by Chiru Yang How it is that young people growing up in Asia can become so absorbed in a Channel 4 drama from the UK based on a story of juvenile delinquency? How can a story full of violence and swearing strike such a chord in someone who appears to be as calm as any pedestrian in Taipei? Although far away from the setting where this drama takes place, it is certain that there is something lurking in us which makes us feel that we, too, belong to a cast of young outlaws. Superhero Drama?
The plot of Misfits is quite simple, but it never so simple that it will bore you. The drama begins with a group of high school offenders about to commence community service work as part of their probation. Unfortunately, a freak storm hits the town, situated to the southeast of London, that changes the inhabitants by giving them superpowers. An increasing number of people begin to realise their power, and more and more unbelievable crimes begin to occur in every corner of the city. Paradoxically, these young delinquents take on the role of superheroes by employing their own powers and their intelligence. As story progresses, the true colours and hidden sides of these adolescents begin to be revealed. Juvenile Fantasies The type of superpower possessed by the characters are very intriguing and also uniquely suited to themselves. Viewers can recall their own adolescence, a period of life composed of both bitterness and curiosity, but also a period of juvenile fantasies. Kelly Bailey, a blonde girl from the North, possesses the power of telepathy. This enables her to read people’s minds in their most intimate moments, but it also brings her a lot of trouble. Young people are curious about young people, and they all dream of digging out the secrets of others. But what they have not thought about is the difficulty of handling this omniscient talent. The more they know, the more responsibility they are obliged to take. It is a tough task for a young soul to bear such heavy truths. However, her endurance surprises viewers as does her kind and considerate heart. Curtis Donovan, a former rising sports star, is given a gift of returning to the past whenever he regrets something. His involvement with drug use halted his promising career, and thus this new gift might be able to give him a brand new start. Teenagers tend to be muddled-headed since they lack experience and always behave on impulse. Hence it is relatively easy for them to make careless decisions which weigh on their minds for the rest of their lives. Rewriting destiny has, however, potential risks as well. Once the past has been modified, there is also a risk of losing what we have in the present. Simon Bellay, a meek bloke longing for friends, gains the power of invisibility. He attempted to burn down a flat of a schoolmate who had bullied him. People tend to label those who are different and to isolate them. However, at young age, adolescents seek their own identity, which requires participation in group activities, or more simply, having friends. Even though Simon fails to be part of any group in school, his power of invisibility gives him hallucinations about his own body, even though he seems to be freed by the power of transparency. Alisha Daniels, a philandering party girl, is capable of trapping others into an uncontrollable desire to possess her sexually. From secondary school, people begin to become more self-conscious about their own sexual attractiveness. They might even stare into a mirror for an hour as evidence of their increasing self-consciousness. But to Alisha’s great surprise, she has not found her new seductive abilities very enjoyable; her power produces, rather, a feeling of the annoying emptiness of sex. Nathan Young, a witty and sarcastic delinquent, possesses the power of immortality. Young people have much more courage than adults since they are not aware of any danger. Being immortal we might be unafraid of death, allowing us more possibilities for the future, but wouldn’t bravery alone be a kind of immortality? Echoes Across the Boundaries Certainly, the problems of delinquency in Taiwan are not as serious as those presented in this drama. Taiwan remains relatively tranquil and peaceful. So why has the series become so popular? The show provides a platform for young people in Taiwan to imagine their own ambitions, which often seem to be thwarted by the oppressiveness of society. These outlaws view themselves as both superheroes and as people who bear a cross to save the world. No wonder their popularity among teenagers is skyrocketing. Misfits is a supernatural drama that reflects reality. These are not just bad-mannered young people. We need to think about the reasons that cause their uncivilised behaviour. It is a feeling of despair that drowns them in a labyrinth, and thus even though the plot is full of sensationalist elements, it serves as a mirror of the real world. Nevertheless, it also sets up another world where hopes are still available, and where young people manage to find their identity thanks to their surreal adventures. a
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May 2024
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