Sorry, you can’t see that, can you? We’re pointing at our chest, not our genitals. Somewhere around the heart region. Because that’s where Episode 4 is aiming and where it strikes, with a surprisingly tender story. A tender story with a few tortoise-fucking gags thrown in. Well, it just wouldn’t be Misfits otherwise, would it?

The theme this week, class, is responsibility. Abby takes responsibility for Mark the Tortoise, Alex takes responsibility for his power, and Rudy reluctantly takes responsibility for Rudy 2. It’s the latter that’s naturally the biggest plot, simply because Rudy’s carefree picaresque life is defined by its lack of boundaries and responsibility. It’s one bottomless shot glass of inconsequence.

On the other hand, Rudy 2’s life is constrained by worry and obligation, to his creator and, as it turns out, a myriad of super-powered chums. And what a super-powered bonanza it was this week. The Electrician, GTA Tim, Mark the Turtle, Margaret the Prophetic Knitter, Flying Sam, and the hilariously handled ‘power’ of the man who keeps being teleported into a closet every time he denies he’s gay. It’s almost as if the show, realising that its time is nearly at hand (we do have only 4 episodes remaining) and there’s knitwear to fulfil, bunged in as much Storm-fuelled fun as possible.

That’s not even including the ‘villain of the week’, Len Johnson, with whom Rudy 2 voluntarily swaps powers, only to then get the shaft. And so, like the son/daughter who’s depended on a parent for years only to then have to care for that parent in their old age, Rudy has to care for Rudy 2. Although at this stage he’s more like Rudy 82.

In typically Rudy fashion it’s all geriatric giggles until the point he finally accepts Rudy 2 and realises he has to take care of him. It’s a tender moment which becomes more heartfelt as he accepts his alter-ego’s age, only to then have to deal with the emotional stress of seeing someone he loves fade away. Once again Misifts uses the superhuman to makes its viewers feel all too human. Damn these feelings.

Jess’s work pulling increasingly sexually aroused faces in Rudy’s direction pays off as Rudy asks her out in a speech brimming with the vulnerability and sweetness we know is there beneath the tattoo ink. And just as you’re thinking ‘aww, they’ll make a cute couple, Margaret knits a distinctly pessimistic prediction jumper. Is that Jess, Finn, and Abby lying dead in pools of blood? That might well put a cramp on Rudy’s relationship plans.

Or maybe it’s not blood and the finale will feature synchronised swimming in puddles of tomato ketchup. Well, we can hope, can’t we? After the idea of sodomising a tortoise it would be comparatively normal. Not that Misfits ever strives for normal.

Aired at 10pm on Wednesday 13 November 2013 on E4.

> Buy the complete Series 1-4 boxset on Amazon.

> Order Series 5 on DVD on Amazon.

Watch the Series 5 teaser trailer…

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