Login
Ok, so I feel like I need to take my time with this review because I'm doing it for no other reason than to tell you how I feel about it.
I effing LOVE this show. Which is so unlike me because I can't stand teen dramas. (Degrassi, ew.)
I remember sitting down and (sadly) watching the first episode from the U.S. version of Skins because it had such a big hype. I was SO disappointed that I just never watched it again.
About a few months later I found on my Netflix the U.K. version. To be honest I was probably drunk and wanted to put something on to fall asleep to, much to my surprise I couldn't look away.
I probably finished the first 2 seasons in 4-5 days. It was non stop. I even got my boyfriend to watch it with me.
Something about the U.K. version is just SO RIGHT.
The accent? Yeah.
The cast/characters? Yeah.
The attitudes, events, and drama? Of course.
All of it just fit together in a perfect masterpiece of a show. I don't think there is anything that could make it better.
Yes, it did have multiple events that are just way too heartbreaking and insane to all happen to a small group of friends. It wasn't overbearing though. The SUPER crazy situations that happen are limited and in place of all shock factor (which they could have easily done) there were legit situations that I could relate to. Things happen in this show that I have dealt with before and it's crazy to sit there and watch it, almost reliving it.
I'm pretty sure I've connected emotionally to the characters in seasons 1-2 than any other character(s) ever. When Tony gets hit by a bus, when Sid losses his dad, when Chris dies, the goodbye that Tony and Sid make before he leaves for New York I must admit 1-3 tears did fall from my eyes.
Despite all the drama and heavy subjects there is a great handful of humor even in the most intense of situations. This makes it hard to hate the show because you think it's too serious. How can you hate it for being serious if you find yourself laughing every 5 minutes?
As for the casting, again flawless.
Nicholas Hoult made me fall in love with Tony. I feel like this was brilliant because Tony is a womanizer, so falling in love with Tony is so ironic. In the scene where he's auditioning for the choir in the first episode I felt like I was one of the choir girls just sitting there daydreaming about how perfect he is. If an actor can make me feel like one of the characters in the show then your doing something right. Also, no matter how much he's a 'Wanker', you can't help but love him. It's like a curse.
Mitch Hewer as Maxxie was another great character. He played such a perfect gay guy, I don't think there was an episode where you don't agree with him.
Mike Bailey as Sid. Sid was such a good character. He grew the most in the 2 seasons out of all of them in my opinion. I love how they made him and Tony best friends even though they are total opposites.
Kaya Scodelario as Effy. Effy is the ONLY reason I started season 3 (which I'm having a hard time getting through) I loved how she grew through the 2 seasons.
Joseph Dempsie as Chris. I feel he was the biggest comic relief out of the entire cast. He so lovable and silly which makes his death SO HEARTBREAKING.
Lastly Hannah Murray as Cassie. Cassie was so interesting the entire 2 seasons it's hard not to be into her. She was so mental it was almost creepy.
Of course there is also Michelle, Anwar, Sketch and Jal. I honestly didn't connect as much as the others listed above, but of course all of them are huge factors in the series.
All of this being said, I am so picky about the 'new generations' of Skins. I'm half way through the 'Effy' gen. (seasons 3-4) and I'm not feeling it. I feel like the characters are less attaching to me. Which is sad because the first Gen. was SO GOOD. Hopefully things turn around.
Update!** 12032011
Watched seasons 3-4. Can't say I'm too impressed. The only characters I can connect with is Freddie, (omg, I can't believe what happens to him...) and Effy. Didn't really care about anyone else. I felt like everyone else were annoying.
Season 5...omg it's so good. So far ALL of the characters I find are easy to relate with. Excited for season 6.
