TV Show Feature: Is “Misfits” worth watching anymore?

SPOILERS AHEAD. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE WATCHED SERIES 4 EPISODE 4.

This is the moment I dreaded the most. The moment when all of the original Misfits cast would be gone and soon replaced by a new cast. Here’s the deal: I love Misfits, ever since the first series which I managed to watch in its entirety in one night, I can’t tell you how many people I’ve made watch the show and the fact that all of them ended up loving it. Nathan, Kelly, Alisha, Simon, Curtis, the original cast with their powers, witty/snarky dialogue and crazy story lines that made the show worth watching. These characters had a backstory, a reason behind their powers, and as time moved on these powers changed but so did the series. Since I do not know the writers’ motives behind changing the powers, I assume it was to change the show up a bit, and see if it would be fun to see how the characters would develop with new abilities. The whole theme of “we have powers, but we’re teenagers that have no clue what we’re doing” seemed great for the first, second and I’m even going to say third, but with the departure of the character of Nathan at the beginning of the third series, it seemed like the show’s most vital member was gone. I’m not going to lie, I love Rudy, and it took me a while because I was still kind of mourning Nathan and just mad that he wasn’t on the show, but if anything he is the best character after him. Rudy brought something to the show, a guy with his two selves, showing us how dynamic an actor like Joe Gilgun can be. However, at the end of the third season, when Alisha and Simon’s characters would end up in this never-ending loop, we’re back to square one and to the question: is this show worth watching anymore?

Needless to say, I tuned in for the premiere of the fourth series, already knowing that the character of Kelly would not come back for reasons beyond her character, actually in her real life that would prevent her from coming to the show. At this point, I didn’t care, I thought that maybe, maybe if there was something huge happening in series 4 that Curtis and Rudy would totally be able to carry the show, I even thought that Seth would probably end up becoming a regular on the show with the addition of  the new characters: Finn and Jess. Of course, Seth was discarded as a cast member, instead Curtis, Rudy, Finn and Jess seemed to be working fine, and even the new probation worker gave me hope that he would be ruthless enough to make it a good show. I enjoyed the first three episodes, not loved them like the first two series, but cared enough for the characters to watch the next one. It all changed with the fourth episode of Series 4.

Episode 4 of Series 4 is when the original cast becomes part of the past, when those characters that once made me love Misfits are all gone, with Curtis’ death; there is no denying about the new direction of the show. Is it worth watching? Can Rudy carry the rest of the series? We knew from the moment we found out who was behind Super Hoodie and what would be the end of Alisha and Simon’s character. The episode of “Vegas Baby” was complete crap and a really cheap way to let Nathan’s character go, but I forgive Robert Sheehan because he’s going to be in “The Mortal Instruments” (yay!). Curtis’ death felt to me as if there wasn’t anything else they could do; besides the fact that Curtis died from his own power. A part of me hoped that the show would find a way around it, that someone that was struck by the storm would save Curtis, but it was too late. Curtis and Rudy’s last talk actually brought me to tears. Rudy didn’t have to split from his other self; he was actually showing his true feelings and asking his friend for a last pint of beer.

As a Misfits fan, you have no idea how upset I am about the original cast leaving, and I really hope that if by next episode they don’t get their, excuse my French,  shit together, this show might just be over. It won’t even be about powers anymore. How many times have we seen Finn use his power? Before the cast members would actually use their powers, or at least a whole episode would be dedicated to them. The whole idea that death isn’t even that big of a deal is what makes Misfits unique, the fact that these teenagers can go around killing people and move on is what makes this show so much fun.

Misfits has a whole new feel, it isn’t about powers anymore according to the last preview, it’s more about how these kids deal with the consequences of their decisions. Is Alex gay? Is Rudy sleeping with Finn’s sister? These are their concerns now.

Episode 4 Series 4 might have been both the saddest and the funniest episode in a while. For a moment I thought that the show might have even reached its new peak with the new cast, yet this was not the case.  I’m not asking for an alternate reality in which all of the original characters come back because that would just be overkill, I just hope that the writers, directors, producers, crew, anyone working on this show has something in store for us worth watching, characters like the ones from the first series that we cared so deeply about.

I’m giving you a shot to redeem yourself Misfits.

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