Skins: Complete Series 1 [DVD] [2007]

Skins isn't your average teen based drama it's funny, vibrant, spirited, beautifully poignant, ironic and at times rather whimsical. There are 9 episodes that make up this first series and each episode is dedicated to a certain character (or two as the case maybe); through their own episode we learn about the lives of each person. Learning what gives them joy and more often what problems are set to trip them up along the way of adolescence. The most interesting characters are not necessarily the most likable, Tony played by Nicholas Hoult is on the surface a promiscuous, womanizing, Machiavellian figure yet he displays much depth of character despite being rather horrid to those around him most of the time. Cassie on the other hand is wonderfully kooky. Her episode offers us a surreal journey as we see the world through the eyes of a troubled anorexic who despite going through much for someone her age still retains a childlike innocence. Other noteworthy characters include Chris who does seem to escape definition (although he does remind me of Pacey Witter somewhat), and Michelle who shines in her episode. A likable character who I found rather dull is Sid, but he's sweet in his constant bad luck nonetheless. The remaining characters are Abigail, Effy, Maxxie, Anwar, and Jal (among the parents who aren't credited). It's quite a large cast but each of their story arcs are interwoven into one another's stories in a coherent manner, and we learn with each passing episode how each character relates to one another.

Skins definately is worth watching, it really is not as trashy as it appears to be, or as it was presented as. Whilst Skins is over the top it deals with all kinds or serious issues and manages to be incredibly intelligent and thought provoking at the same time, not many shows can boast such a consistent blending of concepts. Obviously this show is not for everyone but it's incredibly well written and very entertaining -- also what's great about the show is its unpredictable nature. The last few episodes in particular display the range and darkness the show is willing to delve into. For anyone not already aware this series does portray a great deal of swearing, drug use, nudity and sex. In effect it's not for the prudish!

Since each episode is following the journey of a particular character said episode is named after them. Thus highlight episodes include: 'Cassie', 'Tony', 'Michelle', 'Effy' and the finale episode 'Abigail'.

I am considerably over the age demographic for this show and I rarely watch TV these days, but this is a fantastic series.

Great acting, believable characters and stories, fantastic direction and a genuine spirit at its heart that makes you feel you are a part of the lives of these young people.

Most cleverly of all, it showed how all the young people were products of their backgrounds and upbringings and how they were actually more sane than their parents.

Can't wait to watch it again.

I watched every minute of this series when it was on TV and cannot wait to sit down and watch it all again.

The storylines are engaging, and while sometimes going into the realm of being OTT (but in a good way) they always seem to be based in reality.

The characters are a genuine mixture of friends, instead of the groups of clones usually found in TV land, verging from the lovable (Sid) not so much (Tony) and slightly unbalanced (Cassie).

This is one of the few programs where I'm yet to hear a single person say they dislike it. It has certainly replaced Shameless (1st + 2nd series especially) as being my favourite show.