Airing on E4 in the UK, Misfits is a science-fiction comedy-drama that follows a group of “young offenders” who, after a strange storm, are gifted with extraordinary powers. The problem? They’re still stuck doing community service and are forced to cover up the fact they killed their probation officer after the same strange storm drove him insane. Curtis, a former track star, can turn back time but not on command. Kelly, a tough girl with an attitude, can read people’s minds. When any man touches Alisha, they are sent into a crazed sexual frenzy. Simon can turn invisible, which reflects his lot in life of seemingly going unnoticed by everyone. Lastly, Nathan has no powers it seems and spends the majority of season one making ridiculous claims about what he can supposedly do.
Once again, I attribute this lovely find from “across the pond” to my wife Melissa, who apparently likes British television better than American television. At this rate however, she may have a very good reason to. I wasn’t expecting to like Misfits and honestly, until I watched the first episode, had no idea it was even mildly science-fiction related. The show itself, while dealing with the 20-something characters with superpowers, never really dwells too hard on that fact. It’s like a cross between X-Men and South Park, as the characters are all your typical people who enjoying drinking, partying, sex and just trying to get through life on a day to day basis. After the storm and the self-defense killing of their insane probation worker, Tony, the Misfits are put in a situation of trying to (pardon the pun) fly under the radar as they cover up his death from the police, their new probation worker Sally, and trying not to kill each other.
The great thing about these characters is that while they’re all “delinquents”, each character is different enough to hold your interest. They’re a group of people who under normal circumstances would never get along, but through their common problems find themselves bonding in their own unique way. Like any good ensemble cast, you enjoy seeing each one of them and find it hard to pick a favorite. Nathan is the funny one, Curtis the serious one, Alisha the sexy one, Simon the weird one, and Kelly the loud and abrasive one. You find a reason to like these otherwise unlikable characters. Misfits lives up to its name and gives you the social rejects that you can’t help but love.