"Community Service Superheroes"
Misfits is British superhero comedy at its finest—teenagers on community service who get struck by lightning and develop powers that perfectly reflect their anxieties and flaws. Kelly can hear what people think about her (she hates it). Curtis can rewind time when he regrets a choice (he has many regrets). Alisha makes anyone who touches her want to have sex with her (no one can resist long enough to know her). Simon can turn invisible (he's ignored anyway). Nathan is immortal (and annoying, and refuses to accept it).
They're not heroes. They're ASBO kids—Antisocial Behavior Order offenders—doing community service in orange jumpsuits. They argue, they swear, they're terrible to each other. But when weird things happen in their London estate—and weird things happen constantly—they're the ones who deal with it, because no one else will.
The show's five seasons see major cast changes, but the original lineup is legendary. Robert Sheehan's Nathan is the breakout—a narcissist with no powers except immortality, the worst person in the world and somehow the funniest. When he leaves after season two, the show continues but never quite recovers his manic energy.
The powers are metaphors made visible. Curtis rewinds time because he destroyed his athletic career with one mistake. Simon turns invisible because he's been invisible his whole life. Alisha's power is literally predatory; learning to have relationships without it is her arc. The show uses superhero tropes to explore what it means to be young, damaged, and trying to figure out who you are.
It's crude, loud, and heartfelt—skins with superpowers, but smarter than that sounds.
Characters & Acting (8): The original cast is exceptional. Robert Sheehan's Nathan is unforgettable. The chemistry is perfect.
Conceptual Density (7): Powers as trauma metaphors. Each episode introduces new weirdness that expands the world.
Narrative Drive (7): Episode-by-episode weirdness with serialized character development. It moves.
"Episode 1" (S1E1) — The storm. The powers. The community service.
"Episode 6" (S1E6) — Season one finale. The reveal. Nathan falls.
"Episode 7" (S2E1) — Nathan returns. The immortality reveal. The vault.
US: Hulu
UK: Channel 4, Amazon Prime