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Parents' Guide to

Misfits

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Grim antiheroes make addicting TV but terrible role models.

TV Hulu Science Fiction 2012
Misfits Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Olivia_Gl1tch
Olivia_Gl1tch Adult
May 27, 2021
age 18+

NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!

I am now on the 4 season and I think it's amazing! But my only concern is the sexual and nudity content. There is A LOT of sex, there is at least one person having a go on another person every episode. I also think that people should stop watching it on the end season 3. After that it kinda gets repetitive and boring. Other than that, it's really good
JenniferCollinson
JenniferCollinson Adult
October 17, 2020
age 13+

Personal Review

I believe there are graphic scenes, but if your child can handle some gore they should be able to deal with the scenes. There is some sexual scenes but it is nothing quite over the top.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When a strange electrical storm strikes down five delinquent young people who've been sentenced to community service in a fictional London borough, they awake to discover that they have powers they don't fully understand. But the odd gifts that make them MISFITS might come in handy when evil forces attack their town.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (27 ):

It's easy to see why Misfits pulled in a BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama in its native Britain; and, thanks to Hulu, it will undoubtedly expand its fan base here in the United States. Because in spite of what you might feel as a parent about the show's uncensored swearing and graphic sex, it's a genuinely gripping series with a compelling story, well-penned characters, and undeniable cinematic style. The only catch is, it's not for kids.

Of course, an American adaptation of Misfits is reportedly in the works at ABC (starring Emily Osment and Jason Earles of Hannah Montana fame, no less). But as it's set to air on network television, you can rest assured that the U.S. version will be an entirely different kind of show. Depending on the outcome, who knows? Older kids might even get to watch it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about traditional heroes (such as Superman) and antiheroes (such as X-Men's Wolverine) in popular media. What's the appeal of each type? Can an antihero still be heroic in spite of his or her imperfections?

  • How do British programs compare to American fare? If this series were to be adapted for American TV, what elements would have to change (especially in terms of language and sexual content)? Would toning down the show's graphic elements make it any less entertaining?

  • Does hearing so much unbleeped swearing dilute the impact of the iffy words? Are the show's writers pushing the envelope when it comes to language, or are the characters merely a reflection of the way real people talk?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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