TV Review - Skins
March 23rd, 2007 at 15:00 by Matthew Laidlow
From the makers of Shameless comes new British drama, Skins. From the makers of Shameless comes new British drama, Skins. From the makers of Shameless comes new British drama, Skins. Not quite sure if anyone got that. Did you know that from the makers of Shameless comes new British drama, Skins?
We realised this in the months leading up to Skins' launch on E4 back in January. Literally every time you put E4 on, this information was slapped at your face. So after its advertising hype, was Skins actually worth watching? After the first episode, we thought Skins was ridiculous and were tempted to write a scathing post warning you away. But in a rare moment of sympathy we thought that maybe judging something after one episode was a bit harsh. So we endured the entire series and, now its finished, have come up with the following conclusion - Skins is nothing more then trendy-looking shit staged in an unrealistically perfect world where the most unlikely of events happen to the most improbable bunch of kids.
Remember how Skins is from the creators of Shameless? Well it goes without saying; the two couldn’t be any further apart when it comes to its style and content. Shameless is set in Manchester and Skins in Bristol. While it could have been nice for the writers to get away from the impression that the north is a dive and the south is full of posh southern wankers, nothing seems to have been done to try and stamp out this stereotype. Bristol seems to be this magic and glorious land where everything is perfect and vibrant.
Over the nine weeks that Skins has been on our screens, we somehow get the feeling that the management of H&M and Topshop will be laughing all the way to the bank. All the characters seem to wear nothing but the clothes found in these shops. Expect sales of cheap-looking heart pendants for girls and contrasting stripy tops for blokes to rocket through the roof as all the trendy kids try to copy the non-imaginative style of the Skins characters. Speaking of the characters, there couldn’t really be a more bizarre mixture. It’s like a producer has rifled through country to find as many differing personalities as possible.
The mismatch of losers includes your typical gay character, Maxxie; Tony, the stud of the school who everyone wants to be, with passions include dipping into the world of manlove, being a general twat to everyone and cheating on his girlfriend Michelle. Michelle comes across as the diva of the group, often complaining when things go wrong and generally being a stupid cow when she realises looks don’t count for everything. Jal is a privileged and musically talented girl who often gets ignored because she’s dull & boring, and then there's Chris, the teacher shagger. So far so teen drama. But how could Skins go crazy and create some radical character development? Easy! Chuck in a drug-taking Muslim character called Anwar, instantly solving the problem of not having any ethnic minorities in the cast and meaning nobody can be accused of racism.
With all the wankers and dickheads, Skins had to have a character like Sid who actually has an ounce of intelligence and conscience when it comes to things like stealing cars, although this holds him back as no-one will help him pop his cherry. Finally, add to the pot the biggest cocktease in the show – Cassie who entertains us with her eating disorders and suicidal tendencies - and you have the makings of a complete randomly put-together show.
Each Skins episode often features all of these goons at various points, but usually just one character is centralised and given their own storyline. Our personal favourite was when Tony tried to save his sister Effy after she took smack at a party and was left on the floor to die. Everyone knows rescue attempts go tits up, and this one was no exception. In the process of a rescue he was beaten up, taunted and then nearly forced to shag his own sister. Who says incest can’t be funny? Remember that book we reviewed once, Angels and Insects?
Other rubbish plots included Cassie overdosing on drugs because Sid wouldn’t go out with her, and… actually they're all rubbish and would never happen in real life. When was the last time you knew someone whose mum buggered off and left them a grand to do whatever they wanted? Answers on a postcard please. The parties they all have on Skins seem to be better than any we’ve ever seen to. Obviously, the days have gone when having mates turning up to drink your parent’s alcohol supply has gone. According to Skins it seems to be acceptable to trash random people's houses, ponce around to rubbish nu-rave music, act like a twat after a single can of lager, cram as many drugs down your neck as possible and shag whatever’s moving. Maybe it’s a Bristol thing.
Whatever the reason, people out there actually like Skins. Why we don’t know. As yet, the Daily Mail hasn’t launched a mass campaign trying to convince parents that Skins will rip all of our youth to shreds. Another series has sadly been commissioned and hecklerspray is more than happy to write an episode for the producers that bears even the slightest resemblance to what goes on in a normal group of kids' lives. You know, for a change.
August 31st, 2007 at 11:34 am
in my opinion, this review is NOT what the majority of people think. it is obviosly written by someone of an age that the programme is not aimed for, with opinions that all teenagers should be dressed ‘appropriately’. for your inormation, the characters are students, who usually cannot afford luxury clothes from expensive brands.
and i think the episodes are genius and funny, not ‘rubbish’ as you say.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:43 am
I think this review is bullshit. The obviously bias reviewer has just watched one of the most orginal series I, in my short life, have watched, and can only say crap about it. As for the situations and main characters, what is normal? It wouldnt take long for me to go round my school and find people like these characters, just that they wouldnt have the whole briallant script writers there for them. The mindset and view is totally that from a teenage perspective and I think if you spent more time off your arse and away from that brand new computer screen your granny gave you as a graduation present from that online course you did last week, you might know this.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:22 am
I know somebody like every member of Skin’s main cast, I know people who’ve od’d because they couldn’t get the love of their life, I know people who have even changed their names to suit the characters they most embody (, ten out of ten for guessing who >.>) so, this review is not in keeping with the general consencus, so - go and **** yourself - or live a little.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
What a load of crap, skins is ace and I knew people like that when I lived in the U.K. Now Skins is shown in Australia and people love it.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I have to say I think its a pile of wank. I’m at the so called age range and I find the show shallow, bland and over exagerrated. Sure the characters are all people we can say we know to some extent, there all stereotypes! I agree I’ve never been to a party like the ones in this show but I guess thats just pandering to the demographic saying “look how cool we are at this party, don’t you wish you were here?”. Before people start calling me a geek, I have lived and I have been known to P.A.R.T. Y? Because I wanted too! But the main reason why its crap is cause the characters are fucking annoying, nobody would react the way they do, why should i sympathise with a prick who treats his friends like shit and cheats on his girlfriend? Even Sid the only half decent character is just a walking stereotype “Oh I’m so uncool cause I’m a virgin”.
I could’ve ranted better closer to when I watched the series but I just thought I’d stick up for the reviewer. There’s plenty of better television out there people!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I’m in the age range for this piece of shit program and I, funnily enough, think its a piece of shit.
I love shameless, but this show is awful. Watched by the same trendy wankers who watch The mighty boosh.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Wow. How odd.
“Other rubbish plots included Cassie overdosing on drugs because Sid wouldn’t go out with her, and… actually they’re all rubbish and would never happen in real life.”
Have you even BEEN to the real world? In my opinion Skins is a pretty accurate representation of a teenager’s life at college. Not doing coursework, facing depression, taking drugs, drinking, relationship problems, blah blah blah.
I admit this probably doesnt happen everywhere, but major cities like Bristol (where its set) and where I live (Brighton) “skins plots” are actually regular occurances.
Thanks for your OPINION but try not to stereotype Skins as some crap soap.
Could you also give us all a good example of “Better television”? Apart from reality TV shows, crap sci-fis no one care about, random competitions trying to make people celebrities and all that jazz? Cheers x
March 5th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
& fyi everyone: the mighty boosh can die. =]
March 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
& last but not least: get a life n go to a real party?
I’ve been to better one’s than the ones on skins.
Thanks.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
1 - The Crystal Maze
2 - Agreed
3 - Ok, i’ll try, where can I get one? Get yourself over to Thailand and experience a full moon party. There better then the ones you’ll have on Brightons crap man made beach.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Whilst it is true that every part of the show is probably exaggerated a little, this reviewer is either over 40 or has led the most boring teenage life imaginable.
The characters are all pretty believable if a little stereotypical, the problem being (speaking as a 20 year old) that teenage stereotypes are generally fairly accurate.
You’ve never been to a teenage party where everyone’s on drugs? Or the house gets smashed? Lame. And long live rave!
April 15th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
this review is a load of bullshit. the person that’s written it is obviously 40+ and hasn’t had a life. Ok, yeah, of course each characters’ storyline is exagerated a little for entertainment purposes (for those numpties out there that think that skins is completely unrealistic, the producers, directors and the cast have been asked on a number of occasions whether they think skins gives a good representation of british teenagers today, all of which have said that it has had to be exagerated for entertainment purposes, but other than that…it is pretty accurate!)
personally i love skins, and i couldn’t imagine my life without it now.
to a certain extent we all see some of the character’s qualities in our own group of friends.
i love skins and think it has been written and acted wonderfully by the current producers/writers/cast and has had some amazing storylines. im gutted that they have chosen to get a new cast in for the 3rd series, because i couldnt imagine skins without the current gang.
I think that whoever has written this review should take a look at the ratings of this show, and see how many countries it has been screened in (particualarly recently, it has been taken to America and is doing really well, it takes a lot of hard work to make it in America)
And the music isn’t rubbish. it’s great.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
WORST REVIEW EVER - Matthew Laidlow has no idea. Although slightly exaggerated (it is TV Matthew), most college do go through the things portrayed in Skins. Next time, the review should be done by someone within 15 years of the target audience. The only thing stereotypical here your view Matthew - guess it must be your age.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
skins is awesom!
mighty boosh is awesome!
review was wank.
April 28th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Skins is the best thing on TV in an eternity, and if you don’t like it, fuck off and watch Midsomer Murders.
Finally, the “ignorant youth” can watch something worth watching in that it’s close to actual realism (albeit slightly exaggerated.)
Skins is, like, so safe, yeah?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Midsomer Murders? Past our bedtime.