Robert Sheehan
Antonia Thomas
Iwan Rheon
Lauren Socha
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett

Created by:
Howard Overman

2009-2013
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Channel 4
TV-14

“Misfits” is a British sci-fi-horror-comedy drama (yes, all of that). (It’s available for free via Hulu in this country.) It was created by Howard Overman (creator of BBC’s “Atlantis” and writer for BBC’s “Merlin”) and features delinquent teens who acquire supernatural powers after a freak electrical storm, which was accompanied by unnaturally large hail. This storm occurs during their court-imposed community service.

Stylistically, “Misfits” reminds me of “Attack the Block”; it’s similar to that movie in other ways, as well, except for the whole superpowers thing: Hand-held camera techniques abound, and it doesn’t shy away from explicit language. The pacing and writing are good, and the actors do a pretty good job of playing what seem to be common teenage character types: Curtis, the athlete; Simon, the quiet and awkward one; Kelly, the misunderstood one; Alisha, the promiscuous one; and Nathan, the jokester. (While all of the humor doesn’t work, Nathan provides most of the few funny moments in each episode.) Those types could be a bit more nuanced and imaginative, but, during the pilot, there are a few wrinkles thrown in to add a bit of depth to a few of them. I suspect that this will continue to happen as the series progresses. I hope that all of them will go from stock characters to individuals.

I like that “Misfits” starts before the teens discover that they’ve acquired powers, which include the ability to control time, the ability to hear other people’s thoughts, invisibility, some sort of mind control via touch, and immortality, a power that isn’t revealed until the final episode of the first season. That kind of beginning gives us the chance to go through their journey of discovery with them.

If you liked “Chronicle,” then “Misfits” might work for you; but “Misfits” isn’t on the same level as that film. If you liked “Attack the Block,” then “Misfits” will work for you. Its first episode, while not earth-shattering, is good, and it gets better and better as it progresses. I’m intrigued. …

After viewing all of season one (six episodes), I’m pleased to note that “Misfits” does develop into something with a bit of depth, and it has a great sense of timing. There are a lot of sexual references, but that fits the characters; at times, that can be annoying, though. Overall, this show is well-made and enjoyable.

Verdict: Very Good So Far

About: (Source: misfits)

When five young outsiders on Community Service get caught in a strange storm, they discover that they have developed superpowers.