks and buffonery he’s really got a heart of gold.
Next up is Kelly (played by Lauren Socha.) She’s got the power to read minds, is a bit of a chav, and speaks in the most ridiculous accent I’ve ever heard. Even for a British person.
Alicia (played by Antonia Thomas) is the only character of the group really cursed by their ability. Her power drives any man that touches her into a sexual frenzy.
Rounding out the cast is Simon (played by Iwan Rheon) has the power of invisibility and is probably the closest thing the group has to a super-villain waiting to happen. In any other story, Simon is the kind of guy you’d expect to shoot up a school or be plotting some sort of terrorist bombing.
Most of the fun of the show is watching the characters interact with one another, the powers are sometimes handled as an afterthought or used for humor (Nathan, for instance, has a hilarious sexual liaison with someone who’s appearance was dramatically altered by the storm and begins to reverse itself mid-coitus.)
I wish I could say more to sell you guys on this show, but I’d hate to give everything away. Hit up Amazon and pick up the first six epidsode season on DVD. I know some of you out there are jonesing for a new show about people with super-powers, especially since Heroes left the airwaves and I know for damn sure No Ordinary Family isn’t cutting for you guys.
Give this new show a whirl, you might be pleasantly surprised.
