A fantastic, forgotten fantasy superhero show with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score blends together the best narrative and stylistic elements of the superhero show Heroes and the teen drama Euphoria. When it comes to the fantasy superhero genre, DC and Marvel are the biggest and best-known franchises. However, some of the greatest superhero shows out there aren’t affiliated with either.

The Walking Dead was an indie comic published by Image Comics, and it became a worldwide phenomenon when the story hit the screen. Prime Video’s The Boys has developed a massive fanbase, and it’s now on its spinoff Gen V. Invincible is both critically acclaimed and extremely popular with audiences. Additionally, The Umbrella Academy was Netflix’s perfect show after the Defenders Saga.

Before most of these shows ever hit big, Heroes was released, and it was the right show that came out at the wrong time. If it came out today, it would likely be a global phenomenon. However, Heroes wasn’t the only underrated superhero fantasy worth watching. The British TV show Misfits is everything to love about Heroes, plus the dysfunction and gritty commentary of Euphoria.

Misfits Shares The Best Elements Of Heroes & Euphoria

Misfits is the perfect blend of Euphoria and Heroes, two shows that have very little in common. Misfits and Euphoria are both heavily character-driven, coming-of-age dramas that center on delinquent teens trying to fit into society while grappling with real-world issues. The shows both dive into class, crime, and identity. Multiple main characters of Misfits live with substance abuse or actual substance use disorders. They’ve gone through trauma and experience poor mental health. Plus, the relationships in Misfits are equally messy and dramatic.

On the other hand, Heroes and Misfits are both superhero TV shows that focus on ordinary people suddenly gaining extraordinary powers. Neither group is particularly interested in becoming superheroes, minus one or two characters. A lot of the plot also focuses on how these characters cope with powers that interfere with their everyday lives.

However, Misfits is also separate from both these shows in that it’s more of a raunchy, dark comedy. Unlike Heroes, the show centers on unlikable main characters who are selfish and deeply flawed. Their goal is self-preservation, not saving the world. The scale is much smaller and more intimate. While Euphoria is hyperrealistic at the start, Misfits is obviously not realistic at all in its premise. Class divisions and juveniles struggling in the world exist. However, I can pretty confidently say that none of us is out here getting struck by lightning and gaining superpowers.

Misfits Received A Proper Ending, Unlike Heroes

Both Heroes and Euphoria have a downside. Euphoria seasons 1 and 2 are great, but it kind of jumps the shark with season 3. The show involves a five-year time jump. The characters have drastic changes in personality. The story prioritizes shock value over emotional depth, and it’s no longer about teenage struggles.

Heroes also was disappointing. The original series didn’t get a proper ending. Heroes was canceled after season 4, brought back for one season, and then canceled again. Neither the original series nor the revival got a proper ending. Instead, we received a cliffhanger. Now, Heroes: Eclipse will pick the story back up, but there are no guarantees that it will be good or get a proper ending.

Luckily, Misfits changed over the years, and some fan-favorite characters left. It never completely lost the plot, though, setting it apart from Euphoria. On top of that, Misfits did get a proper ending instead of getting canceled before they could wrap things up. Considering most great shows are canceled too soon, this is a big deal. Mind you, as with most beloved shows, not everyone was satisfied with how it ended. I personally thought it was pretty good. Either way, it’s a step up from Heroes that Misfits at least gets a conclusion that feels like a conclusion.

Release Date

2009 – 2013-00-00

Showrunner

Howard Overman

Directors

Howard Overman, Tom Green, Jonathan van Tulleken, Tom Harper, Wayne Yip

Writers

Howard Overman, Jon Brown, Mike O’Leary

Franchise(s)

Misfits

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