# Alphas cancelled by Syfy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563 "2013-01-17T23:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/21 "2013-01-18T18:50:10Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > This will give you a chance to check out\*\*[Misfits](http://www.hulu.com/misfits)\*\*, a much better show on the same theme. That sounds interesting. I need to sign up for an account to view it, which I’d rather not do unless I first know whether I’ll need to pay to view it. Is it free? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/22 "2013-01-18T19:43:23Z")
I joked earlier but I am going to miss this show. I liked it a lot and Gary was unlike any character on TV. I knew it was doomed when the 2nd season ratings were lower than the first (which were low). Hated to be right though. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/23 "2013-01-18T19:46:34Z")
**Misfits** is free unless you want to see it on your phone or iPad. Then you need Hulu plus (paid). **Misfits** does deal with the responsibility and consequences of the powers. One of the great things about it is that the powers granted the characters are based upon their own secret desires and fears. The first two seasons are by far the best superhero show on TV, though it’s almost impossible to describe without spoiling things (there are a lot of surprising twists). Seasons three and four were good, though not at the amazing level of the first two. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/24 "2013-01-18T20:28:20Z")
Shows that haven’t been renewed shouldn’t be allowed to end in cliff hangers. Looking at you too Alcatraz. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/25 "2013-01-18T22:26:24Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **Misfits** is free unless you want to see it on your phone or iPad. Then you need Hulu plus (paid). > > **Misfits** does deal with the responsibility and consequences of the powers. One of the great things about it is that the powers granted the characters are based upon their own secret desires and fears. Misfits is the prototype for “incompetents with super-powers are still incompetents.” Rather than be frustrated that super-genius Peter Parker thinks the best way to see if his powers have returned is to jump off a 10-story building rather than the dozens of non-lethal ways to check, at least with Misfits you know everyone’s a half-wit. Half-wits that can read minds, time travel and teleport, but still half-wits. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/26 "2013-01-19T00:19:07Z")
The Misfits behave like real people given superpowers – not trying to be heroes or villains, and with messed up lives where their powers don’t do anything to help. It’s like the Stan Lee idea of superheroes with problems, only the problems are far bigger and who never can really catch a break. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/27 "2013-01-19T01:34:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > She was only a regular on Firefly and Terminator, though you have a point. She was also on Dollhouse and Alphas. > > And the 4400, which lasted a bit longer. She was also a regular on _The Cape_ which was pulled before all its 13 episodes aired. She only had 8 episodes on _The 4400_ and also 7 episodes in _The Unit_, both which had 4 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/28 "2013-01-19T01:45:16Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Meh. I \*tried \*to like Alphas, I really, really did. But I just couldn’t get into it. Too many morose, unhappy characters and episodes. Gary was the only character I liked. He was hilarious. Move on, SyFy, lick your wounds, and come up with an even better show. I forced myself to sit through six episodes hoping it’d grow on me, and it never did. Warren Christie is now free to be on other shows, ones I might like as much as others he’s been on, so I’m not too sad about this. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563/29 "2013-01-19T01:54:31Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Misfits behave like real people given superpowers – not trying to be heroes or villains, and with messed up lives where their powers don’t do anything to help. It’s like the Stan Lee idea of superheroes with problems, only the problems are far bigger and who never can really catch a break. My problem with the Stan Lee formula is that it skews too far from the DC formula he wanted to counter (that all heroes were smart, wealthy altruists). The fantasy behind comics is “how great would it be to have power!” Where’s the pleasure in being told you’d still be the same pathetic sad-sack you were before? In Misfits everyone got their powers from a mysterious cloud, and while the show focused on low-class delinquents doing community service (endlessly, for spurious reasons) I don’t recall one person in London competently handling the change. C’mon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-cancelled-by-syfy/647563.md?page=1)