But with it comes the feeling that it’s confusing being outrageous with being entertaining. It was easier to get away with in the early years, when the show was young and had momentum. It was new, and Robert Sheehan was curly of hair and foul of mouth. TV viewers had never seen super-powered people behave like that before, and comics fans were pleased to see a representation of the anti-hero that better reflected the moral ambiguity in many modern comics. Above all, it felt fresh. Filthy, but fresh.

But as the final series begins there’s a weary familiarity creeping in, and no amount of knob jokes eagerly thrust into the script can prevent the sensation that we’re watching a variation on something the show has already shown us. As with the first episode of last year’s series, Series 5’s opener boldly features people not acting their usual selves, for reasons that have to do with a group of Scouts at the community centre. And a chicken.

The one person acting himself is Geordie Alex, which is a shame, because he’s still an incredibly 2D character. It isn’t really actor Matt Stokoe’s fault either. From the get-go Alex has been a pub toilet prophylactic of a character – a see-through thin personality stretched awkwardly over an inadequate package of penis references and below the belt gags. Getting a 1UP with a set of super-powered lungs was a chance to give him an actual emotion beyond that of ‘bewildered hairstyle’, but his new ability is an aggravating retread of the same tired joke, just told with a bigger wink and nudge. It’s a huge deus ex machina of a power, and will no doubt affect his flimsy romance with Jess, but it feels like it’s there more to be outrageous than to be entertaining.

Dancing that fine line between outrageous and entertainment, then bending over and baring his arse at it, Joe Gilgun brings more enjoyable Rudy madness, but it’s the more controlled performance playing shy Rudy 2 where he’s the most interesting. Not simply because he’s more character than caricature, but because Rudy 2 attends a group of future plot lines: a support group for people affected by the storm. And if there’s one thing Misfits does really well, it’s creating unusual powers.

One of them is a woman with the gift of prophetic knitting, like that nervous painter chap in Heroes, except with the cosy medium of sheep’s wool. Will the intriguing woollen tableau she’s created on a jumper be the Misfits gang’s future? If so, then it looks exciting. And warm. And better than this final series opener. We want to go to there.

Airs at 10pm on Wednesday 23 October 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…

Are you looking forward to Series 5? Let us know below…