Summary
British original sci-fi seriesSupacellhas proven popular on Netflix since its release, reminding viewers to watch another acclaimed show following its success. Thecast and characters inSupacellare a group of South Londoners who suddenly develop superpowers. It was directed by rapper and screenwriter Rapman, known for his work on 2019’sBlue Storyand his three-part short series,Shiro’s Story, which gave him widespread recognition across the UK.
While his previous projects didn’t feature characters with superpowers, Rapman’s work has focused on the lives of black Londoners and the contemporary issues they face in the city. WithNetflix producing a stream of successful original superhero shows in the last decade, such asThe Umbrella AcademyandJupiter’s Legacy, some of the service’s productions,likeSupacell, have leaned into the dark superherogenre – a natural combination with Rapman’s style. However, before Netflix was producing originals, the dark superhero genre existed within older shows, including a UK classic that ended 10 years ago.
Misfits Is Another Acclaimed British Superhero Show Like Netflix’s Supacell
Misfits Premiered In 2009 And Lasted For 5 Seasons On E4.
Misfitspremiered on the UK channel E4 in 2009, and it follows a group of young offenders who get struck by lightning and discover that they have powers and supernatural abilities.WhenMisfitsbegan, it received strong critical acclaim, much likeSupacell. Tim Dowling fromThe Guardiancalled the show, “sharp, funny, dark, and in places, quite chilling,” and other UK publications praised the show for its modern take on superheroes with a dark twist.
Robert Sheehan, who played one ofMisfit’s most popular male leads, Nathan Young, also played Klaus Hargreeves in Netflix’s superhero show,The Umbrella Academy.
Not only are both shows critically acclaimed, but viewers ofSupacellwould likely enjoyMisfitsas they both have similar premises. Both shows focus on young people in London suddenly developing mysterious powers, althoughSupacellfocuses on superhero powers, whereasMisfits' abilities are more supernatural.Supacell’s audience will also enjoyMisfitsbecause the show has a diverse cast and effectivelyimplements relatable aspects of British culture, giving the show a timeless feel and making it one of the UK’s most underrated original shows.
Why Misfits' Reviews Are So Great For All 5 Seasons
Misfits Give Audiences An In-Depth Look Into Teens With Supernatural Powers.
Throughout its five seasons,Misfitsscored consistently highly with both critics and viewers(with a slight dip in season 4). There are many reasons whyMisfitsachieved rave reviews, and one of the most compelling aspects of the show is the romance between Simon (Iwan Rheon) and Alisha (Antonia Thomas), who is considered to be one ofMisfits’best couples. The chemistry between Rheon and Thomas is obvious, and they enhance the drama throughout the show.
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Misfitsremains faithful to its original premise anduses dark humor and wry British comedy to explore its complex themes. The bonds and character growth of the core group remain a key feature in every storyline the show tackles. Additionally, its portrayal of controversial subjects like sexual assault through Alisha’s power and mental health via Simon’s issues with his self-esteem and identity helps makeMisfitsa powerful and entertaining series.
Misfits Is Supposed To Get A US Remake (What Happened To It?)
The Misfits 2016 Remake at Freeform Never Ended Up Happening.
When theMisfitsUS remake was announced in 2016, viewers were excited to see a new take on a British classic show,although a pilot for the show was never made, despitecasting for the USMisfitsreboot happeningin 2017. Anna Leszkiewicz fromThe New Statesmanwrote that remaking Misfits in the US could involve toning down “sexual content, swearing, and general naughtiness,” which was an integral part ofMisfits’genre and identity. According toDigital Spy, originalMisfitscreator Howard Overman was no longer involved in the US version as of 2017, stalling the project further.
There are several potential explanations as to whyMisfitsUS has failed to get off the ground. Reasons could include the trends of TV changing and backlash against similar British remakes. No matter the reason, a show as iconic asMisfitsis difficult to remake outside the UK since it relies heavily on its inner-city setting and British culture to give it its charm. These lessons are certainly worth bearing in mind, shouldSupacellone day receive similar treatment.
