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Misfits Series Five Episode Five Review
Writer: Howard Overman
Director: Lawrence Gough
THE ONE WHERE Finn is kept prisoner in a virtual world by a lonely girl called Leah, while Rudy and Jess get together and a new superhero appears to be in the wings.
VERDICT The best balanced episode of series five so far. And, would you believe, properly sci-fi! Woo! Finn being trapped inside the virtual world reminds you of the days the show heavily did sci-fi concepts - like the time travelling shenanigans of earlier series. Leah (Scarlett Brooks) is the lonely girl who believes "life's easier online". It's quite touching as she utters "I used to go out..." but now finds that problems can be solved "with a click": "you're in control". While Misfits isn't shy of celebrating the freedom and funny follies of the young it can also hold up a darkly critical mirror too.
Poor Finn. The little monkey guy is such a well drawn and well played character - you feel for him and kind of laugh at him at the same time. He tries so hard despite his obvious shortcomings, which he's honest about too. Loved the way he did his hair before answering his phone. But he's only one of several well drawn characters in this series, and there's no one better than Rudy. Lordy, he's hilarious this week, exercising his own blackly twisted way of doing things, whether it be taking a video of Jess on the loo, telling Finn not to bother with Jess because she's a **** (in Jess's earshot), or his Biblical lecture (see below).
The opening 20 or so minutes of the ep has so much that is so distinctly Misfits - you've got a girl who says she's turned her cat inside out, another having a biscuit accidentally spat in her face, "hairy apples", Greg manically pretending to shoot his charges (truly hilarious)... no other show delivers this sort of stuff. These are just some of the reasons Misfits is a better watch than Strictly .
The other reasons it's such a good episode are that the drama and comedy is so well mixed up and the pacing is better than the four previous eps. With tasty mysteries set up for the remaining three instalments, let's hope that Misfits is going to go out on a real high.
NAILING IT We appreciate that handsome barman Alex is probably a pretty strong chap but quite how, while possessed by Leah, he manages to nail three reluctant people to the floor in turn we're not sure.
TOP TUNES Some surprisingly old-school numbers, including the Beach Boys' immaculate "Don't Worry Baby" and the Kinks' rousing "You Really Got Me" (when Rudy is really getting Jess). There's also "Pictures Of You" by the Cure and a cover of the Buzzcocks' classic "Ever Fallen In Love" by Nouvelle Vague.
THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO RUDY It's worth quoting in full what Rudy comes out with after Electro Girl says she can't help because she's on the way to a job: “'I’m on my way to a job' – that’s what the good Samaritan said to Jesus when he found him nailed to the cross but do you know what - he friggin’ unnailed him and he said 'Do you wanna kip in my stable with that donkey from... Bethlehem' and Jesus said, do you know what he said, he went ‘Oh cheers mate, see that water over there, I’m going to turn that into wine. And fish.'” Pure gold.
SEEN ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS? If so, you'll know exactly the scene we mean by just mentioning that film. (For those not in the know: it's where Jess is looking through the hole in the door and almost gets stabbed in the eye.)
BEST LINES
Abby: "Well, nailed to the floor. That's a first."
Rudy: "Speak for yourself. School play. Crucifixion re-enactment gone badly awry."
or perhaps
Rudy to Rudy: "You're like a bull with a hard on in a china shop."
Russell Lewin
Misfits is on E4 on Wednesday nights.
