Have you ever watched a show where, when you try to describe it to others, it always comes out sounding lame, and then you sit there saying “No, really, I swear, it’s so much better than it sounds”? Take this example of Glee - “It’s kinda like High School Musical. On crack. …Wait, where are you going? I promise, it’s awesome!”

Misfits‘ premise is very simple. Five twentysomethings have all been convicted of a crime and have been sentenced to community service. When they show up at a community center for it, a freak storm rolls in with frightening speed, sending down hail the size of basketballs. They struggle to get the door to the center unlocked, but not fast enough – all five are struck by lightning. When they come to, they discover (well, most of them) that they now each have a superpower. I promise, it’s AWESOME.

It’s like Heroes, except that all the characters are pretty profoundly screwed up. These are the LAST people you want with superpowers. They include:

• Curtis was a promising runner, being considered for the 2012 Olympics. This is, of course, when he decided to take up cocaine and got caught with it by a plainclothes cop at a club. When he wakes from the lightning strike, he finds that he has the ability to travel through time – but ONLY when he feels regret or guilt about the situation, and it’s not even completely within his control.



• Alisha is an incredibly sexy woman, and she knows it. She spends her time at clubs, getting drunk, sleeping around, and gossiping about anyone who does the same. She finds herself with the most double-edged power any of them have: when someone touches her skin, or she touches theirs, the other person becomes consumed with uncontrollable lust. If she has sex with them, they will be rightfully angry, because they didn’t truly consent. This power is ripe for abuse; think about it. You could walk right up to your biggest celebrity crush, and with one poke of your finger, you’re in… but you’ve just done something terrible to them. Alisha’s power is more of a curse, as she has to keep from touching anyone.



• Kelly is a chav (Americans, read: “white trash”) who is good-hearted, deep down, but you have to dig pretty hard. And if you call her a chav, she will bust in your teeth in an instant. In fact, she’ll bust your teeth in for a lot of things. She wakes up with the power to hear the thoughts of those around her – which is also more of a curse, because all she tends to hear is what others really think of her and guys being disgusting.



• Simon is a shy recluse. He reminds me of a rabbit; when approached by a human, they tremble, their eyes go wide, and they back up against their cage. Simon is very sweet and kind at heart, but does not know how to interact with others, which leads to him endlessly filming them on his camera phone instead. He wakes with the power to become invisible when he feels like he’s being ignored. It’s out of his control at first, but he becomes able to do it at will.



• Nathan. Ahh, Nathan. This show would not be half as much fun without the horribly offensive, foulmouthed, completely perverted, and yet adorable Nathan Young. He’s always in everyone else’s face, and has to be the center of attention at all times… even if that means insulting someone in a seriously disgusting manner to get it. If you asked this kid, “Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” he’d reply… Well, I know what he’d say, and I like you all too much to print it here. Strangely enough, he is the only one to wake up without a power – or does he have one he just hasn’t found yet?

This show is not about crimefighting, because, as Nathan and Simon put it:

Nathan: Our community service is nearly over. We need to look forward the future.
Simon: You think we should become criminals?
Nathan: No, we’re already criminals. I’m talking about becoming successful criminals. You know, the ones who make money and don’t get caught and have girlfriends with enormous breast implants.
Simon: I thought we’d use our powers to help people?
Nathan: Nah!

The show’s writing is absolutely brilliant. Its wit is razor-sharp, and the scripts have the rare ability to make you go from howling with laughter to serious drama to breaking your heart in a ten-minute span. Not a lot of shows can do that, but this one can.

That being said – this warning must be made. This is a show for adults ONLY. “Strong language” doesn’t begin to cover it, and there is only one part of the human body that they don’t show. (Take a guess.) Sex scenes are often very graphic. There are bits that I don’t think the South Park guys would touch with a ten-foot pole. So if you’re easily offended, stay away.

For the rest of you, though, this show is utterly fantastic and comes highly recommended. Season 1 contains 6 episodes, and Season 2 contains 6, plus a Christmas special that you can not miss. Literally. It’s pretty much the finale for that season and is one hell of a cliffhanger. Season 3, unfortunately, won’t be coming out until November of this year… and I, for one, am going to feel every minute of the wait.

Clips for your enjoyment (warning: strong language and all that). I couldn’t find a non-spoilery clip, so enjoy Robert Sheehan (Nathan) and Iwan Rheon (Simon) having a little fun screwing with a reporter’s head. This is just an interview, but the scene that Robert and Iwan put on could very well have been IN the show. It’s a good indicator of the series’ tone.

Note: Thanks to LadyT220 for for letting me borrow her header!

Also – if there’s anyone out there who watches that video and can tell me what Iwan is saying in Welsh, I’d LOVE to hear it.

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1. UK Viewing – Edwardians IN the Moon? Must be BBC4
2. UK Viewing – I Think I’ve Seen This Before
3. UK Viewing – You Can Ask Me Anything
4. UK Viewing – Giles and Sue and a Goat Called Geraldine
5. UK Viewing – That Almost Felt Like A Hiatus