Review: Misfits 3.3

"Can I be your best friend?"

The Superhoodie storyline encompasses Misfits; as it's only arc it gets a great deal of plot attention. While the first two episodes of the series touched upon undeveloped characters, it's only typical that a Simon-centric episode would now have to focus on Superhoodie. In certain ways it had a Kick-Ass vibe - a relatively powerless Superhero-wannabe that gets in way over his head. It also did well something that its weekend comrade Merlin effs up all the time - the mind control plot.
     Superhoodie saves a comic book nerd, Peter, from being attacked. Alesha discovers that Simon has been off galivanting as Superhoodie and is not pleased, worried because she's seen Simon die. The Misfits and a group of thers, including , are forced into a community support conference, after which Simon accidentally reveals his identity to him. Despite being told to forget him, they chat the next day and he discusses his love for Superhero comics. It soon develops that, unknown to Simon, the nerd has the power to make anything he draws come true - including the entire conversation that they have.
     After Rudy manages to sneak his double past Shaun, the mind-controlled Simon becomes bezzie mates with Peter. To this end he learns about the Lair and Peter makes him break up with Alesha. Rudy tries to convince her that Simon's gay. Alesha discovers his drawings and works out Peter's mind control. In his desperation, he draws a new scenario. Kelly and Seth do their weekly flirting, just before the gang corner Peter. This, however, is also scripted; Superhoodie arrives to beat up the team.
     Kelly is spurned by Seth, who reveals that the girl at the cemetary from last episode was his girlfriend, who he feels responsible for the death of. Alesha uses perception to see that Simon is sharing comics with Peter, and so the gang head to his flat and start tearing up the drawings controlling him. He comes to, feeling incredibly guilty and making amends with Alesha. Simon confronts Peter, telling him that Superheroes are a fantasy. Just as all seems normal, it appears that Peter has reinvented himself as another Superhoodie.

Seth is guilty about a past love.

      Peter takes Alesha hostage but Simon arrives just in time; in the scuffle Peter is killed. His body is burnt where he died - the same place where Simon will later dies. Returning to the lair, Simon discovers that the whole event was scripted by Peter.
      The central plot is a beautifully paced tragedy of a man desperate to be loved by an idol, going so far as to die in the same method as he. Simon didn't get a lot of time to shine because of his mind-control, but his Future Persona is certainly starting to show through and I'm sure we'll see the result of that by series' end. It's interesting to compare this to Merlin, not only because I watched that recently but because Misfits uses a lot of its tropes to better effect. The main couple (a white, heroic figure and a mixed race girl) break up for a short period of an episode, both of whom are destined to be together. Where in Merlin it felt like an unwelcome and unrealistic excursion, the dynamic nature of Misfits meant that I still wondered whether they'd be together at the end.
       The pace of the episode did throw me somewhat; the final showdown with Peter felt a tad rushed and not very tense. However, as it was "scripted" by a character like Peter, I think that this structure was even more genius - it was as perfect as he would expect it to be. It's little things like this that make me really love Misfits, and the comedy moments this week - provided by Rudy - were as top notch as ever. I  loved Rudy's suggestion that Superhoodie was Shaun, which was my favourite theory last year. The Seth Plot is an interesting addition, and nothing that Misfits has really done before. It's developing quite nicely, and I think that as this long series goes on it'll develop into something brilliant. Presumebly it'll become more important when we finally hit a Kelly-centric episode.

Peter's demise.

      Misfits 3.3 had me on the edge of my seat with a plot that stroked the arc in terms of both plot and characterisation, delivering a script scultpured by the minds of its characters. It was tragic and funny, brilliant and barmy, poignant and parodic. Iwan Rhuon is a classic talent and we're lucky to have him on boy.

Thanks.

NEXT WEEK: ALTERNATE UNIVERSE!