"It's Going To Be A Grower..."

There aren't many programmes that can make me stay in while my friends are boozing in Leeds City centre, but Skins is definitely one of them. An avid fan from the beginning, I was eagerly anticipating the third series until I learned that there'd be a completely new set of characters.

 

At first I was extremely disappointed. But I soon realised that there wasn't much more they could do with the old group. So, with a cup of tea (Not very Skins, but we were all out of weed) and an open mind, I settled down to watch the first episode on E4. 
 
The warning of very strong language, violence, drug-use and scenes of a sexual nature instantly reassured me, but by the first ad break I started was questioning certain things. This opening episode didn't waste any time introducing the main themes; sex, drugs and rock and roll...for sixteen-year-olds. I love that it still doesn't shy away from taboo subjects, although the fact that the characters are meant to be just a year older than my sister, is one of two things: worrying or unrealistic. Nevertheless, I'm willing to overlook how streetwise-to-the-extreme the kids appear to be for their age. After all, I overlooked it in the first two series.

 

What bothered me more is that the characterisation seemed too over-the-top, even for Skins. Two of the new characters instantly annoyed me: JJ (actor Ollie Barbieri) has the 'geek-factor' we liked in previous loser Sid (Mike Bailey), but that's just where his personality seemed to end.

 

Similarly with Cook (Jack O'Connell), I saw some of the 'crazy-factor' we loved in Chris (Joe Dempsie), but he lacked the likeability. Understandably, the producers have attempted to create new personalities in this cast, but as someone who watched and loved the previous series, I can't help comparing with a critical eye, especially when they seem so excruciatingly familiar. We first see Cook and JJ as they meet up with their skateboarding mate Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) and cause a bit of trouble. I hate to use the word, but the opening felt clichéd.

Effy is the only original cast member in the new series and she hasn't let us down. Interesting and alluring, with a dark and intriguing side, she's played brilliantly by Kaya Scodelario. Of course you could argue that there's another word for someone who has sex on the first day of school with someone they just met. But I'm sure she has a lot more to offer us!

 

Another character that caught my attention is Naomi Campbell (no, not that one). Passionate and political, she's played by the fab Lily Loveless. I'm hoping we see a lot more of her as the series develops. Pandora (Lisa Backwell), described on the Skins website as 'an adorable virgin', is funny and comes across as very likeable. She's got the potential to be quite interesting; she defied my perception of a 'good girl' by removing herself from class and she's blatant with the sex talk. Pandora and Effy are the unlikeliest of best friends - seriously, on which planet would that happen? That's why I believe this provides an extra dimension to Effy's character.

 
I feel (or at least, I hope) that this third series is going to be a grower. Much of the enjoyment I gained from the past episodes was from the great character development and subtle humour which was strewn amid trouble-filled lives.

 

For me, everything just seemed too obvious in this first episode. I wasn't expecting the characters and storylines to be fully realised in just one episode (that's the fun with Skins, you never know what's coming). However, I did cringe at quite a few moments, especially the college induction assembly scene with its tired jokes, serial farting and a nervous wreck of a communications teacher. The gags (such as the policeman riding straight into a bin van) were over-emphasised to fill the initial void as we got to know the cast. Overall, not brilliant. But, I'm hoping, salvageable.

Gallery: check out the new Skins cast here

 

 

Video: watch clips of Skins here