DeniTV Import: Skins (UK)
April 23rd 2010 12:06
Category: TV-Drama
What ever happened to films like, "Sixteen Candles", "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", "The Breakfast Club" and "Flirting"?
Forgive my ignorance but I have no idea who reads these blogs. I don't know if you're in the U.S., Australia, the U.K. or Djibouti. I'm guessing when I assume that teenagers are the same everywhere and what ever their hang-ups are can be seen in films - "Art imitates life" and all that jazz. But, if you want to know what kind of teenage-ry movies I grew up on in the early 80's and 90's then I recommend the aforementioned titles.
I remember when back in the day, the worst you could have done was smoke a cigarette in the bathroom or set off a false fire alarm. There "burnouts (American slang for drug users)",but they kept to themselves. Teenage pregnancy wasn't even heard of yet, you had to take a good guess to find out who was getting laid - that news was a bit more private, and those poor gay kids (forgive me if I don't know the PC term) were forced to stay in the closet or else they'd get punched in the "chest". Er...yeah that sounds weird but in my neighborhood a punch in the "chest"- really hard - was believed to be a scientific cure for the "gay" - go figure!
Things have changed a lot since then - more than I ever realized according to "Skins". "Skins" is a British teen drama series that touches on a bevvy of issues young people are faced today, including but not limited to drug abuse, teen sexuality, teen pregnancies, mental illness, eating disorders, dysfunctional families, hard partying and death - did I leave anything out?
This TV series is so brutally honest about young people today that it left me feeling - wow! It tells parents exactly what their children are doing when they neglect them and it is gritty as they come. I recently discovered this show, now approaching its fifth season, by chance. I was expecting a typical teenage comedy drama and what I got was a punch in the chest - and I'm not even gay.
The teenagers in this series are neither caricatures or exaggerations. In the first two seasons we meet, Tony, Cassie, Jal, Chris, Sid, Maxxie, Anwar, Michelle, and Effy. All are close friends and attend a sixth form school in Bristol England. Each are representative of all the high school cliques that have ever existed yet they all manage to form a tenuous bond with each other despite their radical differences. In a normal setting, I doubt any of these kids would hang out with each other.
Most of the drama that takes place are the result of the actions, both indirectly and directly, of Tony played by actor Nicholas Hoult - remember the kid from "About A Boy"?, well he's all grown up now.
Tony is intelligent, popular, handsome, confident, and very manipulative. He knows he is the center of the group and will often stir up trouble either to re-affirm his status as the leader or out of shear boredom. For instance he knows that Sid, his best mate who's shy and has zero confidence, is in love with his girlfriend Michelle. Tony will sometimes deliberately cause a break in their relationship and encourage Sid to make a move for her. Just when Sid thinks he has a shot, Tony will swoop back in to win her back at the blink of an eye with a knowing and malicious smirk - and no remorse.
The rest of gang are equally colorful and complex as Tony and a bit more endearing - thank goodness! Each episode will focus on one of the characters so there is no real star vehicle here. I'd rather spare you a long-winded introduction to the regulars for series 1 and 2. Instead, I'll direct you to the following link so that you can get a visual.
See other characters here: Click me!
And if you think the teenagers are wild and rambunctious, the parents are... well a bit out there as well. Dysfunction is at an all time normal here. A few of the kids have their families in tact physically but not emotionally which forces them to rely on each other, and lets face it, neither one is an ideal role-model so you know what the future holds. It's a never ending cycle.
You know how kids get grossed out when they discover that their parents are still having sex? Well be prepared to gouge your eyes out with a blunt object when you view this show - eww! A few of the parent are so er..otherwise engaged that it seems no one has time to spare for the young adults - they are completely uninvolved and uninformed of their children's emotional needs especially at a time when wise council is needed.
Now there are some redeeming characters and funny moments...it's not all seriousness. The show is unique in that every two seasons, the cast will be replaced as characters move on from sixth form and the audience is introduced to new people with different challenges.
The series has proven to be a hit with British and American audiences. A "Skin" feature film is in the works and also an American version is being produced for television and it will be set in Balimore, MD.
It's a good show to watch even if a little skewed at times. Sometimes it comes off as surreal and disjointed but it's definitely entertaining. If you are in the mood for a bit of the "gritty" with a side-order of laughs, then definitely check it out.
Forgive my ignorance but I have no idea who reads these blogs. I don't know if you're in the U.S., Australia, the U.K. or Djibouti. I'm guessing when I assume that teenagers are the same everywhere and what ever their hang-ups are can be seen in films - "Art imitates life" and all that jazz. But, if you want to know what kind of teenage-ry movies I grew up on in the early 80's and 90's then I recommend the aforementioned titles.
I remember when back in the day, the worst you could have done was smoke a cigarette in the bathroom or set off a false fire alarm. There "burnouts (American slang for drug users)",but they kept to themselves. Teenage pregnancy wasn't even heard of yet, you had to take a good guess to find out who was getting laid - that news was a bit more private, and those poor gay kids (forgive me if I don't know the PC term) were forced to stay in the closet or else they'd get punched in the "chest". Er...yeah that sounds weird but in my neighborhood a punch in the "chest"- really hard - was believed to be a scientific cure for the "gay" - go figure!
Things have changed a lot since then - more than I ever realized according to "Skins". "Skins" is a British teen drama series that touches on a bevvy of issues young people are faced today, including but not limited to drug abuse, teen sexuality, teen pregnancies, mental illness, eating disorders, dysfunctional families, hard partying and death - did I leave anything out?
This TV series is so brutally honest about young people today that it left me feeling - wow! It tells parents exactly what their children are doing when they neglect them and it is gritty as they come. I recently discovered this show, now approaching its fifth season, by chance. I was expecting a typical teenage comedy drama and what I got was a punch in the chest - and I'm not even gay.
The teenagers in this series are neither caricatures or exaggerations. In the first two seasons we meet, Tony, Cassie, Jal, Chris, Sid, Maxxie, Anwar, Michelle, and Effy. All are close friends and attend a sixth form school in Bristol England. Each are representative of all the high school cliques that have ever existed yet they all manage to form a tenuous bond with each other despite their radical differences. In a normal setting, I doubt any of these kids would hang out with each other.
Most of the drama that takes place are the result of the actions, both indirectly and directly, of Tony played by actor Nicholas Hoult - remember the kid from "About A Boy"?, well he's all grown up now.
Tony is intelligent, popular, handsome, confident, and very manipulative. He knows he is the center of the group and will often stir up trouble either to re-affirm his status as the leader or out of shear boredom. For instance he knows that Sid, his best mate who's shy and has zero confidence, is in love with his girlfriend Michelle. Tony will sometimes deliberately cause a break in their relationship and encourage Sid to make a move for her. Just when Sid thinks he has a shot, Tony will swoop back in to win her back at the blink of an eye with a knowing and malicious smirk - and no remorse.
The rest of gang are equally colorful and complex as Tony and a bit more endearing - thank goodness! Each episode will focus on one of the characters so there is no real star vehicle here. I'd rather spare you a long-winded introduction to the regulars for series 1 and 2. Instead, I'll direct you to the following link so that you can get a visual.
See other characters here: Click me!
And if you think the teenagers are wild and rambunctious, the parents are... well a bit out there as well. Dysfunction is at an all time normal here. A few of the kids have their families in tact physically but not emotionally which forces them to rely on each other, and lets face it, neither one is an ideal role-model so you know what the future holds. It's a never ending cycle.
You know how kids get grossed out when they discover that their parents are still having sex? Well be prepared to gouge your eyes out with a blunt object when you view this show - eww! A few of the parent are so er..otherwise engaged that it seems no one has time to spare for the young adults - they are completely uninvolved and uninformed of their children's emotional needs especially at a time when wise council is needed.
Now there are some redeeming characters and funny moments...it's not all seriousness. The show is unique in that every two seasons, the cast will be replaced as characters move on from sixth form and the audience is introduced to new people with different challenges.
The series has proven to be a hit with British and American audiences. A "Skin" feature film is in the works and also an American version is being produced for television and it will be set in Balimore, MD.
It's a good show to watch even if a little skewed at times. Sometimes it comes off as surreal and disjointed but it's definitely entertaining. If you are in the mood for a bit of the "gritty" with a side-order of laughs, then definitely check it out.
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