Misfits tells the unusual tale of a group of young offenders who, after being caught in an electrical storm during community service, develop an array of super powers and must come to terms with how to handle their bizarre new range of abilities. The concept is eccentric and lovably ridiculous, and its original feel mirrors the tone of Misfits as a whole.
The characters are forced into a variety of unusual situations and faced with a range of warped antagonists as they bond with each other through their shared experiences; the relationships they develop while confronting a town that has been reduced to mayhem are perhaps even more interesting than the plethora of odd events that they encounter along the way. This creates an interesting contrast between the show’s supernatural element and the realistic character development that is at the heart of Misfits.
Real Characters, Unreal Events
The main cast of the show consists of five central characters: the outspoken Nathan (Robert Sheehan), troubled athlete Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), sexually charged Alisha (Antonia Thomas), strong-willed Kelly (Lauren Socha) and shy introvert Simon (Iwan Rheon). The often conflicting personalities and egos that make up such a diverse group creates the opportunity for some fantastic dialogue, as the characters struggle to make themselves heard during their forced interaction through community service.
The reactive microcosm that is the result of placing such varied and troubled personalities together is one of the most entertaining aspects of the show, and allows certain actors to shine out as their characters change and develop. Robert Sheehan, for instance, dominates the screen and steals most of the scenes he is in, portraying the cocky Nathan in a performance that is as hilarious as it is believable. At the other end of the scale is Simon, whose shy personality often makes him the victim of Nathan’s jokes; Iwan Rheon’s intense performance and subtly changing portrayal of this character is both powerful and uplifting, as the audience sees Simon slowly emerge from his reclusive shell.
Superpowers and Personalities
As the show progresses, the audience see that the superpowers gained by the characters are also irrevocably intertwined with their respective personalities, attitudes and subconscious thoughts. This acts as not only an introduction to their characters, but also gives an insight into how they think of themselves in relation to society. Kelly’s concern for the way that people stereotype her as a ‘chav’ results in her being able to hear what people are thinking; Simon’s sense of isolation and of being ignored allows him to turn invisible; Nathan, a character who has an unshakeable confidence and belief in living for the moment, makes the discovery at the end of series 1 that his is immortal.
This theme of the relationship between the lifestyle of a character and their resulting power becomes slightly more tenuous in the second series, as the main cast encounter a host of different individuals whose neurotic tendencies and habits have resulted in some extremely bizarre powers – one character even has the special ability of being able to telepathically manipulate dairy products. Despite the show occasionally teetering on the brink of the ridiculous, even farcical plot points such as this are delivered with a sense of self parody and awareness; the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, and this definitely works in its favour, allowing the audience to relax and watch as events spiral out of control.
Misfits, Series 1 and 2 – Plot Progression and the Christmas Special
One foreseeable problem with Misfits lies in the nature of certain characters’ powers; Curtis’s ability to rewind time, for instance, means that certain situations (and in one case the entire content of an episode) can be reversed, giving the characters an easy escape which can be slightly frustrating for the viewer. However, this is obviously something the show’s creator Howard Overman has anticipated, with the conclusion of the Christmas Special seeing the main characters trade in their powers for something different.
Instead of being stuck with a dead-end power (like Alisha’s ability to cause an uncontrollable sexual attraction in anyone who touches her), the cast all sell their powers in the final episode, and are then given the option of buying back any power they like (with the exception of Curtis’s original time rewinding power, which has conveniently already been sold to someone else). The prospect of a new set of superpowers will hopefully prevent Misfits from growing stale, and leaves the door open to a wide range of possibilities in the confirmed third series – the question is, where will this original and innovative show be taken?
Misfits, Series 1 and 2 – Information
- Created by Howard Overman
- Starring Robert Sheehan, Iwan Rheon, Lauren Socha, Antonia Thomas and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
- Series 1 – 6 Episodes
- Series 2 – 6 Episodes and a Christmas Special
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