Mifits Season #1
Jan. 22nd, 2011 11:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatWell, I've now watched season one and the first episode of season 2 of Misfits on my lap-top. About seven episodes in all. Will state that after watching the British series Misfits - the American series The Cape was unwatchable and bloody stupid.
Highly subversive series, Misfits - they do the exact opposite of most of these shows. There's one episode about a virtuous girl who has the power to make other teens decide to become virtuous too. Nathan, one of the Misfits, infilterates the virtue cult that she's set up and holds her at gun-point, while the others scream. It's the exact opposite set up of the cliche - normally it's the superhero coming in and stopping the guy with the gun, here, the superhero has the gun and is taking out the virtuous character who has turned all the other teens into virtuous zombies. Black comedy at its finest. Here's an example of some of the hilarious dialogue: "Can we stop killing our probation workers!"
While the American superhero genre (and I mean all American superhero comics there are no exceptions at the moment of which I'm aware) is incredibly formulaic, often cliche, and derivative...the Brits have actually found a way to do a twist on it. Not surprising, they tend to be more cynical regarding the genre as a whole and the concept of hero/superhero than Americans are as far as I can tell.
At any rate if you like subversive and asburdist black humor, this may be for you. It is rather crude, reminds me a little bit of Benny Hill, BlackAdder, Skins and Coupling in regards to the sexual humor.
Unlike most superhero or shows about people who obtain super-powers, this show focuses on how that power empowers and cripples them, how it is a natural projection of their flaws or emotional issues.
*Alisha can elicit feelings of lust whenever a man touches her. He touches her and he wants to well
have sex with her right at that moment. He's overcome with the urge. Often wanting to rape her.
Prior to getting the powers - Alisha is shown as really coming on to men. Wearing push-up bra, putting on the makeup, making with the moves. Almost as if she thinks her ability to be sexually attractive to men is all she has going for her - is her power. When she obtains this power literally, and it's taken to its extreem, she hates it and doesn't see it as a power at all. Eventually stating - this is bullshit. I thought it was the most important thing...but it isn't. It's meaningless and worthless.
*Kelly - can hear thoughts, but she also has to deal with hearing every negative thing people think about her. Her own insecurities echoed in other's minds. "You thinking I'm a chaff right?" Is taken to it's literal level - you really are thinking that !
*Simon - who feels invisible to everyone, literally can become invisible, but no one tends to notice when he vanishes. He wanders amongst them unseen and unheard, visible or not.
The assorted conflicts and/or villians - are other people affected by the storm. An 82 year old woman, who was wild in her youth but has never married or had children, and is lonely, regains her youth for a brief period of time - is actually 20 and shags a young guy, reliving those wild years, until he discovers she's an 82 year old woman and she shifts back. Or a shape-shifter, who can become anyone, but is in reality a mentally unstable schizophrenic who feels she is everyone. A virtuous woman who is made fun of for being virtuous, has the power to compell others to be like her.
What might have been cliche, is actually not, its twisted ever so slightly, providing new commentary on old themes.
The acting is tremendously good. And unlike American tv shows of this type, the actors aren't all pretty models who look alike. They actually look like ordinary working class kids, with different body types, accents, and sizes. The women have curves. No one is buff. They don't look like they have personal trainers and makeup artists. British tv as a result - often has a layer of reality to it that eludes American television. An extra grittiness that you don't find except on cable.
As is the writing, the dialogue is consistent, the characterization consistent, the plot builds, the B plot supports the A plot. And it's fairly tight and logical in structure. I don't think I've watched a superhero tv show that I can say that about.
Granted, it comes across as a tad sexist, and the whole storyline with Alisha is a bit tough to swallow, but it gets better and they do address it in an interesting and relatable and realistic manner. The female characters are tough and clever, and relatable. Everyone is layered.
I'm hoping the US never decides to remake it - because they'd strip it of what makes it interesting.
What's the plot - a bunch of juvenile delinguets doing community service get struck by lightening from a weird storm cloud, which along with other people in the area, causes them to develop odd powers which relate directly to their emotional issues or insecurities. Unfortunately for them, their probation officer who is starting to break down and beginning to hate his charges - thinking rehabilitating them is useless - turns into an insane psychotic monster, a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde after the storm. Attempting to kill them all, superstrong and supermental. Then he switches back again, after having a spasm.
The series feels at times like horror and has a lot of horror elements tied up with it. The crudeness may turn some people off - didn't bug me. Mostly because I can see these kids talking like that. They are blue collar street kids - that's how they talk. And it's not used in a way that belittles them or makes fun of them. If anything it is a defense mechanism, a coping skill - a way of telling the world to fuck the hell off. See - it's how the language that is used that is important to me. I find films like The Hangover unwatchable - because they are belittling the act, the characters, and feel embarrassing to me. But shows like Misfits - the humor feels clever, wry, and a depiction of the painful human condition.
Gripping little series. It slowly sucks you in. And apparently I'm sticking to my cred - I adore cult tv shows...sad, but true.
Highly subversive series, Misfits - they do the exact opposite of most of these shows. There's one episode about a virtuous girl who has the power to make other teens decide to become virtuous too. Nathan, one of the Misfits, infilterates the virtue cult that she's set up and holds her at gun-point, while the others scream. It's the exact opposite set up of the cliche - normally it's the superhero coming in and stopping the guy with the gun, here, the superhero has the gun and is taking out the virtuous character who has turned all the other teens into virtuous zombies. Black comedy at its finest. Here's an example of some of the hilarious dialogue: "Can we stop killing our probation workers!"
While the American superhero genre (and I mean all American superhero comics there are no exceptions at the moment of which I'm aware) is incredibly formulaic, often cliche, and derivative...the Brits have actually found a way to do a twist on it. Not surprising, they tend to be more cynical regarding the genre as a whole and the concept of hero/superhero than Americans are as far as I can tell.
At any rate if you like subversive and asburdist black humor, this may be for you. It is rather crude, reminds me a little bit of Benny Hill, BlackAdder, Skins and Coupling in regards to the sexual humor.
Unlike most superhero or shows about people who obtain super-powers, this show focuses on how that power empowers and cripples them, how it is a natural projection of their flaws or emotional issues.
*Alisha can elicit feelings of lust whenever a man touches her. He touches her and he wants to well
have sex with her right at that moment. He's overcome with the urge. Often wanting to rape her.
Prior to getting the powers - Alisha is shown as really coming on to men. Wearing push-up bra, putting on the makeup, making with the moves. Almost as if she thinks her ability to be sexually attractive to men is all she has going for her - is her power. When she obtains this power literally, and it's taken to its extreem, she hates it and doesn't see it as a power at all. Eventually stating - this is bullshit. I thought it was the most important thing...but it isn't. It's meaningless and worthless.
*Kelly - can hear thoughts, but she also has to deal with hearing every negative thing people think about her. Her own insecurities echoed in other's minds. "You thinking I'm a chaff right?" Is taken to it's literal level - you really are thinking that !
*Simon - who feels invisible to everyone, literally can become invisible, but no one tends to notice when he vanishes. He wanders amongst them unseen and unheard, visible or not.
The assorted conflicts and/or villians - are other people affected by the storm. An 82 year old woman, who was wild in her youth but has never married or had children, and is lonely, regains her youth for a brief period of time - is actually 20 and shags a young guy, reliving those wild years, until he discovers she's an 82 year old woman and she shifts back. Or a shape-shifter, who can become anyone, but is in reality a mentally unstable schizophrenic who feels she is everyone. A virtuous woman who is made fun of for being virtuous, has the power to compell others to be like her.
What might have been cliche, is actually not, its twisted ever so slightly, providing new commentary on old themes.
The acting is tremendously good. And unlike American tv shows of this type, the actors aren't all pretty models who look alike. They actually look like ordinary working class kids, with different body types, accents, and sizes. The women have curves. No one is buff. They don't look like they have personal trainers and makeup artists. British tv as a result - often has a layer of reality to it that eludes American television. An extra grittiness that you don't find except on cable.
As is the writing, the dialogue is consistent, the characterization consistent, the plot builds, the B plot supports the A plot. And it's fairly tight and logical in structure. I don't think I've watched a superhero tv show that I can say that about.
Granted, it comes across as a tad sexist, and the whole storyline with Alisha is a bit tough to swallow, but it gets better and they do address it in an interesting and relatable and realistic manner. The female characters are tough and clever, and relatable. Everyone is layered.
I'm hoping the US never decides to remake it - because they'd strip it of what makes it interesting.
What's the plot - a bunch of juvenile delinguets doing community service get struck by lightening from a weird storm cloud, which along with other people in the area, causes them to develop odd powers which relate directly to their emotional issues or insecurities. Unfortunately for them, their probation officer who is starting to break down and beginning to hate his charges - thinking rehabilitating them is useless - turns into an insane psychotic monster, a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde after the storm. Attempting to kill them all, superstrong and supermental. Then he switches back again, after having a spasm.
The series feels at times like horror and has a lot of horror elements tied up with it. The crudeness may turn some people off - didn't bug me. Mostly because I can see these kids talking like that. They are blue collar street kids - that's how they talk. And it's not used in a way that belittles them or makes fun of them. If anything it is a defense mechanism, a coping skill - a way of telling the world to fuck the hell off. See - it's how the language that is used that is important to me. I find films like The Hangover unwatchable - because they are belittling the act, the characters, and feel embarrassing to me. But shows like Misfits - the humor feels clever, wry, and a depiction of the painful human condition.
Gripping little series. It slowly sucks you in. And apparently I'm sticking to my cred - I adore cult tv shows...sad, but true.
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no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 02:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 12:26 pm (UTC)The word is 'chav' BTW - which may derive from a Rom word meaning youth, or from various acronyms.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 02:58 pm (UTC)Thanks for this reply.
I couldn't remember Curtis's name (so left him off the list). But you're right his ability to turn back time is rather fitting to the fact that he lost his career. And the time travel bit actually works - as character progression, because his first inclination is to change his life to his benefit, get his career back - but it results in the deaths of his new friends, so he turns it back again, saving Sam (the girl he felt guilty about) but not himself. His power is based on his guilt.
And I love, love, how the writer depicts the hopelessness amongst these young people - and how their "fuck you" attitude is their way of coping with it, making it work. It has a sort of Anthony Burgass Clockwork Orange vibe, although far more understated.
"Chav" ? I got the feeling it meant low-life from how it's being used as an insult or in a derogatory manner?
Thanks!!!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 03:10 pm (UTC)Another advocacy group -PTC - is also heavily responsible for it.
See an article about how the PTC went after CW for an ad campaign on Gossip Girl - http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/11/05/parental-advocacy-group-slams-cw-hit-gossip-girl-intense-sexual-imagery/.
As a result, networks have tight rules and standards they have to follow regarding broadcasting. And they aren't logical. There was a huge fuss over showing naked butts in NYPD Blue, yet no problem at all with a graphic shoot-out in the same show. Apparently graphic violence doesn't phase the PTC, but graphic sex or sexual content makes them nervous. I wonder about people.
Same with Buffy - the PTC was fine as long as Buffy was just killing people, but when she started having graphic sex? Oh no, my poor kids!!
The BBC also apparently standards, but they are slightly different. What blows my mind is the BBC cut Dead Things from Buffy and an S&M dream sequence from Farscape. While the US had no problems with it. (shrugs)
no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-23 01:39 pm (UTC)I was wondering how you interpret Nathan's power? Everyone else's power is somehow linked to their personality the way you described. I'm not sure how Nathan's immortality fits in. Maybe it's because he has existential fears after his mum kicked him out.
By the time the reveal took place (and I loved it how much sense it makes that this power would not be easily discovered), we were starting to wonder wether his being annoying was a superpower.
I find it amazing how this character remains likeable, when sometimes you can just gape at the things he says. :D
I also love it that the actors look more like normal people. I never really got this addiction to a very flat form of beauty Hollywood seems to have. I get that attractive actors with expressive faces come of stronger, but this image where somehow everyone looks the same really bugs me.
Body types were part of why I couldn't watch LoM US. One of the best things about John Simm is that he's such a skinny guy, especially compared to Gene Hunt. Their scenes work because Hunt towers over him and Sam Tyler still stands up for his 2007 values and faces him down.
In the US version Harvey Keitel certainly towered over the Sam Tyler guy as an actor, but otherwise he seemed like a fragile grandfather and Sam Tyler like some muscle fridge. Everytime they had a shouting match a voice in my head said "hey, dude, you can't push that little old man, that's so not cool!".
Don't get me started on Annie who is not allowed curves in US version.
I really hope Misfits stays in the UK, though I wouldn't mind them producing more episodes in a season. On the other hand the short runs probably help with making the storytelling so tight.