DVD: Skins - Season 1
Submitted by The Evil Dr San... on Mon, 2008-03-10 05:48.
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DVD Reviewed by The Evil Dr Sanchez, Esq.
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Mike Bailey, April Pearson, Hannah Murray
Possibly the best comedy-drama to come out of Britain in some time (well can you name any others?), Skins follows a diverse group of Bristol 17-year-olds and their hedonistic lives. Each episode focuses on one teen at a time – the gay boy, the anorexic chick, the fuck-up etc – delving into the frustrations of being on the verge of adulthood but not quite. The leader of the pack is Tony Stonem (Nicholas Hoult – yes that kid from About A Boy and oh how he has grown), a narcissistic Nietzsche/Sartre reading little prick who uses his charm and intellect to screw everything that moves and basically get away with murder (not literally of course). He’s the kind of guy that would be on the phone to someone while simultaneously banging their girlfriend or boyfriend.
Tony’s much put-upon best mate and serial masturbator Sid Jenkins (Mike Bailey), the abovementioned fuck-up, is in love with Tony’s girlfriend Michelle Richardson (April Pearson). Sid’s love life (or lack thereof) is further complicated by the anorexic Cassie’s (Hannah Murray) crush on him. Sound involved? Well that’s just half the story. Like most 17-year-old’s lives those of our Bristol friends are intense and at times incredibly grim.
Tony’s sister Effy (Kaya Scodelario) refuses to speak and indulges in nocturnal adventures, pill head Chris Miles’s (Joseph Dempsie) Mum ups and leaves him to fend for himself, Maxxie Oliver (Mitch Hewer) is fine with being gay but his best friend Anwar Kharral (Dev Patel) seems threatened by it, citing the fact that his Muslim faith sees homosexuality as wrong. And then there’s Cassie. With oversexed parents (her dad is played by the voice of Bob the Builder Neil Morrisey), an eating disorder and suicidal tendencies, Cassie should be the most screwed up of them all. However her vague vulnerable madwoman sweetness is appealing, making her a favourite amongst the group. Besides, she has a kick-arse wardrobe (and yes, I know that is a bit wrong to say since we are talking about a character with a very real and deadly disease).
Not all of Skins is doom and gloom however. It’s a comedy-drama after all and whilst you find yourself cringing quite a bit you will also be chuckling along in a Schadenfreude (that means laughing at someone else’s misery) kinda way.
Whilst this is many of the young cast’s first major outing, they are perfect in their roles and bring some pathos to them but with great comedic timing. Viewers may also recognise comedian Harry Enfield as Tony’s dysfunctional nutjob dad and Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia as Anwar’s mum.
As well as enjoying the series itself, fans and newcomers are treated to a truckload of never seen before footage and hilarious video diaries. With season two just wrapping up in the UK and before people start asking if you have spent the last year in a coma, now is the time to get on the Skins bandwagon, before it is telecast here in all its teen angsty glory. You will be hooked, especially after season one’s cliff-hanger.
