Brit TV Spotlight: Skins

When was it on?
RIGHT NOW! It is about to enter its fourth series on January 28th.

If it were American it would be?
Gossip Girl remade by the producers of Californication with liberal doses of Degrassi.

What is it?
Skins is a teen dramedy following the lives of a group of Bristol youths on the verge of graduation. It is currently the ratings king on Channel 4. Created by the father/son team of Bryan Elsley and Jaimie Brittain, Skins undoubtedly gains its verve from Elsley's wizened story sense and Brittain's mainline on youth culture. The show has a somewhat experimental style with each episode sharing the story of a different character within the friend group, broadening the perspective of the action and the realities the kids are facing. Realities should be perhaps used loosely though as Skins relishes in the sex, drugs, and mischief of the latter teen years more than any American show would or could portray in primetime. Expect everpresent nudity and simulated wanking.

Why could you love it?
If you have even a passing interest in soapy melodrama, this show is for you. Shocking twists and insane plot lines (i.e. attempted forced drug overdose incest) are present in nearly every episode. These are tempered by some truly inspired performances by Britain's up-and-coming teen actors. Those two things also lend well to the strange tone of the show, which seems to present itself as a comedy romp but often delves deep into teen histrionics, sometimes even in the same scene. The shifting of perspectives from episode to episode keeps it fresh, and the shift to a whole new group of teens in the third series arguably stepped up Skins' game as a whole. Top all that off with breakneck pacing and one of the best soundtracks you're likely to find on TV and you're sure to be pearl clutching and screaming "OH NO!".

Why could you hate it?
The tone, while unique, is not for everyone. Just as often as a dramatic moment will effectively pull the rug out from under a comedic one, a comedic moment will shit on effective drama. If you're searching for any realism in the show, you'll be endlessly frustrated by the madcap antics and over-the-top dramatic turns. If Skins wasn't one word 'deus ex machina' would be its middle name. Skins also seems to think it has a lot to say about cultural/racial politics, but rarely rises above Barney the Dinosaur-level morals. It's pure disposable, horny, dramatic teen filth and if you want to find something more, you'll quickly get frustrated.

How confusingly British is it?
Just a touch more than a Guy Ritchie movie. There are charming britcom star cameos that'll fly over the average North American head and you might be confused about how the school system and class politics work. But if you're focused on that, you probably dislike it anyway.

Should I give up a bit of my life to it?
If you're aching for a bit of melodramatic fluff and distraction, you'd be hard pressed to find an American show with such pumping enthusiasm and surprising drama. It is easily available online, on DVD, and it's endlessly consumable in short ten episode seasons. Also, if you watch it now you can be all high and mighty when MTV churns out its Americanized version next year.