Skins

[Viin]

Skins is a BBC show about some messed up teenagers. I thought it was going to be all OC'y, and it is sometimes, but it's actually pretty dark and wacky.

The first season is out on Netflix and I think the next is coming shortly, hopefully.

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Skins_Vol._1/70104257
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840196/

There's a lot of stuff on YouTube for it but it seems to be for the latest seasons (3 and 4) which has a new cast. You can find the whole season 1 episode 1 here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A233B0E098276B47

If you are looking for a short series to watch that's a bit different, check it out.

[Mrbloodworth]

I didn't click on anything, but what are the hooks?

[Viin]

Hard for me to formulate the hooks precisely. Hopefully someone else who has seen it can provide their own insight. Just as a quick list of things I think are really well done in the series:

1) Very good cinematography, top quality drama filming.
2) Originally shallow characters become complex and deep as you learn more about them.
3) Not scared to tackle scary or uncomfortable subjects (suicide, drugs, sex, sexuality, messed up relationships (student<->teacher), messed up families).
4) As above, very adult - this kind of writing is something I would expect to see on HBO.
5) Funny accents.

I can't think of anything specific I can say without giving away spoilers. Grr.

One of the more prominent characters thinks of life as a game, and as such plays it to "win" regardless of consequences. His "friends" struggle with this as they feel used and abused in order for him to get what he wants (girls, not being bored, shallow crap). It takes some pretty hard lessons for this character to figure out that life is more than a game (in one of the better episodes of the season).

[Viin]

Also, the main guy from Slumdog Millionaire is one of the kids.

[Engels]

Thanks for this. Looks a bit gen y, but I may be able to hold my nose.

[Tale]

This is genuinely good. BAFTA (Britiish Oscars) award-winning TV with a big following. I haven't had time to watch many episodes, but people love it.

[Sauced]

There are a few "teen angst" episodes, but they are usually balanced out by the good ones.   In the better episodes, the writers are not afraid to be mean to their characters, and more often than not character's actions have consequences.

Neither of which can be said about the vast majority of American television.

[apocrypha]

5) Funny accents.

Lies. They all have perfectly normal accents 

But yeah, Skins is awesome. Probably pretty scary if you're a parent with teenage kids though....

[voodoolily]

I love this show and have been watching on BBC America since the second episode. When I first saw it I was like "holy shit it's Gossip Girl meets Kids!"

[fuser]

So, watched season one and two after seeing this thread. It's really an enjoyable drama that does go a bit further then most go. The whole dealing with Chris came out of no where. The whole one episode focusing on one character was pretty great as you get to see the former stories in the background and how it causes the repercussions in their group.

I'll spoiler this just incase

[Viin]

I feel the same way. I haven't finished season 2 yet, but I'm heavily debating if I want to bother with season 3. Though apparently lots of folks still like it.

[Boedha]

I'm not really a fan of season 3. They have a set of interesting characters but somehow they fail to make it very interesting to watch.


I loved season 1 and 2 though, I don't think I have ever seen a beter pilot that the first episode of season 1.

[Righ]

We recently finished watching all three series via torrent and have downloaded what has been shown of the fourth. Very good, and usually very funny. First cast (series 1 & 2) was stronger than the second, and most of the plot framework was better, particularly before they went a bit mad for song and dance in the second series. I think that what is so impressive about it is that the writing is largely done by people as young as the main cast members which gives it a realistic feel (unlike The Inbetweeners, which is also funny but which feels more like a typical contrived sitcom).

[Signe]

I like it very much and it assures me that I was spot on with my decision not to have children.  Although I might be CENTURIES older than those kids, I completely understand them.  If I were a kid today, I would probably be very much like some of them.  I wouldn't hit anyone in the head with a rock or run off when my friend popped his clogs, I think, but the sex, drugs and rock 'n roll?  Unfortunately, I'd be just as bad.  Maybe worse.  I also suck at being a hypocrite IRL so I'd suck at motherhood.  I once bought tickets to a Slayer show for my nephew and a friend when they were 13 or 14 or something.  God, I hope they weren't 12.  I can't remember exactly.  I thought my sister was going to hit me in the head with a rock.   

[Der Helm]

We recently finished watching all three series via torrent

Is this still legal ? Or am I going to jail any day now ? 

[fuser]

Been watching season 4 on the side, I gotta say the show jumped the shark after last night.


Season 5/6 are signed up but it will be a whole new cast.

[Signe]

Shocking.

Anyway, this series has changed way too much and all for the bad.  Any bit of humour it might have had has been sucked right out for some reason.  I'll be glad for a cast change.  Hopefully, it'll be for the better.