Jess (Misfits)
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Jess is a
fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
from the British
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...
''
Misfits Misfits or The Misfits may refer to: Film and television * ''The Misfits'' (1961 film), a film starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and Montgomery Clift * ''The Misfits'' (2011 film), a Mexican film * ''The Misfits'' (2021 film), an American ...
'', portrayed by
Karla Crome Karla Patsy Crome (born 22 June 1988) is a British actress and writer, best known for her work on Sky Atlantic's '' Hit & Miss'', playing series regular Jess on E4's ''Misfits'', and appearances in a number of other television series and film ...
. Jess was created to replace
Antonia Thomas Antonia Laura Thomas (born 3 November 1986) is a British actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Alisha Daniels in the E4 comedy-drama series ''Misfits'', Evie in the Channel 4/Netflix comedy series '' Lovesick'' and Dr. Claire ...
and
Iwan Rheon Iwan Rheon (, ; born 13 May 1985) is a Welsh actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Bellamy in the E4 series ''Misfits'', Ramsay Bolton in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'', and Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars ...
, who played
Alisha Daniels Alisha Daniels is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Antonia Thomas. Alisha gains an ASBO for repeated drink-driving which leads to her receiving community service, where she is ...
and
Simon Bellamy Simon Bellamy is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Iwan Rheon. Simon was sentenced to community service for attempted arson which leads to him gaining the power of invisibility, ...
, after they departed the show. Jess began appearing from series 4 episode 1, in which she was introduced alongside Finn (Nathan McMullen). Jess has the power of
X-ray vision In science fiction stories or superhero comics, X-ray vision is the supernatural ability to see through normally opaque physical objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. The most famous possessor of this ability is DC Comics' i ...
, which is down to her ability to "see through people and their bullshit". Jess is described as "the person who will say the un-sayable, the person who’ll question social norms and etiquette". Neela Debnath of ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' said that "Jess comes across as the more likeable and ‘conventional’ social miscreant" out of the new introductions of the show. Morgan Jeffrey of
Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
felt Crome made "a strong first impression" while Jordan Farley of '' SFX'' said Jess has her "moments to shine" but that she "fails to make a big impression". Writing for
MSN MSN (meaning Microsoft Network) is a web portal and related collection of Internet services and apps for Windows and mobile devices, provided by Microsoft and launched on August 24, 1995, alongside the release of Windows 95. The Microsoft Net ...
, Simon Cocks said Jess and Finn "fit into the dynamic perfectly".


Casting and character creation

The character of Jess was announced on 1 March 2012, with Jess created as one of three characters to replace departed cast members
Antonia Thomas Antonia Laura Thomas (born 3 November 1986) is a British actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Alisha Daniels in the E4 comedy-drama series ''Misfits'', Evie in the Channel 4/Netflix comedy series '' Lovesick'' and Dr. Claire ...
and
Iwan Rheon Iwan Rheon (, ; born 13 May 1985) is a Welsh actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Bellamy in the E4 series ''Misfits'', Ramsay Bolton in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'', and Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars ...
, who played
Alisha Daniels Alisha Daniels is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Antonia Thomas. Alisha gains an ASBO for repeated drink-driving which leads to her receiving community service, where she is ...
and
Simon Bellamy Simon Bellamy is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Iwan Rheon. Simon was sentenced to community service for attempted arson which leads to him gaining the power of invisibility, ...
respectively. Actresses being considered for the role were aged between eighteen and twenty-five. On May 22 it was announced that
Karla Crome Karla Patsy Crome (born 22 June 1988) is a British actress and writer, best known for her work on Sky Atlantic's '' Hit & Miss'', playing series regular Jess on E4's ''Misfits'', and appearances in a number of other television series and film ...
had secured the role of Jess.


Characterisation

A casting call for Jess described her as: "a kind of female version of
Larry David Lawrence Gene David (born July 2, 1947) is an American comedian, writer, actor, and television producer. He and Jerry Seinfeld created the television sitcom ''Seinfeld'', on which David was head writer and executive producer for the first seve ...
– smart and articulate, She’s the person who will say the un-sayable, the person who’ll question social norms and etiquette. Jess hates people who bullshit and lie to her". Jess has the power of
X-ray vision In science fiction stories or superhero comics, X-ray vision is the supernatural ability to see through normally opaque physical objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. The most famous possessor of this ability is DC Comics' i ...
. Crome said that Jess "says what she thinks and can see through people's bullshit. Because she's so straightforward, she gets frustrated when people aren't honest with her. She's a tough cookie, but she's quite vulnerable too". The actress explained that her character's power has a "direct correlation" with her character as "she can see through people and their bullshit like she can see through walls". She added that "in a lot of ways she’s a bit sour as a person. She’s got a good heart but she’s not out to make friends. But the friendships she does develop are very loyal. She can’t be bothered with the joking around, boyish stuff, I suppose". Fellow cast member
Joseph Gilgun Joseph William Gilgun (born 9 March 1984) is an English actor known for several roles, including that of Vinnie O'Neill in the Sky One series '' Brassic'', Marcus in Hollyoaks, Eli Dingle in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', Jamie Armstrong i ...
, who plays
Rudy Wade Rudy Wade is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Joe Gilgun. After Robert Sheehan, who played Nathan Young, announced his departure, it was announced a new character called Rudy w ...
, described Jess as "a clever girl, who's not to be messed with at all".
Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
's Morgan Jeffrey described Jess as a "feisty character". Jordan Farley of '' SFX'' described Jess using the tagline "Tough. Troubled. Tetchy", while Claire Webb of ''
Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
'' described her as "doe-eyed, moody Jess".


Storylines

Jess arrives for her first day of
community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always performed ...
where she meets fellow young offender Finn (Nathan McMullen).
Rudy Wade Rudy Wade is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Joe Gilgun. After Robert Sheehan, who played Nathan Young, announced his departure, it was announced a new character called Rudy w ...
(
Joseph Gilgun Joseph William Gilgun (born 9 March 1984) is an English actor known for several roles, including that of Vinnie O'Neill in the Sky One series '' Brassic'', Marcus in Hollyoaks, Eli Dingle in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', Jamie Armstrong i ...
) impersonates their probation worker. Using her X-ray vision, Jess sees that Rudy has
Curtis Donovan Curtis Donovan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. Curtis appears from the series inception and was the only original character to appear in all of the f ...
(
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett Nathan Lloyd Stewart-Jarrett (born 4 December 1985) is a British actor, best known for starring as Curtis Donovan in the E4 series ''Misfits'' and as Ian in the Channel 4 series ''Utopia''. Early life Stewart-Jarrett was born in Wandsworth, ...
) locked inside a freezer and the pair help him escape. Rudy believes that Michael (Nathaniel Martello-White) had sent Jess and Finn. Michael had previously arrived at the community centre with a suitcase of money and used his power on Rudy, Curtis and
Seth Seth,; el, Σήθ ''Sḗth''; ; "placed", "appointed") in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mandaeism, and Sethianism, was the third son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel, their only other child mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible. A ...
(
Matthew McNulty Michael Anthony McNulty (born 14 December 1982), known professionally as Matthew McNulty, is a German-born British actor. Early life McNulty was born on 14 December 1982 in Hanover, Lower Saxony, West Germany, and lived in Berlin and Münster ...
) to make them turn against each other to try to steal the suitcase. Rudy drugs them and locks them in a freezer. Michael is put in the freezer with Jess and Finn and his power makes them want to take the money for themselves. When they are let out of the freezer, Finn steals the money and goes to the roof. Jess threatens Finn with a broken bottle while Rudy, Curtis and Seth also threaten Finn to get the suitcase. Michael arrives and runs to attack Finn. Michael gets the suitcase but falls off the roof, killing himself and ending his power over the group. Jess meets Alex (Matt Stokoe) and flirts with him. Jess convinces Seth to remove the power of Finn's girlfriend, Sadie (Imogen Doel) as she is controlling him. Rudy's third self begins stalking Jess and taunts her about how long it has been since she had sex. Jess has a drink with Alex and when she invites him back to her flat, he makes an excuse as to why he can not come. Jess argues with him—he tells her it is not her fault he does not want to go back to her flat but he has issues of his own that he needs to deal with. Rudy's third self confronts Jess and they have a heartfelt conversation. She reveals that she had an
eating disorder An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. Only one eating disorder can be diagnosed at a given time. Types of eating disorders include binge eating d ...
and began having sex with her friend and confidant. He later left Jess and began having sex with another vulnerable girl. As a result, Jess tried to kill herself. She tells Rudy's third self that she has since not let herself become intimate with someone. He tells Jess that he is not Rudy but Rudy's third self and that he has the two other Rudy's trapped inside his body. Rudy's third self tells Jess he plans to kill her but she stabs him with a pair of scissors. While he dies, Jess kisses him and in return, he releases the other two Rudys from his body. The next week, as Jess is walking through the estate, she bumps into the mysterious bar man Alex. They agree to a date, but Jess is later put off by Finn who confides in her that he saw Alex exchanging money with another man, possibly 'for sex'. Jess is later made more suspicious upon being invited to his apartment, finding his clothes neatly organised and photos of him close with other men. However, Alex confirms that he isn't gay and will only partake in a relationship if they took it slow. Jess agrees but at a party, she tries to seduce him. After being knocked back, she loses her temper and leaves and breaks down. However, as she cries, she is assaulted by 'The White Rabbit' a manifestation created by Rudy's best friend, Richard Saunders, accidentally through a power. Being knocked unconscious, she is dragged into the elevator and then the basement. Later, the gang go looking for her with Alex even getting the upper hand against the rabbit. However, it is finally killed by Abbey. They go back to the community centre to wash when Alex reveals a
transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through tr ...
man with a power has stolen his penis, replacing it with a vagina. Jess informs him they'll help find it and their relationship should continue. Much later at the bar, Jess admits to Rudy that Alex lacks male genitalia something she threatened him to secrecy. However, upon seeing Finn once again distressed and pining after Jess, Rudy lets him in on the secret and later joins in mocking the bartender. Alex walks in, realises Jess told them and storms off much to Jess' distress. She tried to follow, but is informed he went to a night club where the transgender man who stole his penis has been sighted. She goes there, finding him with a gun to the head of the man. He then threatens suicide, an action that forces the transgender man to give him back his penis. However, rejoicing over their ability to now physically replicate their lust is cut short as it turns out Alex is a narcissistic lover as well as a cheat.


Reception

Neela Debnath of ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' said that Jess is "a smart, sarcastic wise-cracker who can see through walls". She felt that of series four new characters, "Jess comes across as the more likeable and ‘conventional’ social miscreant". Debnath felt that Overman "is clearly trying to avoid replicating personalities in order to make sure that Jess and Finn are not seen as replacements but characters in their own right. However, neither of them are as distinct as their predecessors. It is more difficult to pigeonhole them, which in this case is not a good thing because it makes it difficult to get a sense of them". However, Debnath was more complimentary towards the humour of the character, saying that while at times the humour in the show had not been "as pithy as it has been in the past ..Jess throws out some zingers to offset this". Morgan Jeffrey of Digital Spy said that Jess is "straight-shooting" and keeps "a level head". He added that "Crome and McMullen make a strong first impression". Jordan Farley of ''SFX'' said Jess and Finn "have their moments to shine, but we never really get a sense of how they will fit into the new gang or even who they are. Jess more so than Finn. Aside from being a bit prickly she remains a mystery by the end of the episode". He added that the character's introductions "fail to make a big impression". Writing for
MSN MSN (meaning Microsoft Network) is a web portal and related collection of Internet services and apps for Windows and mobile devices, provided by Microsoft and launched on August 24, 1995, alongside the release of Windows 95. The Microsoft Net ...
, Simon Cocks said Jess and Finn "fit into the dynamic perfectly". He added that it would "be exciting" to see them in action as the show progresses. ''
Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...
'' journalist Sarah Deen opined that Jess "might be the weakest link, with her style of acting - probably intended as deadpan - coming across instead as just irritating". Jeffrey felt that Jess begins to "feel a little more real" during her second appearance as "Crome's sarcastic straight-shooter" has "more room to breath". He added that the audience "also get to see the first crack in Jess's icy demeanour when she tries to hit on hot barman Alex and her attempt falls spectacularly flat". Farley commented that although Jess "gets some revealing character moments" they are "very heavy-handed (her reaction upon seeing Alex for the first time is particularly clumsy)". He added that Jess is "proving quite a difficult character to get on with". Reviewing the third episode of the fourth series, Digital Spy's Catriona Wightman said that "Psycho-Rudy latches onto Jess" leading to them sharing secrets from their pasts in a "wonderfully silly" scene, due to them being interrupted by a wedding DJ setting up next door "who can't help but blare out '
Macarena "Macarena" is a dance song by Spanish pop duo Los del Río, about a woman of the same name. The song uses a type of clave rhythm. Originally appearing on the 1993 album '' A mí me gusta'', a subsequent remix by Miami-based producers The Bays ...
' at the worst possible moments". She felt that the absurdity is offset by the "really quite devastating revelations coming from Jess". Wightman explained that the situation turns "brilliantly creepy" as Jess can not escape her captor. Wightman felt that the scene is "brilliantly tense" as Rudy reveals that he plans to murder Jess before she manages to kill him with a pair of scissors. Wightman concluded that Crome and Gilgun "were brilliant in this episode, with Crome being both vulnerable and spiky".


References

{{Misfits (TV series) Female characters in television Television characters introduced in 2012 Misfits (TV series) characters