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Seth is a fictional character 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
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 ...
. Seth first appears in the Christmas special as a guest character. McNulty knew it was a possibility he may be brought back but did not know for definite until a month before he began filming series three. McNulty explained that Seth is a " plot tool" and is a used by the writers to help continue changing the show through his ability to deal powers, moving them to and from others which was born out of Seth's job as a drug dealer. The character "has to be a bit ruthless at times" but is a "nice guy" who "wants to do the right thing". McNulty explained Seth is "a level-headed, straight thinking guy" and helps the group when things "get a little too far out of hand", driving the situation towards the right resolution "because he’s pretty much a strait-laced character".


Casting and character creation

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 ...
was first cast as Seth to appear in the Christmas special. McNulty reprised his role as Seth throughout the third series which he said was always an option but was never a definite. He was only informed that he would be returning a month before filming began. McNulty explained that Seth is a " plot tool" and is a "useful tool" for the writers to help continue changing the show due to his ability to change the powers of other characters.
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 confirmed Seth would appear in the fourth series.


Characterisation and development

McNulty said the audience are initially lead to "sort of think" that Seth is "not a very nice guy" but as the series progresses "you get to know Seth a little bit more ..and you can kind of get a little bit of an understanding of why he is like he is and I think people will warm to him a little bit more". He explained that Seth was in a long term relationship until his girlfriend died which makes him "a bit needy". McNulty described Seth as being "a bit lonely" after the death of his girlfriend. Because the character is a drug dealer he "has to be a bit ruthless at times" which prevents him from becoming friends with anyone. McNulty explained that he initially thought Seth would be a "dark character" but that Seth is a "nice guy" who "wants to do the right thing". The actor added that Seth is "almost accepted into the group" by the other characters but that he would not "ever be part of the group because he’s not a “Misfit”" and he "doesn’t really fit in to be honest". Seth is an outsider in the group and due to him being "a level-headed, straight thinking guy" he will help rectify things when they "get a little too far out of hand". McNulty went on to say that Seth "drives it forward towards the right resolution because he’s pretty much a strait-laced character". Seth has the power to move powers to and from others. This was born out of Seth working as a drug dealer, McNulty explained that the power "worked in his favour" but Seth begins to "think about what is he really doing with it". Seth finds it "frustrating" because he has no ability of his own and "all he can do is make money". He is unable to use the powers but will "know every power that’s out there, he’ll see all the cool stuff and stuff that he would probably like to use but can’t, so it’s definitely frustrating for Seth that he simply can’t. He’s got access to all these powers but can’t do anything with it". Seth is not on
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 ...
like the other main characters so is not in a boiler suit. McNulty felt that the character was not "worthy" of a boiler suit because he is not "out there enough". McNulty said that his costume often contains "pointy suede black shoes and a black leather jacket". He explained that in his initial appearance as the character he had silver rings on and had a silver tooth which "didn’t seem real. It was just a bit unrealistic, so we got rid of all that, got rid of all the jewels and stuff". Seth begins a relationship with Kelly Bailey (
Lauren Socha Lauren Marie Socha (born 9 June 1990) is an English actress. She rose to prominence during her role as Kelly Bailey in the E4 comedy-drama television series ''Misfits'', for which she won a BAFTA TV Award in the Best Supporting Actress categor ...
). McNulty said he "wouldn't have put Seth and Kelly together, but it works". He added that the characters "bring out the best in each other" as Seth is "so controlled, he plans out everything he does, and Kelly's the complete opposite. That's what Seth needs, so that's why they work well together".


Storylines

Seth is introduced as a former drug dealer who possesses the ability to remove powers from others, store them in his body and then transfer them to another person. Seth uses his power as a business, purchasing powers off people who don't want them, then selling them to willing buyers.
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 ...
(
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 ...
) first visits Seth asking him to remove her power, which he does for free.
Nathan Young Nathan Young is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Robert Sheehan. He first appeared in Series 1 Episode 1 and departed in a webisode entitled "Vegas Baby!" after Sheehan quit th ...
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Robert Sheehan Robert Sheehan (born 7 January 1988) is an Irish actor. He is best known for television roles such as Nathan Young in ''Misfits'', Darren Treacy in '' Love/Hate'', and Klaus Hargreeves in ''The Umbrella Academy,'' as well as film roles such a ...
) sells his power of immortality followed by
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, ...
), Kelly and
Nikki Nikki may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Nikki (Barbie), a fashion doll in the Barbie toy line * Nikki (comics), a Marvel Comics character * Nikki and Paulo, from the TV series ''Lost'' * Nikki, the mascot of Swapnote * N ...
(
Ruth Negga Ruth Negga ( ; born 7 January 1981) is an Ethiopian-Irish actress known for the AMC television series ''Preacher'' and the film '' Loving''. For her portrayal of Mildred Loving in the latter, Negga received several major nominations from the Ac ...
) and later
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, ...
(
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 each sell their powers. The group try to buy their powers back, but Seth doubles the price. They later return with stolen money and buy new powers from Seth. Seth grows closer to Kelly and they share a kiss in an alternate timeline. Seth tells Kelly he used to be a drug dealer and he gave his ex-girlfriend the drugs which killed her. Seth rescues Kelly from Jen a comatose patient who body swaps with her. Seth and Kelly begin a relationship. Seth finds the ability of
resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, which ...
and asks Curtis to use it for him to resurrect his dead girlfriend. Curtis resurrects Shannon (
Charlene McKenna Charlene Lee McKenna ( ga, Searlaoin Nic Chionaoith; born 26 March 1984) is an Irish actress. She became a household name in Ireland after starring as Jennifer Jackson in the miniseries ''Pure Mule'' (2005). She appeared on Irish television in ' ...
) who has a desire to consume blood as a side effect of her resurrection. Shannon eats Seth's pet iguana and infects Seth's neighbour. Kelly warns Seth of Shannon's state but he ignores her and ends their relationship. He realises that she is a
zombie A zombie (Haitian French: , ht, zonbi) is a mythological undead corporeal revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. Zombies are most commonly found in horror and fantasy genre works. The term comes from Haitian folklore, in whic ...
and goes to kill her but can not. Seth helps the group kill a squad of cheerleaders who have become infected. Shannon turns up at the community centre and threatens to infect Kelly so Seth will no longer want her. Seth tells Shannon he loves Kelly and kills her. Seth and Kelly reunite. Seth helps Simon obtain the power of time travel and gives him money so that when he travels back in time he can purchase a power from Seth. Seth and Kelly go travelling and while in
Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
Kelly defuses a landmine, saving a boy's life and being praised by the villagers. She and Seth decide to stay in Uganda to help defuse landmines. Seth returns to England to collect their belongings.
Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
(Nathaniel Martello-White) arrives at the community service and Seth, Curtis and Rudy are infected with his power of an infectious greed which makes those around him desperate to get his briefcase full of money. Seth and Rudy lock Curtis in the freezer to try to get him out of the way. The briefcase is handcuffed to Michael and his hand is cut off by Rudy, only for the briefcase only to go missing. Seth begins torturing Michael so he will reveal where the briefcase is. Jess (Karla Crome) and Finn (Nathan McMullen) join community service. They rescue Curtis from the freezer, only to be locked in the freezer themselves by Rudy. Michael is locked in with them and infects them. Finn and Jess are released by Rudy's otherself who tells them where the briefcase is. Finn steals it for himself. On the community centre roof Finn is confronted by the group only for Michael to fall to his death, breaking his power over the group. Seth is convinced to take Sadie's (Imogen Doel) so she does not use it on Finn. Seth later returns to Uganda to be with Kelly.


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 she found Seth's storyline as the "power guy" to be "intriguing". Debnath later expressed that she felt Seth's relationship with Kelly was "satisfying" adding that the pair "have an underplayed chemistry which works because both of them are guarded characters, neither of whom wants to lose face". ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' said they were yet to decide if "Seth is actually well and truly good or not, especially given that he plays a banker of superpowers at a time when our faith in bankers in the real world is somewhat lacking". Catriona Wightman of Digital Spy said she was "quite enjoying the Kelly-Seth frisson". Wightman said that she felt Seth and Kelly making up after an argument "so sweet" that it convinced her the writers were planning to kill Seth off. Morgan Jeffrey of Digital Spy said the only negative point of series 4 episode 2 "is the quiet, underwritten departure of Seth. Last week, the retired power dealer felt like a spare part - without Kelly, he doesn't have much of a purpose and it felt like he was being kept around more for familiarity's sake than anything else. This week, Seth at least briefly services the plot, but it's still a rather underwhelming exit for Matthew McNulty's loveable rogue, who contributed so much to Misfits last year". Jordan Farley of '' SFX''felt Seth "is reduced to a plot device in, presumably, his last appearance of the series".


References

{{Misfits (TV series) Television characters introduced in 2010 Male characters in television Misfits (TV series) characters