Misfits (2009)

Misfits series 5 finale review

This finale was good, not great, but maybe that's all we could have asked for.

With its best-known faces long departed and plots turning increasingly weirder, arguably only the most loyal Misfits fans are likely to tune in as the delinquents don their orange jumpsuits for the final time. Still, for the devoted there are revelations aplenty, as Jess discovers Luke's secret power and Rudy Two finds out the truth about Helen, Karen and Sam, the superheroes from the all-knowing jumper. The once-feted franchise might yet regain its glory: its creators have hinted at a big-screen outing with the original cast.

The sight of nice Rudy lactating is just one of the oddball pleasures to be savoured as the curtain comes down on the orange-boiler-suited community service superpower drama after five inventive and largely joyous seasons. Robert Sheehan, Iwan Rheon, Antonia Thomas and Karla Crome are just four of the young actors to benefit from a career leg-up in this show - and here's hoping it's not long before the comedically gifted current star Joe Gilgun lights up the screen again.

Having started with a literal bang, Misfits doesn't, we're relieved to report, go out with a whimper. The return of series creator Howard Overman for tonight's last-ever episode - 'grand finale' doesn't feel appropriate for a show that so knowingly and consistently undercuts any delusions of grandeur - helps, although any hope of former cast members also coming back is forlorn. Still, a line-up boasting the likes of Joseph Gilgun, Sean Dooley and Karla Crome is always worth watching, as it's probably the performances rather than the tired concept that have kept Misfits going into its twilight years.

Tonight sees the gang relieved of their community service and contemplating life after the orange jumpsuits. Rudy (Gilgun) is happily at the centre of things, sending Jess (Crome) into the arms of a nutter with a taste for parallel futures and learning some uncomfortable truths about Helen, Karen and Sam. At its height it was nigh-on essential (and, lest we forget, Bafta-winning); this is merely decent, but E4 will still be the poorer for its passing.

Misfits last ever episode review

In its final hour Misfits manages to tick almost off almost everything by reciting its greatest hits - time travel, violence, moving deaths, and enough crudity to fill a septic tank.

After five series, Misfits has done well to keep regenerating itself with so many cast changes. But the originality that made it so attention-grabbing back in its early, BAFTA-winning days eventually became a bit of a rod for its own back. When having superpowers is the norm instead of the exception, what are you supposed to do to surprise people?

The last ever episode airs tonight, with creator Howard Overman back on scripting duties, but it's a respectable rather than a totally amazing finale.

Last week, Jess and Rudy's relationship hit a setback that has absolutely nothing to do with superpowers and everything to do with Rudy's lack of enthusiasm about fatherhood.

But when Jess angrily accepts a drink from a stranger in a bar tonight, she gets a vision of the future that changes everything.

Meanwhile, Rudy Two's determination to make the prophecy of the jumper come true by assembling a band of superhero vigilantes seems like a good way to knit the series together.

It's a shame the budget doesn't stretch to making that flying guy look even half-way impressive, but that's probably the least of the Jumper Posse's problems.

Ten reasons why we'll miss Misfits

E4's Asbo-wielding superheroes are finally hanging up their orange boiler suits. Here's why they remained worth watching right to the end.

Misfits series 5 episode 7 review

The season finale is almost upon us and if this episode is anything to go by, it's gonna be epic.

Misfits, 5.7 - review

It's the penultimate episode of the last ever Misfits series, and despite this week's story being a quasi-remake of an early classic, this one was nevertheless very entertaining and pushed the show's arcs along in big ways ready for next week's finale.

Misfits Series 5 Episode 7 review

So, a lot going on, and all of it excellent. Nothing less than the cast, the show, the audience deserve.