Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Skins (U.K.): Series 1, Episode 1 – “Tony” (2007)

 
I got into Skins a few years ago and have really enjoyed it for what it is.  I think that, on the whole, the quality is less consistent with each generation, and every season has its share of over-the-top Drama! and ludicrous plots, but when it’s on, it’s on.  So many messily endearing characters have come out of this series, and they’ve had some masterful lightning-in-a-bottle moments where they’ve truly captured that sense of adolescence.  It’s a crazed, compelling show, and now that it’s over, I miss it a little.
 
The pilot of Skins launches itself with a whirlwind introduction to its First Generation cast, the likeable, disparate group of Bristol mates who get up to all sorts of mischief while avoiding their sixth-form coursework.  Though the Eddie Haskell-esque Tony takes the ostensible center stage here, it’s evident that Sid, his unimpressive mess of a best friend, has the story to keep an eye on.  This episode shows us the imbalanced power dynamic between Sid and Tony, Sid’s sadly-unconquerable crush on Tony’s girlfriend Michelle, and Sid’s first steps toward romance with the flighty, fragile Cassie.
 
PC plays Mark Jenkins, Sid’s father.  We don’t even get a glimpse of him yet; his role in the pilot is just a vocal cameo, first over the phone and then berating Sid from off-camera.  Since I’ve seen this series multiple times, I know plenty about Mark, but all we really learn here is that Mark shares Malcolm Tucker’s vocabulary if not his twistedly inventive way with words.
 
Along with a handful of other well-regarded British actors, PC cropped up periodically in Generation One’s two seasons.  Four episodes in all, which is more than most of the other parents (although to be fair, that includes this one.)
 
I’ll mention, Tony’s parents are played by Harry Enfield and Morwenna Banks.  And among the younger cast, we have Nicholas Hoult (from About a Boy, all growed up,) Hannah Murray (Gilly on Game of Thrones,) Joseph Dempsie (Gendry on Game of Thrones, and he appeared on Who in “The Doctor’s Daughter,”) and Dev Patel (who went on to star in Slumdog Millionaire.)
 
Accent Watch
 
Unmistakably Scottish, unlike his definitely West-Country-sounding son.
 
Recommend?
 
In General – I know it’s not for everyone, but Skins can be great at times.  If you’re looking for a different sort of teen show, I’d give this one a try.
 
PC-wise – Well, not yet, but just hang on…
 
Warnings
 
Like The Thick of It, don’t watch Skins unless you’re okay with the content.  There’s a lot of swearing, drug use, and sexual content, all involving teenagers. 

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