This British show seems unstoppable. Stomping on from the
original characters, by series five we have another assortment of
awkward misfits with their hearts ultimately in right places. Told
chronologically, each of seven episodes focuses on the character after
which it is named. Thus we have “Franky”, “Rich”, “Mini”, “Liv”, “Nick”,
“Alo”, “Grace” and the final, eighth episode is “Everyone”.
Franky’s gender is ambiguous, either by choice or not.
She has two gay dads. Mini is an aspiring model and has the attitude to
match. Nick is captain of the rugby team and doesn’t let you forget it.
Rich loves metal music. Grace is a great ballet dancer (get it?). Each
of the gang has their endearing qualities but also their flaws. How they
interact and survive “college”, peers, parents and the world in general
is put on display for our viewing pleasure.
I have always wondered how representative the extreme
language, actions and consequences of these juvenile pseudo-delinquents
really is. Does Skins hold up the mirror to reality? I would
surmise that the answer is mixed: both Yes and No. The tenderness and
emotional grasp of the stories and dialogue is there. I refuse to
believe that all the kids out there choose to behave like this: binge
drinking and drug taking are not compulsory!
Compared to the first series, the look of series five
seems rougher, rawer and somewhat low-budget. This shows up in the 1080p
picture of the Blu-Ray. The acting is also more self-aware. The ensemble
seems to have shrunk, allowing a sharper concentration on interconnected
friendships.
The “Nick” episode is particularly poignant. The
pressures on the jock alpha male with a domineering “success, success,
success” guru father are beautifully explored. It is in moments like
these that Skins reaches its strengths. The show is fun viewing
and has a cracking pace. Personally, I find the characters too
‘unwashed’, extreme and eccentric to be relatable and can tend to the
realm of caricature.
The sound is 2.0 LPCM (stereo), which is fitting for a TV
show. Special features include behind the scenes looks and interviews
with cast and crew.
