Misfits 5.02 "Episode Two" REVIEW

Misfits Series Five "Episode Two" TV REVIEW

Episode 5.02

Writer: Howard Overman

Director: William McGregor

THE ONE WHERE Rudy discovers that his father is having an affair. Or rather his father's nasty other self is - he too was split in two on the night of the storm. Meanwhile Abby struggles to find out who she really is and Finn has an unwelcome visitor in the shower.

VERDICT This week Misfits again touches on a theme it has touched upon several times before: parents, what they mean to you and what they pass on to you. Who better than Rudy to be the man in the spotlight, and he's on good form this episode, frequently hilarious, starting with his relating of how ugly his latest conquest was. "You're so shallow" he tells Jess when she admits that physical attraction is usually her criteria for sexual encounters.

Rudy at the forefront is always good news but there are nice moments with the rest of the cast - Finn's encounter with Greg in the shower is hilarious. Shaun Dooley's probation officer, bursting at the seams with deeply repressed homosexual desire, is sure to provide big laughs in the remaining episodes. Abby's quest is quite touching, sniffing her found fabric like a lost little girl in need of comfort. And Finn and Alex stopping a group of muggers has a spicy pay-off when the "muggee" flies off into the sky (unnoticed by them). Perhaps the special effects here aren't quite top notch.

But it's Rudy who dominates, although the monkey cheese guy's story doesn't quite build up the head of steam you initially hope it will. There's Hitchcockian-style suspense (particularly Rear Window ) as Jess enters what she thinks will be the empty house, and then gets a nasty surprise. But does the dinner table sequence, where Rudy piles on the mint sauce, horseradish and mustard like a condiment-crazy Mr Creosote, work as well as it could? I'm not sure. The tension feels "broken up".

And I'm surely not the only one who guessed early on that Rudy's dad was one of an identical pair, just like his son? And that the cut on his hand would eventually prove significant? Maybe I'm just jaded!

Talking of jaded, there's the tiny feeling that we've seen a lot of this before. Misfits just isn't quite as fresh nowadays. This isn't a huge surprise - we're now on series five and most episodes have been written by the same (talented) fella, and there's only so far the concept will stretch. Overall, though, this was a decent episode, with both lightness and darkness to the fore, knitted together by a mesh of intrigue. Just like that jumper.

IT'S WOSSISNAME! Rudy's dad, Geoff, is played by Phil Cornwell, a pleasingly familiar face in a lot of comedy and drama since the '80s. His genre credits include Doctor Who 's "The Fires Of Pompeii" (he was a stallholder), and Grainger in Cockneys Vs Zombies . Here at SFX we've particularly enjoyed his turns as DJ Dave Clifton on various Alan Partridge shows.

ISAAC NEWTON W*NKING ON APPLES The kitchen conversation to end all kitchen conversations...

AIN'T IT SWEET Well, Rudy and Jess appear to be falling for each other, indicated by a few lingering glances. Nice. Can sort of see them as a couple.

SUPERWHAT? Again, am I the only one who sometimes forgets what superpowers everyone has nowadays? They don't get used much! When Jess used her X-ray vision to see Rudy's dad in the boot I was like, "Ah, that's what her power is, of course!"

WORTH PONDERING Wonder whether our storm a few days ago produced any real-life Misfits?

BEST LINES
Rudy: "I might have a big lush pubic bush but that does not make me a man."
or
Rudy: "I thought my dad was the greatest man on Earth - him and Roy Castle."

Russell Lewin

Misfits is broadcast on E4 on Wednesday nights.