Review: Misfits - 4.04 - "Episode Four"

The new kids on "Misfits" have been somewhat underwhelming. Jess has gotten only a bit of development, Finn has gotten plenty but much of it is missing that weird charm that Nathan or Simon might have had.

That's why it was interesting to see the dynamic that bad girl Lola brought to the crew, both as a potential love interest for Curtis and as a cog in the wheel for the probation crew. Since her debut, Lola has had the appearance and demeanor of a classic film noir femme fatale. Mysterious background, cascading hair, sultry looks, seductive cigarette smoking, there's clearly more to the "trainee probation worker" than meets the eye.

The main plot of this week's episode really plays out like a neo-noir, as Lola ropes Curtis into dealing with a former flame who she claims is abusive and stalking her. You know how it is -- one minute you're just talking to the ex-boyfriend, the next minute you've pulled a gun and shot him dead and the girlfriend you were trying to protect is suddenly incommunicado. A tale as old as time.

One of last season's best episodes featured Curtis gaining the power to bring people back from the dead, though with the caveat that they now craved live flesh. Curtis uses his on the murdered ex to find out what he can about Lola, with an unfortunate twist that can only lead to a bittersweet ending. Suffice to say, there is much more to Lola, it (of course) has everything to do with the storm, and it plays out fantastically. This is easily the best episode of the current season. Fitting, since Curtis' spotlight episode in the first season was what really hooked me on this show.

The subplot with Finn and Rudy's living situation provides a few laughs, but mostly its to the detriment of the main story, which really deserved sole focus. Given how things played out in Curtis' story, writer Howard Overman wanted to use a subplot to bind the Rudy/Jess/Finn trio a little closer together. While "Misfits" has always effectively blended its thriller fundamentals with a little humor, but some stories really don't need much and generally Rudy's interjections completely diverge from the plot. Still, it's hard to hold it against the episode too much.

I'm a sucker for a good noir story, so this week's episode of "Misfits" was right up my alley. The characters and mood plays out perfectly, and I'm hard-pressed to find fault with it.

Final Grade: A