Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Skins, the best teen drama on television

Unfortunately it's not on our televisions. If you're lucky enough to be watching Skins in the UK or watching it by "subversive" means like me, you'll know how powerful the last 4 episodes have been.

Chris sets his job interviewer's tie on fire to sell a cup of tea.

I thought Tony relearning (or regaining) his mental and physical capacity was an incredible story arc but the Chris and Jal story blew me away. I was really happy to see Chris find a new sense of maturity. His blossoming relationship with Jal was tender and a relief from his pill popping antics. We all know he does it to hide his pain and not simply to get high.

If Tony just had sex with this girl but it's all in his head, was he just self gratifying himself?

This last episode (s02e08) was stunning. Jal spent much of the episode pondering and avoiding her pregnancy. When she discovers that Chris has health problems of his own, the story makes the point that life and love are to be treasured. The story was so well done I didn't even recognize that it was doing the most hateful of TV cliches EVER. Yet I fell for it and was choking back tears. I should be mad but I can't wait to watch the next episode.

Jal tries to explain to Michelle in Spanish that she's pregnant.

If you haven't seen Skins yet, do yourself a favor and beg, borrow or steal it. You won't regret it.