Hulu’s 5-Season Superhero Masterpiece That Rivals Marvel Is a 10/10 Sci-Fi Binge

Hulu has a cool superhero show for Marvel fans that is eminently bingeable. If you like your heroes complicated, foul-mouthed, and extremely funny, this show is for you. The show in question is the British gem called Misfits. It is about five youths who have powers because of a strange storm that happened during their community service.

Unlike superheroes from Marvel and DC Comics, they aren’t really the kind of people who can be considered, well, good. Howard Overman is the creator of the show, and he won a BAFTA in 2010 for his work on the show. This sci-fi comedy show has a total of five seasons and 37 episodes. The writing is so consistently good that you never stop watching. Thus, the bingeability. It originally aired on E4 in the U.K. In the U.S., it is available to watch on Hulu.

Misfits Gives the Superhero Origin Story a Wicked British Twist

Their orange outfits serve as the superhero outfits of Misfits, at least in the beginning. They came together due to punishment. And their deeply contrasting personalities make teamwork more difficult than the Avengers and Justice League. 

Their powers are an ironic solution to their fears and insecurities. Simon, who cannot connect with other people, is invisible. Curtis, filled with regrets from his past, can change it. Kelly can read other people’s minds. They make existing issues even more complicated. Being able to listen to other people’s thoughts does not make rejection any easier. It is necessary to understand one’s mistakes before making changes in the past.

Sheehan ensures that the sheer obnoxiousness of Nathan is somehow mesmerizing. He is the character that everyone wants to shut up, but whose next obnoxious comment would be precisely what you were looking forward to. On the other hand, Rheon’s reserved Simon provides the perfect balance.

The physical setting plays an important part as well. This is not about some high-profile people suddenly stepping into a glamorous world; their world is still very mundane, and hence each magical occurrence and humiliation becomes all the more extraordinary.

It is this very combination that helps define Misfits. It is the clichéd origin story that leads to exploring the lives of people who had issues even before the storm came in.

It Is a Wilder, Raunchier Take on Superheroes Than the MCU

Certainly, there are irreverent elements within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well. These mostly come about in their mature movies such as Deadpool movies, and series like Daredevil and The Punisher. However, in comparison to the central Avengers, Misfits appeals more to people who can handle some adult content, such as s*x, embarrassment, small-minded squabbles, and poor decisions.

In addition, these individuals do not gain any moral purity along with their superpowers. They abuse powers à la the Seven and other supes in The Boys. So, Misfits is one of the alternatives if you miss The Boys. They act in a self-centered manner and make decisions that leave everyone worse off. So, any acts of kindness they perform are more meaningful. The humor in the show relies on the inconsistency of it all. People may open up emotionally and earn pity, or they may say something shocking immediately. Being open to these individuals is risky.

Still, the show has more to offer than simply edginess. Beneath the crude jokes are loneliness, affection, and a desire to belong. Its strongest scenes find tenderness without making the characters suddenly behave like different people.

The ensemble changes substantially across five seasons. Joe Gilgun’s Rudy becomes a major presence after Nathan’s departure, and the later lineup brings a different dynamic. Those transitions can be uneven, especially for viewers attached to the originals. 

Even so, the show’s imagination and unruly personality make it worth discovering, I think. At its best, Misfits delivers the excitement of superhero storytelling through people whose lives remain gloriously messy.

For a binge, that intimacy is a real advantage: you keep watching because you care about the group, even when their behavior makes you wince repeatedly.

Have you seen Misfits? Does it rival the best of Marvel, and which character kept you watching? Share your pick in the comments!