Skins: the critically acclaimed drama about a group of pill popping, dope smoking, off the rails 17-year-olds, that’s a mixture of humorous, heartbreaking and sometimes shocking stories.
Tony, the most popular boy in town, a born leader, he likes a laugh and always at someone else’s expense – that was until he got hit by a bus and ended up in intensive care for six months.
Sid, forever lusting after his best mate Tony’s gorgeous girlfriend and even when he does fall for the total nutty but adorable and single Cassie, she moves to Scotland.
Michelle, quick witted and stunning she keeps everyone on their toes, except for Tony who runs rings around her, but would she really have it any other way?
Chris, the original party animal, always game for a laugh, he doesn’t need a family or a home as long as he has something to smoke, pop, screw and rob.
Super bright and sharp Jal, Michelle’s best friend, and talented classical clarinet player. But does that make her boring? Maybe it’s time she let her hair down.
Maxxie, the school sweetheart, can have any boy he wants and he wants most of them. He dreams of escaping Bristol to follow his passion of dancing.
Anwar’s family want him to study the Koran. Anwar likes tequila, dope, pills and breasts. End of.
Tony’s little sister Effy tends to keep her mouth shut, but gets up to more than anyone would care to know about, and she knows how to get what she wants too.
Dead posh, pretty and pumped full of prescription medication, Abigail, Michelle’s nemesis, lives in a world of imported carpets, private school and constant therapy.
Posh Kenneth offers us a rare mix of upper crust elocution and street bangin' language. What no-one knows is that the Big K is a big hit with the ladies too.
Sketch dreams only of Maxxie and in her world dreams do come true. Even if you have to force them a little.
Picking up six months after the end of
Skins’ maiden season, this second series maintains the terrifically high standard set by the first. In its basic form a drama about teenagers, the trick to
Skins is that it sidesteps the many, many clichés of the genre, and instead offers gritty, quite brilliantly written television.
What’s more,
Skins is viewing that pulls no punches. By turns very funny, gripping and dramatic, it picks up the story of a group of under 20s in Bristol, dealing with issues of religion, sexuality and sex, among others. But it does this through a cast of three dimensional characters (each facing tough challenges of their own), suitably well realised by the primarily young cast. A selection of guest stars, including Harry Enfield, Bill Bailey and Shane Richie also appear.
But is the second series of
Skins better than the first? Yes, not least because it’s willing to take risks, to evolve and darken the narrative a little, yet still remember to put its characters at the fore. It’s still a show that may baffle an older audience, but stands as a shining beacon as to what Channel 4 can achieve when it backs proper British dramas. Roll on series three. --
Jon Foster
發表於 2012-3-25 16:07:17
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