I still don't see anything remotely compelling. None of the characters seem remotely likable. I suppose we're supposed to be fond of the "geek" character who thinks they might be superheroes?
And the guy who expects to be able to fly - is really excited about it, then is certain it's all "fade away". I'm genuinely impressed that a character contradition so massive can be shown in less than a minute!
Really don't know who they're aiming at with this. Like you say, the SKINS crowd will probably be shocked (and consequently stop watching) when they get powers? And they're certainly not aiming for geeks. I really don't know.
As you say, we'll have to see.........
shelly
· 1 month ago
I finally had a chance to watch this clip just now (why am I getting the same clip twice instead of two different clips?) and before I thought it would be like Fantastic Four meets The Mod Squad but now it seems more like Fantastic Four meets Hancock (American movie starring Will Smith about a homeless screw-up with superhero powers who uses them very reluctantly and messes up).
I think it looks like a more solid idea now but that clip is probably not a good representation of the show itself. This looks like a clip from within the first few or last few minutes of the pilot; probably not a good place to get a clip from to show what the characters are really like. I couldn't understand the line the pony-tailed woman said at :51, but the retort about "that only happens in America" cracked me up. If the show has that type of ribbing meta humor in it, then I'm all for giving it a try. (If it comes to the US eventually).
Dan
· 1 month ago
Yeah, sorry -- for some unexplained reason, the clips are now both the same. It's not of my doing! :-) From what I can tell, Misfits is definitely going to be more "earthy" than US superhero TV/film, which is to be expected whenever the UK take on a genre made popular by Americans. We always puts a grittier, sarcastic, satirical spin on everything (Watchmen, Shaun Of The Dead). If we played it deadly straight, it just wouldn't fly (pardon the pun), because superheroes are very much an American thing in essence.
RobBuckley
· 1 month ago
My preview of the first episode (for I have seen it), a competition and an audio Q&A with the show's creator over here
shelly
· 1 month ago
Thanks, RobBuckley. I so want to see this now...please let BBC America pick this up eventually.
I was on youtube looking for that missing clip and found this promo of the show:
Cool promo. They *almost* spell out MISFITS when they go flying backwards through the air -- no? :-) Love the music, too -- anyone know the tune, if it's not part of a score?
I would say this is a likely candidate for a BBC America pickup, although it probably won't be imported as quickly as actual BBC products, as it's not from that stable. It's produced by Clerkenwell Films for E4, and that company haven't made anything that's made it across the pond (that I know of). But maybe a Skins-esque deal will be struck.
RobBuckley
· 1 month ago
@shelley: You're welcome! Feel free to come over and discuss it at the blog.
@dan: "It's produced by Clerkenwell Films for E4, and that company haven't made anything that's made it across the pond (that I know of)"
Afterlife, Persuasion, Rebus. Other than that… ;-)
Clerkenwell Films used to be the "let's make lots of things starring John Hannah" company - primarily because it was set up by John Hannah (with Murray Ferguson) - but over the last 10 years, it's moved on a bit. I remember when a colleague of mine went to interview them when it was set up, it was on the condition that she not discuss Hannah's acting work, only the company itself, so clearly that was always in the game plan anyway.
I imagine Clerkenwell will be looking for distributors and that it'll get picked up by BBC America at some point, provided they can get one. However, it might be "too English" (despite presence of Irish actor) to appeal internationally, at least as far as some distributors are concerned.
Dan
· 1 month ago
Afterlife, Persuasion, Rebus. Other than that… ;-)
No, I wasn't aware the US got those. Maybe there's hope for Misfits, then.
RobBuckley
· 1 month ago
Google is your friend, dude. Google "Clerkenwell Films". See what productions they do. Combine the name of each production in a search with "BBC America". Hey presto - you're an instant TV savant. Works for me, anyway ;-)
Dan
· 1 month ago
Ahh yes, between Google and Wikipedia, we're all experts now. Messengers of the hive-mind, at the very least.
shelly
· 1 month ago
Rob, I get what you're saying about the show being too British but that's what BBC America is for. I admit I'm having trouble following a couple of the jokes (and the thick English accents even though I watch a lot of Brit tv) in the promo and the clip but still, minor quibble and I'd still love to see what this show is about.
Dan, will you be checking Misfits out and posting a review too or is your tv roster too full already?
Dan
· 1 month ago
I'd argue that even BBCA programmes are carefully selected, so as to stand a chance of appealing to Americans. It appears to be a top-level mix -- primarily culled from the best of the BBC and Channel 4's primetime and daytime schedules. But everything's very mainstream. Misfits feels quite niche (being on E4, which is kind of a minority digital-only station affiliated to Channel 4.) But, hey, you know how to torrent? *wink*
I would say the chances of me reviewing Misfits are in the realm of "extremely likely" to "absolutely definite". :-) But yes, I may have to start dropping a few shows from my schedule to cope. It's helped that Dollhouse and Chuck have gone off-air, though.
shelly
· 1 month ago
Torrent? Whatever do you mean? *whistles innocently* (Seriously though I would prefer to see this legitimately but yes, I can resort to less than legitimate means to watch if I absolutely have to or am impatient enough to).
Maybe it'll be a big enough hit over there and BBC America will buy it? Hope so.
Looking forward to your review!
Dan
· 1 month ago
I predict your impatience. You'll have found a way to see it by the weekend, at the latest. Rationalize it this way: you're just trying out the first episode... if you like it, you can watch the rest the acceptable way. See?
Just this minute changed the banner to promote Misfits, too. Hope it justifies that honour.
All Comments
I still don't see anything remotely compelling. None of the characters seem remotely likable. I suppose we're supposed to be fond of the "geek" character who thinks they might be superheroes?
And the guy who expects to be able to fly - is really excited about it, then is certain it's all "fade away". I'm genuinely impressed that a character contradition so massive can be shown in less than a minute!
Really don't know who they're aiming at with this. Like you say, the SKINS crowd will probably be shocked (and consequently stop watching) when they get powers? And they're certainly not aiming for geeks. I really don't know.
As you say, we'll have to see.........
I think it looks like a more solid idea now but that clip is probably not a good representation of the show itself. This looks like a clip from within the first few or last few minutes of the pilot; probably not a good place to get a clip from to show what the characters are really like. I couldn't understand the line the pony-tailed woman said at :51, but the retort about "that only happens in America" cracked me up. If the show has that type of ribbing meta humor in it, then I'm all for giving it a try. (If it comes to the US eventually).
I was on youtube looking for that missing clip and found this promo of the show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODl-kAhVsXY
I would say this is a likely candidate for a BBC America pickup, although it probably won't be imported as quickly as actual BBC products, as it's not from that stable. It's produced by Clerkenwell Films for E4, and that company haven't made anything that's made it across the pond (that I know of). But maybe a Skins-esque deal will be struck.
@dan: "It's produced by Clerkenwell Films for E4, and that company haven't made anything that's made it across the pond (that I know of)"
Afterlife, Persuasion, Rebus. Other than that… ;-)
Clerkenwell Films used to be the "let's make lots of things starring John Hannah" company - primarily because it was set up by John Hannah (with Murray Ferguson) - but over the last 10 years, it's moved on a bit. I remember when a colleague of mine went to interview them when it was set up, it was on the condition that she not discuss Hannah's acting work, only the company itself, so clearly that was always in the game plan anyway.
I imagine Clerkenwell will be looking for distributors and that it'll get picked up by BBC America at some point, provided they can get one. However, it might be "too English" (despite presence of Irish actor) to appeal internationally, at least as far as some distributors are concerned.
No, I wasn't aware the US got those. Maybe there's hope for Misfits, then.
Dan, will you be checking Misfits out and posting a review too or is your tv roster too full already?
I would say the chances of me reviewing Misfits are in the realm of "extremely likely" to "absolutely definite". :-) But yes, I may have to start dropping a few shows from my schedule to cope. It's helped that Dollhouse and Chuck have gone off-air, though.
Maybe it'll be a big enough hit over there and BBC America will buy it? Hope so.
Looking forward to your review!
Just this minute changed the banner to promote Misfits, too. Hope it justifies that honour.