It’s not often you see some very British electricity pylons used in an American south-style montage, featuring a kidnapped victim in the trunk of a car with a from-the-bottle-swigging driver sweating profusely, but that’s the kind of unusual televisual treat Misfits is. And the juxtapositions don’t stop there.
Accompanying this montage is the vision of Nathan (Robert Sheehan) stripping off and lathering some suntan lotion onto his disgustingly under-panted body. And all in slow-mo too – quite a sight. As you’ll have surmised, this is a Nathan episode.
The main thrust of this episode is the appearance of his half brother, who shares the same dad Mike, played so brilliantly by Dexter Fletcher. The former Press Gang actor impresses again as a father who was/is less than perfect but is willing to change and reconnect with his offspring. His face alone tells a wonderful story and makes for a refreshing change from the beautiful world of the iGeneration.
It’s a powerful, if familiar, comment on boys and men, where emotions are replaces with punches and love displaced by fear. Tonally, it also juxtaposes rather neatly with the rest of the story, a story which sees another seemingly tedious club scene. I say seemingly because the club is transformed for our ‘heroes’ as they all indulge in some recreational drug use. The sweaty bodies, E-streched smiling faces and overpowering music become wallpaper until the moment the drugs kick in. (Remember kids, the drugs don’t work.)
Typical of the series, there’s a twist as the gang discover their powers are “reversed”. Hilariously, Kelly becomes unable to contain her thoughts, whilst chewing her face off (well, almost) at the same time. Again, another remarkable sight in this remarkable episode.
But, the biggie comes for Curtis, who, instead of diving back into the past and changing it, jumps into the future. There is a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come and you may very well want to get the pause button ready (take a close look at the body of the girl he meets and the future montage – *genuine shivers*).
And what of the masked man? He’s back, and Simon has managed to track him down…
The denouement is perhaps one of the most emotionally charged moments in the series. Mike and Nathan begin their journey on becoming father and son, but thankfully any schmaltz is skewed in favour of sarcasm and male defensive “humour”.
Top marks go to writer Howard Overman for jumping so daringly from the futuristic and fantastical nature of the show to the personal and real depth of the characters within the blink of an eye. That’s real juxtaposition.
Airs at 10pm on Thursday 18th November 2010 on E4.