Misfits Series 3

We know that everyone who watches this series misses Nathan. It’s true, Robert Sheehan was the standout star of this show, really bringing down the house with his no holds barred comedy and wise  cracking. Hell, I miss him more than anything. So much so, that I didn’t watch the third series until now. My grieving was great, but it was time to figure out who gets what new powers in this series.

Amazingly enough, this series doesn’t ease old viewers in with the typical start you’d think of the old characters reuniting. This series hits you off kilter at first with Joseph Gilgun who plays Rudy, the psychologically ripped apart sociopath with two personalities. So what do you think his power is? Who would’ve guessed?

Now, Joseph Gilgun is kinda meant to replace Nathan. His character Rudy is, for lack of a better word, rude, and insensitive. He never

Look! They’re all friends!

apologizes and is always looking for the next shag. Often confused and slow, this hides his sensitive side that never wants to be hurt. He is a good replacement. I have to say it. I enjoyed Gilgun just as much as I enjoyed Sheehan’s wisecracking. They’re both sexually ignorant and rude, and they both have this immaculate sense of timing. I was impressed, so give him a chance, you lot of Nathan lovers out there.

Some serious stuff going down this series…

From there we hit the ground running. Everyone has their new powers all lined up in a row, Alisha can do this, and Curtis can do that, and Simon has his own thing going on. Kelly, well, she’s just Kelly. (And she has become a Hell of a lot funnier.) Out of community service, it just so happens that Rudy stumbles upon them, befriends them, and steals a car, getting them all back into community service as accessories to the crime.

From here, the show features 8 episodes, most focusing around Simon’s destiny with the past and Alisha. Some focus around Rudy and his new spice he brings to the group, and, in a surprise twist, some focuses around Seth (Matthew McNulty) the drug dealer turned power swapper. There’s some juicy gossip there I can’t get into, but you’ll see soon enough. I also have to mention this before I forget, but, if while watching this show, you feel Rudy talks and acts like a comic version of Christian Bale (skinny of course, and lanky…) then let me know via comment.

A bigger part this series?

As with every season of Misfits, I am more and more impressed with the show. It has such great characters that you grow with and hope for the best for. The comedy is spot on and there’s even more geeky references to movies and pop culture in this season! The sex is toned down and the relationships between the characters have improved. Nobody hates each other as much as they used to, and you can see the friendships growing. There’s not even that much gripe about Rudy joining the group. The ending is bittersweet and I have no idea what they’re gonna do next season.

Here’s why. Kelly (Lauren Socha) is leaving for personal reasons. Her character wasn’t properly sent off or anything so I have no idea what’s happening there. Simon (Iwan Rheon) and Alisha (Antonia Thomas) were properly sent off, and each of them made the appropriately professional and separate choice to leave the show. They had a great run and this is what you come to expect from British T.V. Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is staying on, which I found a surprise. This leave Rudy (Gilgun) and Curtis on the show currently. They are only seeking out another female, and two male roles. Looks like the makings of a sausage fest.

They have made strides in who they have picked for the new series though. It has been confirmed that three new

You’ll be sorely missed Lauren. I will always adore you.

characters named Jess, Finn and Alex. Jess will be played by Karla Crome will play Jess. From the pictures I’ve just looked up on Google (she hasn’t done anything I’ve seen) she should be a good, darker character addition to the show (and I don’t mean skin color, the pics online show her to be a femme fatale). Finn was confirmed as Nathan McMullen, the goofy and nice kid. They have one pic of this kid online over and over, and he looks like a sweet, curly headed kid. Guess he fits the part. These kids are so young these days…

So I hope everyone is ready for a hell of a good time with Series 3, and looking forward to Series 4. I know I am, and I’m gonna give Series 3 a good rating that it deserves. Not the same as Series 1 or 2, but something different and good all the same. 9 out of 10.

Nana: Two Girls Named 7

Going into this I expected slice of life, girl power anime. Coming out, I cursed the Demon Lord himself for not allowing Ai Yazawa to continue the manga that has for so long been on hiatus. Without the manga continuing, there can be no anime of epic downfall and emotional turmoil. And no happy ending for Nobu and Hachiko either… Oh well, they worked with what they had.

And boy, did they have a lot. Nana is the story of, well, two girls with the same name, Nana. Normally when I see the word Nana, I think old lady. But, in the realm of Japanese anime, Nana means 7 (please stop me if I’m being redundant). And these two girls come from separate worlds. Nana Komatsu (Hachiko, her pet name meaning 8), comes from a well to do, middle class family with nothing but dreams of a happy family life with her boyfriend, Shoji. Nana Osaki is a punk rocker with no family past to speak of and a whole lot of rage and cigarettes to sing about. One day they meet on a train and their lives are changed… forever?

People do some great artwork for this show.

A lot of stuff happens in the span of this 47 episode anime. Relationships are founded and lost, friends are made and lost, basically, a lot of stuff is found and subsequently lost. There’s pain and anguish, scenes of sexy times, and a lot of cigarette smoke. But hidden behind that cigarette smoke is one thing. The love of ambition and love itself. Nana Osaki won’t let anything get her down and plans on beating the rivalry that is created between her band Blast! and her boyfriend’s band, Trapnest. This dynamic in itself creates problems between the bands as both sides become intertwined in a web of secrecy, seduction, and snarky conversations.

What I found great about this show was the even distribution given between the two Nana’s. Hachiko is given equal time at the beginning with her relationships and problems of fidelity and then Nana Osaki is given her time to shine as her

Ren and Nana, two loves from opposing bands.

band becomes popular in Tokyo. The chance happening of meeting each other on the train and the separate lives that come together under one apartment roof is an interesting premise that is buffered with good turns and emotional climaxes. The characters are diverse and strong in their certain flaws which gives an element of a darker relationship based “slice of life” anime that is where it really hits hardest.

But there are flaws. And it’s not that flaws are bad. But all of these characters are passive. They allow everything to happen to them by key characters. Not to divulge too much, but Takumi Ichinose of Trapnest controls the last 20

The most smoking ever. This show is adverts for smoking.

episodes of this anime. And the decisions you’d like to see happen for that happy ending don’t happen, but you are sort of okay with it at the end (other than the hiatus placed on this manga…). But the ineptitude and inability of certain main characters to function is just staggering. It makes you hate them and wish for them to move at the same time. Heartbreaking.

Just a taste of the manga that needs to be brougt back.

Other than that, work on your shipping skills and hope for the best for the Nana’s. The voice acting is fantastic and there’s a character for everyone to love in this show. It’s simple charm about people attempting to achieve their biggest dreams, however big or small makes for a great anime. ‘Cause, come on, who wouldn’t want to follow a band around as they become famous, being their friends and just having the ride of your life! Enjoy the amazing music by Olivia and the quirky animation and raw human emotions and talent portrayed by the voice actors (subbed for this one). I give Nana more than just a 7, I give it an 8.1 out of 10. Recommended for anyone interested in life and love.

 

And here’s a little taste of the music of Nana in this first opener.