I tried it out because a couple of my friends recommended it once or twice, and I was finally like, "Eh, I've got nothing better to do." So I watched an episode.
I didn't fall in love immediately. It's not like that. It's not one of those things. It just... it was a well-written pilot, but it was really unexpectedly, um, crude (there's really no denying it, though it mostly only goes back to a single character - thing is, that single character is always talking) and it threw me off-balance, so I had to watch another episode to see whether I, you know, appreciated the fact that it threw me off-balance or not. And it turns out I did appreciate it because I've watched the entire first season in like three days.
Basically, the idea is that there are a few young offenders who were sentenced to community service. Then, on the first day of doing that, they get caught up in this freak storm, and in the lightning strike, they all get powers... powers. But the interesting thing is that the powers aren't all random and super-hero. They're more like... they have more to do with the characters themselves. The characters are basically given the powers that turn their greatest weaknesses and insecurities into strengths. So, the girl who's always self-conscious and worrying what people think about her gets the power to hear people's thoughts. The boy who was bullied and rejected his whole life gets the power of invisibility. The guy who lives in regrets and guilt has the power to turn back time and fix his mistakes. Things like that.
So guess what, guys? It's character driven! Guess what? I have a real weakness for character driven things! Literally every major obsession I've ever had was because of characters, and the relationships between the characters, and them being flawed but understandable and that's basically the driving force of this show.
And there's also action. And suspense. And laughs. And so much sex. Like, a lot of sex. And references to sex. And sex jokes. Because it's British TV, and apparently in Britain you can literally show anything you want on TV. Thanks, Britain!
What I'm really enjoying about this show is that I haven't yet decided whether or not I like these characters yet. I know that sounds lame and contradictory, but I'm loving it. It makes them so much more human. One of the main characters, Nathan, is the comic relief character, right? He makes me laugh all the time and I love him for that. But he's also such an asshole. Such a freaking jerk. Because he's always taking jokes too far. All the time. And he makes me mad. But I love the fact that he has such an obvious flaw, you get me? And so then, when he's vulnerable, I just..... complex characters make me melt inside.
Also he has the cutest face in the history of television and an Irish accent and he's such a freaking goof and god he's such a crude jerk I'm concerned with how attached I am to him.
But just:
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| Ruth: Grow up. Nathan: |
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| Nathan: I'm so pleased to be here. I was such a loser. All the drugs, the sex, *fake laughs*, all that fast food. I was so miserable. Kurtis: I hear you. You were such an annoying idiot. Nathan: |
I just love how wonderfully flawed all the characters are. I'm in love with how it's written. But I mean, you sort of get the feeling that, even though they can be not-so-nice to each other at times (I'm looking at you, Nathan, you don't need to bully Simon all the freaking time he's clearly insecure you asshole) you do sort of get the feeling that, you know, they mean well.
That's pretty much my main weakness. Y'know, flawed characters trying to be good people. I actually wrote a post on it that I haven't posted yet because writer's block is brutal, yo.
But that's the main thing. The characters are just so beautifully, fantastically...... imperfect. And I find myself craving watching them. Because I just, it's so nice to see characters who are realistically selfish, and realistically insecure, but they're trying and it's just good stuff.
Also it's pretty much hilarious. Like, there was this one scene where they needed to distract their probation worker so she wouldn't see something, and they don't even have time to come up with a plan, so Nathan just like jumps out from behind a bush and nails her windshield with a brick while she's standing right there.
Sally: What the hell are you doing?!
Nathan: It's just... pure, mindless vandalism!
Sally: What is the matter with you? Are you mentally deficient!?
Nathan: If I was mentally deficient, I'd have missed. Check that out. Bull's eye.
And it's basically the funniest thing ever.
But there are also serious moments, like I pretty much almost cried during that first Simon-centric episode, and that was, what, five episodes in? Maybe four? You get into it pretty quickly. And they've all got, like, their own very distinct personalities and it's just really good and well-written. So much so that I have resigned myself to the incessant sex jokes in order to allow myself to enjoy it, and believe me, sex jokes are not my favourite.
Like, I'm not going to deny that the show can be crude and vulgar.... extremely so. But what I like about it is that it's not, like, for shock value. It's not just like "Look how edgy we are, we've talked about masturbation and used the F word 37 times!" It's not like it's delighting in its vulgarity. It seems sort of more genuine. Like, it's just how these people talk, because of the people they associate with and the backgrounds they come from, and I don't know, it just seems justified when it comes from a place that's real. It's about characterization, and staying true to the characters, I suppose, and while incessant sex jokes are not something I tend to respect, staying true to characters despite possible offense taken and flaws and unlikability and things like that........ it's honest story-telling, and that's something I do respect. You see what I'm saying?
It's all about story-telling. That's the point I've managed to dance around for a good six paragraphs. It's good story-telling. And I will always like something that shows good story-telling. I like learning from them.
Anyways. Misfits. Worth watching, man, if you can get past the vulgarity. Really good show. I'm really enjoying it. (Probably not for much longer because the seasons are like eight episodes long and there are only four of them. Curse you, Britain, and your notorious British brevity!)
Yep. So that's a thing. Can't think of a good way to end this post. Just.... thanks for reading, I suppose. Uh. See ya. (It's past my bedtime, okay?)
