The Misfits (on E4)

The Misfits is a show that appeared fall last year on the UK channel E4 for 6 episodes.  The premise is essentially a raunchy "anti-Heroes" show about 5 juveniles on probation community service who are granted strange powers after a freak storm strikes their city.  The storm also grants powers to other people in the city which the kids encounter through out the series.

Now the twist is the powers that the kids have are not your typical superpowers we have seen other comic heroes before them wield and these kids are not even the type of people you would want to get them either.  These kids first of all are on probation for juvenile crimes they have for some reason or another have committed. Secondly, they are your extreme angst ridden, smart-assed variety struggling with identity issues, sexuality (or lack there of), anger and frustration.  The powers they have been granted vary and are somewhat tied to their deepest personality trait.  The group introvert character, for example, can turn invisible probably since he's constantly being ignored.  The group gossip and big sister type can hear the thoughts of everyone around her.  The group flirt can entice any one to have mad passionate sex with her by just touching them.  There's a group joker, wise ass but you don't get to know his power till end of the series (which I am but one short of watching).  The group jock has an interesting power to pull himself back through time at a point of regret and change what he can about a bad situation.

Other than dealing with their new found powers they must deal with others who have also been granted some power.  They unfortunately had to deal with their probation officer who went off in an insane, blind, "Incredible Hulk"-like rage and forced our heroes to kill him.  Being on probation they decide to hide the probation officer's body along with another kid that was killed by the probation officer to avoid being sentenced as full on criminals.  Their actions (of course) do not go unnoticed.  The probation officer's fiancee suspect the kids of something to do with the sudden disappearance of her betrothed and cause a few problems for our heroes through out the series.

The series is not for family and does have strong sexual content which is done in context and not only to show some ratings ass.  Misfits is, however, a fresh look at the hero genre done with slick footage, great alternative music, and worth a watch or download.