If there's a previous thread then I apologise but I haven't spotted one.

Two episodes in and I'm liking this series a lot. The fact that the Shameless crew are behind this reflects in the superior writing and acting.

Episode 1 was cool but Episode 2 centring on the brilliant Cassie kicked ass. I love that character. And Sid and Jal and Maxxie and possibly Chris.

I looked for a thread too and couldn't find one.

I just watched both episodes over the weekend and I'm loving it. Cassie is probably my favourite so far, and I like Chris and Sid too. And woah, the About a Boy kid sure grew up.

Does anyone know how many episodes there'll be?

There's nine episodes.

I am about twice as old as the target audience but I thought it was a hoot. Really funny script, completely unrealistic obviously. Sid and Cassie are endearing but oh my, the girl who plays Cassie can't act. Admittedly it is a difficult part, all that "ooh gosh pretty flowers hello sky now I'll just say something unexpectedly insightful then la la la I'm not eating wow I'm naming all the stars" dialogue. Sid is probably a really nice-looking guy under the hat and glasses combo they've Ugly Bettyed him in.

Thoughts on Episode 1 "Tony"

Tony - Nicholos Holt can certainly act. Tony is the kind of lad you wouldn't want as a friend or a boyfriend but he has a certain level of charisma that makes you see how he gets mates and laid. His treatment of Sid is pretty horrible though. Plus the lad can sing.

Michelle - Poor girl gets branded with the name Nips fro her loving boyfriend and has Sid after her tail as well. I though she was an OK character but a bit one dimensional.

Sid - I like him, I really do but it's obvious that he's set up as a fall guy who will suffer tyhe consequences of any of Tony's mad schemes, like the Mad Twatter/drug thing. Obviously the writers want you to ship him and Cassie and I have to admit they are good together.

Cassie - I like her a liot but the anorexia thing scares with how she casually arranges food and takes pills and tells people in a casual way. She's my favourite character so in the series run.

Jal - Love her. Funny and pretty sarcastic. I want to see a bit more of her. She certainly knows how to talk Tony down as well.

Chris - I like him too. He's pretty funny and his cracking on to his teacher is interesting. I bet they'll do the business halfway through the series though.

Maxxie - The most confident and not overtly camp gay teen on TV so I'm looking forward to his episode a bit more as well.

Anwar - Not as vocalised in the opening episode as others aside from the peeing incident but yeah, I like him.

Um, interesting debut episode so a 7/10. Episode 2 to be tackle in my next post.

I was a bit iffy about the show based on pilot episode, but the second episode totally kicked ass, mainly because Cassie was so likable character in some weird twisted way. (I wonder if it's wrong to have a girl!crush on crazy drug addict anorexic teenage character.) I even did a fanvid of her. I'm a bit concerned about the show though as it seems like every episode will be mainly based on different character - So will the episode suck if the character that it is centereing is less likable than Cassie?

Thoughts on Episode 2 - Cassie

Cassie - She's my favourite character and this episode definitely showed that Hannah Murray is an excellent performer. Cassie doesn't really have people fooled, it's just that most of them are ignoring her problem with eating so it appears that she's pulling the wool over her parents, classmates and the clinic. Sid wasn't fooled and her method of distracting people as she pretended to eat failed to work on Alan as well. I also loved her for getting one up on Tony.

Alan/Cassie's parents/clinic - The lady at the clinic was the mother of the girl whose house the gang trashed in the first episode? I hated her immensely I admit. Cassie's parents are weird but they're not ogres but they are a little too self-obsessed so it's easy to see why Cassie feels that they don't care about her even if they probably do. Alan on the otherhand - he confronts her but does it in a genuinely concerned manner and Cassie seems to be able to talk to him after the disappointment with Sid.

Sid/Mad Twatter - Aww, Sid's got an admirer and he's not even really aware because he's too busy wanting Michelle and being in deep doodoo with Mad Twatter. His conversations with both Cassie and Angie definitely endear him a lot but the guy needs to stand up to Tony in a big way. Mad twatter makes me laugh a lot, the guy certainly knows how to take thing quite personally.

Tony - Can I personally give Cassie a pat on the back for making Tony look like he wet himself. The guy was acting way too smug and vicious around Sid so he deserved the smackdown all that bit more.

Michelle/her mother/Malcolm - Um Nips needs more of a personality because aside from being nice to Sid, there's not much of real interest in this girl. Trashing the place with food was very funny but her mother and Danny Dyer's usual performances didn't make much of an impression.

Chris/Angie - So when are supposed to bet that Chris gets his way with Angie? She's certainly not the most professional of teachers and it was a bit too obvious that she dug Chris leering at her in the nude.

Jal/Maxxie/Kenny/Anwar - Not as vocalised as last week although I loved Anwar/Cassie's god and pills discussion and Kenny making an eejit out of himself. Jal and Maxxie had barely anything to really do.

A superb episode IMO, 9/10.

Really? Cause I was so impressed by Cassie's acting in that second episode. The lunch table scene between her and Sid was one of the best things I've seen on TV in ages. The way she moved through the emotions when Sid said "Isn't that a bit fucked up?" was amazing. But then, I'll admit to being a Sid-Cassie shipper (Sissie?). They're easily my two favourite characters. Sid is so much like a male version of myself in sixth form that I can't help but adore him. And the guy playing him is pretty darn cute.

As for the rest of the show, I'm enjoying it. First episode was a decent intro and the second episode rocked, although the third was a bit too dull for me. I'm impressed with a lot of the cast, and in particular Sid, Cassie, Jal and Chris because those 4 really don't look like they're acting. I also love the balance of drama and comedy, which is something I've rarely seen in British drama outside Doctor Who. Is Shameless like that? I've never seen it.

What I don't like: Mad Twatter: An evidently fake character with an evidently fake moustache destroys the otherwise excellent realism of the show everytime he appears. Any adult who's role is to say "Fuck! Shit! Wankstain! Look, we're on after the watershed and we swear! Aren't we edgy?!" (cf. Harry Enfield). Tony, for being an arrogant narcissist who's only use for friends is proving them inferior to himself. And lastly, Michelle, for being far too self-involved.

Jal is awesome. I know Cassie and Sid and Chris are too, but I just thought I would send that out there. I really like these characters the most so far (although probably something to do with them being the only ones who have had thier own episodes so far...actually, no, I really don't like Tony...ok, stop rambling...), but so far, Jal is awesome and Cassie is one fucked up sweetie. And yes, I am liking this show.

I really like Jal after the last episode. She's a cool girl doing her best. Michelle however - what a bitch. I'll be impressed if they can somehow redeem her when it's her turn for an episode, because so far she's awful. I mean, "my role is to look shaggable"? Girl, you don't even. I have no idea why Sid likes her so much. She certainly loves herself to bits.

I like the character of Cassie, as we're meant to, but I do think it's very difficult to act a character like that. So far the "oh wow" is still putting me off.

All the adults are parodies really (except Jal's hot dad, maybe).

I love Cassie and think that she's superbly acted. It's hard to believe this is the first thing Hannah Murray has done. To me the "oh wow" is not the real Cassie, it's her strategy, along with her "watch me eat" sleight of hand, to avoid being sent back to hospital by convincing everyone that she's OK. Like many in her situation, she's a hell of a lot smarter than those around her and very good at disguising the truth.

It would be nice to think that Sid will suddenly see the light and save her with love, but this Digital Spy interview with Hannah implies that things are going to get a whole lot nastier for Cassie.

So this is what the UK kids watch? Heh, it's amazing the amount of nudity and profanity a teen drama can get away with. Is this what most of the shows in the UK are like? If it is, then i'll be damned, we should get rid of the FCC. One thing was odd though. I've only seen the first episode but within the first five minutes I saw nudity and cussing, but when Tony and Michelle kiss, they're not actually kissing, as in they were more like smooching. In fact I haven't seen any tongue kissage. Am I missing something here?

I do like the show, as it is something completely different from what American teenage shows are like, but I can't imagine these kids are accurate portrayals of british kids, much like the kids of the OC aren't accurate of American kids.

edited: Just watched second epi, and I officially adore Cassie. I actually liked her in the pilot but after her episode I totally love her as prob my favorite character. I wish she didn't have that weird Ophelia front though. The saddest part is Cassie would be considered normal sized in American television, though even real world she would still be considered petite but not someone who has an eating disorder. It's disturbing how media skews our perception of whats healthy or not.

For the people that don't live in the UK or don't have satellite email me and I'll send over a link or whatever.

That's an interesting point, actually. Having been a British kid just a few years ago, there are certainly some characters who seem to be just like people I've met, and others who don't. I've known people who are Sid, Jal, Anwar and Michelle. Cassie is obviously OTT, Tony is a bit unreal, very few gay kids would be as confident about it as Maxxie and I don't really know Chris enough to judge.

Music video to the song frequently blared in the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGRuKbCn09E

The hedonistic as hell trailer for the series. No Us series would promote a teen show like this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X24Fc357OWA

There is also longer version of that trailer available here.

Right, well I definitely think we can see people we know and even ourselves in these characters, but of course in common teenage soap drama the kids in Skins are all still representing the typical "characters: ie: crazy girl, charismatic bad boy, virgin boy, etc. But I wonder, did you and your friends have wild outlandish drug and booze parties like shown in the trailer? Would your teachers be so nonchalant about having been seen nude? And obviously some of these characters aren't so much characters as they are caricatures, but are the parents, for example in the UK that lax about their language around kids and their punishments?

I've had my fair share of crazy shit in high school, but not to the extent that anybody had OD'd or trashed somebody's house that bad, with little consequence. Damn America, but I can't see any of this EVER being shown in the US, even if the nudity was blurred or the swearing was censored, unless it was on HBO or one of the other non-basic cable channels.

That said, I'm really enjoying the show. I'm curious to see more shows from the UK if they're half as good as Skins. (I've seen The Office and Coupling, but that's about it)

Also, the editors who produced the Skins trailers are geniuses. Same goes for the people picking the music in the episodes. Shuggie Otis in Cassie's episode was perfection. I just don't get the fascination with American rap music, and the weird rap imitations Jal's brother had. Is that what people outside of the US think of American culture? Yikes.

Every adult in the show is an unrealistic charicature, so no to that question. But in my first year of uni we had some amazingly wild parties (no drugs, though) that are pretty much the same as what I've seen in Skins. And we were all pretty middle class, while the kids in Skins are (supposed to be) more lower class, which would tend to mean even wilder parties. So that part doesn't seem to be that exaggerated to me.

Are they? Surely Jal's rap-star father must be pretty wealthy, look at that house (her brothers are actually putting on all that "from the streets" stuff, they have no more clue about American culture than they do about anything). And Tony's and Cassie's parents seemed fairly solidly middle-class. I think Cassie's anorexia clinic was private, too. Of course they're not as posh as the posh girls' school Tony's been hanging out in.

The booze etc is pretty realistic. You've got to remember that the legal drinking age here is 18 and nearly everyone drinks before that anyway. I think the only drug we've seen them take is cannabis which is also very common among teenagers. If they were snorting coke every night I agree it would be a bit over the top.

Few teachers wouldn't freak about being seen nude but then again see Notes On A Scandal for what can happen! Take this real life case for example. And sadly it's even more common with male teachers/female students, eg the former chief inspector of schools.

Wow, that's really interesting, do most kids take pills and such as well? The drinking age is 21 in the US but most kids start drinking when they reach high school, though recently drinking has reached the middle school kids, which to me, is very disturbing. There have also been isolated events where kids have been found with harder drugs like coke or heroin but it's definitely not as common as weed or alcohol. I can't say for the whole of America, but I believe my experience in high school, with a moderate amount of partying (with no hard drugs), but not enough to distract from school work, athletics or work, exemplifies what most kids have or had.

And out of curiosity, what does society or the media say in the UK about alcohol and drug use? In America there are endless PSA's and health courses that you're forced to take starting in middle school, that supposedly educate you on the risks of drinking and smoking. In fact, I just finished a mandated online MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) course, which I guarantee everybody in my class muted through. I personally think these attempts are useless; kids who want to drink will drink, and those who want to smoke will smoke. It's really not hard to get your hands on either drug. Furthermore, people seem to look down upon smoking much more than they do on alcohol, (which I personally think is stupid and a result of alcohol corporations and their relationship with the government), when many more accidents occur when people are under the influence of alcohol, than weed. I have never heard of an incident where a kid died or drove when they were high on weed, but countless times when kids decided they could drive totally wasted. It's totally because of America's Puritan roots and our current administration that has this weird outlook on drug use.

I wonder, if America started to have the kind of outlook the UK has on underage drinking, whether we would have less binge drinking or alcohol
related accidents or more?

And because this is getting OT from Skins, can somebody clarify some of the terms for me? Am I right that 'Skins' are the papers people use for smoking, and college is my version of secondary school, and university is post-secondary?

I'm fairly sure most of them are meant to be. After all, they're at a state-school college. Cassie's not, obviously, but has such a messed up family that her going to a normal college is understandable. Tony's dad seemed fairly lower-class to me, although this might be my own inate ignorance. Jal, on the other hand, clearly has a rich dad and is so intelligent and talented that the only reason I think she's not getting private education is Plot Contrivance.



There is a general binge drinking culture in the UK that is seen as undesirable, but nobody ever seems to do anything about it. Most people accept underage drinking as something that's fine as long as you don't get caught. As for drugs, cannabis gets much the same attitude but not anything harder than that.



Skins - yes. College = school for kids between 16-18 (as kids can drop out of school at 16 in the UK). University - yes. What you need is this thread from the Doctor Who forums, which is devoted to translating UK slang/jargon for Americans.

Yes, skins are the slang term for Rizla papers. The characters are at 6th Form College which is the last year of secondary school and has more freedom than the previous five years. They might then go onto university or other types of colleges (or not).

I think it's pretty similar in that every now and then people get worked up about underage drinking. For instance here's a news story about it: tax binge drinking and a link there to a typical advert.

I thought maybe Jal was at a state school because her father didn't want to damage his street cred by sending her private? Depends how hip and current a rapper he's meant to be.

Thoughts on Episode 3 - Jal

Jal - Outside of Sid and Cassie, she's becoming one of my favourite characters of the series and like her father, the only one with actual musical talent to brag about as well. Her snarky attitude, underlying layer of vulnerability make her as endearing as hell and daddy issues on display are nicely dealt with as well.

Jal's family/her Dad's girlfriend - The brothers are twits, funny but ultimately twits and her father's girlfriend has the amoeba of a one year old. I don't whether her or Jal's brother/doltish friend's atttempts of being street was more embarrassing. Her Dad's got some demons that I woyuldn't mind seeing more of and he clearly cares for her upon dealing with Mad Twatter himself.

Sid/Mad Twatter - The face off with poor Jal's clarinet caught in the crossfire. Luckily though Mad Twatter picked the wrong girl's clarinet to smash. I'm kind of hoping that plot has been dealyt with now and Sid can concentrate on other things like noticing Cassie, forgetting Michelle and eating more cookies in front of Jal.

Tony/Michelle/Abigail - The dullest triangle between three of the most vapid characters on the series, maybe i'll care more in further episodes but now I'd rather not. Michelle kissed to make Tony jealous and it failed miserably like it would because Tony didn't notice and even if he did he would never view Sid as a threat.

Cassie/Anwar/Maxxie/Chris - Not much going on except the lads leering Jal and Cassie's unsuccessful attempts of wooing Sid.

Not as good as the previous episode but an 8/10.

So, I was looking at their myspace pages in search of a bit of backstory (sad, I know).

They're in the 1st year at Roundview Sixth Form College, ie. aged 16/17. Cassie is 16. Sid 17. Jal 16. Anwar 17. Chris 17. Tony 17. But both Kenneth and Michelle claim to be 18, despite Michelle stating that she and Jal have been in the same class since they were 4. Teens lying about their age on myspace, eh? Who'd've thought it?

Effy is 16. She must be doing her GCSEs at what looks, from her uniform, to be a private school (it's quite common these days for kids from private schools to go to state 6th Form College for 2 years to take their A levels). Abigail, the posh one from the girls' school, is 16 and her profile's painfully funny.

But here's the strange thing. None of them have Maxxie (17) as a friend. Upcoming "outsider" storyline, do you think?

I retract this statement on account of being so blind that I couldn't even see a damm link.

But he has got one. I linked to it. I doubt it'll play a large part in the plot, but I'd lay bets there'll come a point when one of the others asks why he hasn't got a myspace page and Maxxie will have to admit the existence of it and explain why he never told them. Probably because they weren't the sort of friend he was hoping to attract.

TPTB no doubt expect fans to do as I did, notice his absence from the list, go searching, find his page and leave puzzled comments (not that I did that last bit – I'm not that sad). A depressingly emo blog will be along shortly, I'm sure.

You'd think he'd be more likely to be on Gaydar. I wonder if it's just a production error, they somehow forgot to link to his page? In general the MySpace pages they've made are great, spot on.

Shameless, then. One of the only other decent (better, even, than Skins IMO) British comedy/dramas on TV.

And of course go see Hot Fuzz when it comes out in the cinema. Watched it this afternoon and its all I'm thinking about.

Skins is made by the same people who do Shameless and I think that reflects in the writing.

I'm always weirded out by MySpaces for characters but it seems to be the trend.

Oddly I can't stand Shameless (so patronising!) but I like Skins.

Get yourself a multi-region PAL to NTSC DVD player from Amazon US for about $30, then scoot over to Amazon UK. Since you like Skins, I'd certainly recommend: Sugar Rush, about a 15 year old lesbian in Brighton lusting over her straight best friend (look, there's even a TWOP forum for it); Shameless (series 1 & 2 are gloriously funny but a lot of the original cast have left now and it's getting a bit formulaic); Teachers, as with Shameless, the first 2 series are the best; The Book Group; Green Wing; and you definitely should get the original Queer As Folk.

But if there's one UK series everyone should have, it's Spaced, from the people who would later bring us Shaun Of The Dead and the above-mentioned Hot Fuzz.

Wow, thanks for the recommendations, I'm checking them out as you read this. I can't believe I've been force fed shows like Laguna Beach and One Tree Hill (please, never watch this show) to crazy Christian Seventh Heaven as mediums for teen dramas.

I really liked last night's episode. I think the guy playing Chris has just taken the position of best actor on the show. That graveyard speech was just awesome, and the bit where he found out his mum had gone and just went into the cupboard was heartbreaking. I liked how they didn't spell out all of Chris's backstory, like how his brother died or what was wrong with his mum.

My only main complaint about the show right now is the lack of screentime for Maxxie and Anwar. We still know barely anything about either of them. Although considering how Maxxie was into Jal's boobs last week and enrapt in the girl porn this week, I think he's not as gay as he claims. Sid and Cassie continue to be adorable. Tony and Michelle continue to be annoying. Jal continues to be cool.

yeah, i really liked last night's ep. i'm not really looking forward to sid's next week all that much. he's pissed me off no end by being so mean to cassie - and he never really tried to solve the problem with the mad twatter, just moaned.

i've been thinking: its a nine episode series, right? so far theres been

1. about a boy boy.
2. cassie
3. jal
4. chris

still to come: sid, about a boy boy's g/f, muslim dude, and the gay guy.

whats the ninth episode gonna be about?


how could i forget sugar rush. :(

the smoking room, too.

From what I've heard, ep6 is a joint episode for Maxxie and Anwar, which just leaves Michelle for one 7-9. I think Effy (Tony's little sister) might be getting one as well, which would suck cause she's not even a main character, and I reckon the season finale will be going back to Tony, seeing as how he's the lead.

I think Abigail and kenny are also meant to get episodes as well. Michelle really needs some depth because Cassie, Chris, Jal and Sid have more than her at the moment.

Tony continues to be a wanker.

Chris's episode wasn't bad, though I'm a bit confused why he wouldn't be put under the authority of social services or some sort of government welfare program. Or does that not matter because he's of age? In the US the parents would have been tracked down (well, at least there'd be an attempt to) and probably be arrested or fined for child neglect.

I still don't understand the relationship he has with the teacher though. Why would she, or ANY teacher come to a party of theirs, bringing wine no less! I don't know, that plot seems overdone and with the recent news coverage of inappropriate relationships between teachers and their students, I can understand why less tv shows would use it.

Oh I have one quick question, if maybe you all could answer. I still can't wrap my head around how a tv drama aimed for teenagers would allow so much nudity and swearing, but are there any regulations as to how much you can have in one episode? Like there has been lots of upper half nudity on the older women, but none from the teen girls. And there have been butt shots on the boys old or young but never of the girls. Chris and homeless dude were in a very "Borat" nude wrestling scene, and I'm pretty sure I saw a penis shot, though it was quick. So, I guess I'm wondering if there are any limits.

The weird thing to me, was that in the webisodes whenever a word like shit or cunt came up, they bleeped it. I thought that was kinda random. And one last thing; in Jal's episode, her brother said 'nigga' but I wonder what that means outside the US, and whether it holds the same controversy, even if it is nigga and not the actual N word. I guess I was just surprised that that word even came up.

And I visited the e4 website to check out the webisodes. I was surprised to find out that these so called 'webisodes' are actually plot based and show actual character development. They're all kinda quirky in their own way, depending on the characters the webisode is focused on, but some ranged from 4-8 minutes. Anyway, I especially enjoyed the first one, with Cassie and Michele. They're quite adorable together. I really enjoyed the one with Jal's brother, the Rap video with hilarious subtitles, as well. the Karaoke dot was a nice touch. I will admit, it's hard for me to understand some of the dialogue because of slang and the accent, plus these kids have marble mouths.

Sidenote: [I'm sorry if I'm coming off as the ignorant American or whatever, but I'm fascinated with British culture, and the youth culture especially. I've been trying to connect my observations from Skins and this discussion forum with what I've been learning in my AP Euro class.]

edit: And DUDE! You guys have your own Mac vs. PC websites! And they're quite cute, just like the American version.

Yeah, as 16 is legal adulthood in the UK, I think he's past the point where social services can help him. I assume there'd be some kind of government support available though, and he just never thought/wanted to use it.



Skins airs at 10pm in the UK, which is a post-watershed slot. After 9pm, TV channels in the UK can show a bit more naughtiness, as its assumed all the young kids have gone to bed. The best analogy is probably cable channels in the US like HBO, which don't have the same levels of censorship. So you can have swearing (except for c**t, I think), you can have male nudity except for dicks, and you can have female nudity up to breasts but that's rarer. I think there's a certain sleaziness and titillation seen to be associated with female nudity, so a drama trying to be seen as serious would avoid it.

I think the 9pm watershed isn't some magical point after which anything goes. There are shades of what is permissable as you get later in the evening. But generally, after about 10-11pm, they allow any language and full-frontal nudity for both sexes, but no erect penises (unless it's on 5 and claims to be "educational").

However, although the age of consent in the UK is 16, I believe there are restrictions on onscreen nudity until an actor turns 18. Joe Dempsey was 18 when Skins was filmed, so you get to see Chris's dick, but I think most of the others were still under age. I know Nicholas Hoult was only 16 as he was born in Dec 1989.

Anyway, back to the show. I thought Chris's episode was easily as good as Cassie's. I loved the misdirection all the way through, so that we start out seeing Chris as an irresponsible waster, destroying his life with drugs. No anvils are dropped, no exposition fairies appear, but little clues are planted until, in the graveyard at the end, we realise that Chris was probably responsible in some way for his brother's death and the drugs are the only way he can cope with his parents rejection of him.

Imagine how the theme of a child's death destroying a family would have been handled by a US network or by ITV in the UK (the ITV one probably starring Sarah Lancashire, who played Chris's stepmother in this episode). Makes you cringe, doesn't it?



I think Chris had told her that he'd invited a lot of other teachers. Yes, before this episode her toleration of his behaviour seemed strange, but by the end I started to believe that she's the only person that Chris has told about what's happened to his family.

Is it just me, or did Chris drop that baby? And then everyone acted like nothing had happened?

Thoughts on Chris

Chris - Wow, what a pretty twisted childhood this lad has had in his 17 years of existence. His storyline was a lot darker than I was anticipating it to be and all the more sympathetic too. I like that we don't know the circumstances surrounding his mother's disappearance and brother's death but I did find the ending rather sad as this guy completely broke down.

Mary - I don't what to make of her. Not exactly the stepmom of the year and more than a bit insensitive with a dire performance from Sarah Lancaster to boot.The baby dropping freaked me out though.

Jal - I love her, everyone should have a friend like Jal and her compassionate support for Christ further endears her as a character IMO.

Angi - It was strange that she wasn't suspicious of the party invite but she was great for Chris in the last half of the episode and that counts.

Sid/Cassie - I like these two together and the latter's attempts of getting a date were reasonably amusing but Sid wasn't neccessarily thrilled either was he?

Maxxie/Anwar - Do something with these two besides drinking contests about nipples.

Tony/Michelle - I continue to like these two less and less and I did want Chris to bop Tony one over his insensitive behaviour. Michelle stop using Sid to make Tony jealous - it doesn't work.

Rating: 8/10.

Yeah, she's great. What a shame she didn't win the young musician contest. I like that not only was she a friend to Chris, he was the only one (that we saw) that remembered to ask how the contest went.

EVIL ChrisDad! What a prick. Poor Chris. I wonder if his brother was meant to be older or younger, he said "youngest Sixer" but it wasn't clear. The story made the late Peter sound like some kind of idealised perfect boy, but I suppose that the family probably got used to talking about him like that after he died.

Michelle is ghastly. Tony's a tool too but I kind of give him a pass for being sort of caught up in himself, he's not deliberately using other people.

Ow. That was a rough episode, with some really amazing stuff in there. The scene between Sid and Cassie in Sid's bedroom was heartwrenching stuff. And yay for Sid's parents not being shallow charicatures! I loved how Sid's dad turned out to be just like Sid, and how it showed Sid his future if he didn't start changing. And the last scene of him hanging up on Tony and pulling an all-nighter on his coursework was a lovely grace note to end the episode on.



Oh no? After what he did this week, he clearly knows he's fucking with other people for his own amusement.

And cause it can't be said enough: Jal kicks serious ass.

So. Much. Word.


This episode was really good, quite possibly my favorite. Sid really needs to figure out his shit. Like Cassie whispered to him: "Wake up, Sid!".

Michelle is deeply stupid and Tony is a complete tool. Weird thing is that I like the latter character more than the former even after the stunts Tony pulled in the episode. With him, it is all about control and manipulation. He needs a character like Jal to kick his ass into shape, though the real Jal is too good for him. Michelle is nothing but an enabler.

The thing with Tony confused me. Did he plan to get back with Michelle the entire time? Because strangely, I'd hate him more for messing with Sid than Michelle.

Yeah, I think the whole thing was just him messing Sid around, mostly cause I reckon the 'control and manipulation' quote in the coursework was him purposely putting the boot in, as he knew Michelle would fall straight back into his arms. I don't like Michelle, but I do pity her. She's clearly got no sense of self-worth beyond her looks, so she just tries to fit the role of arm candy and suffers because of it. Stupid girl.

There was one thing that was bad about it though. There is no way Sid could fail a year just by messing up all his coursework. He's in college, so he's on either AS or A levels, which means coursework only ever applies for 33% maximum (and normally 25%) of the final grade. He could get zilch on his coursework and still get a great mark if he aced the exams. So that was contrived.

Thoughts on Episode 5 - "Sid"

I'm going with the majority and say that this was the best episode so far this season.

Sid - I felt bad for him this week in a lot of ways but this episode served as a wakeup call for Sid, not only with the way him and his father parallel each other but also whether or nor Sid wants to go through life being manipulated by people, especially Tony who took the low blow over Michelle. Cassie told Sid to wake up, his father driving his mother away was another cautionary tale and the ending showed that Sid is learning something.

Mark/Liz - Probably the most emphasised and aware enough of their kids problems but still I liked that they were dimensional so at the end I actually felt pity for Mark when Sid laid into him.

Cassie - She was dynamic this week for wrong and right reasons. I loved her for telling Sid to wake up and realise that he can't have Michelle but I hated her for using his watergun, vodka and pills to blot out her pain but once again another impressive performance from Hannah Murray.

Jal - Everyone needs a friend, like her - full stop! She was a bit too harsh with Sid but her heart was in the right place and she seems to always come through for her mates no less.

Abigail/Tony/Michelle - The girl who plays Abigail is a bad actress but I PMSL with how she chose to insult Michelle. Tony has crossed the line and is screwing with people's lives but if the likes of Sid and Michelle don't stand up to him and give him consequences, then he's gonna keep doing it. I didn't mind Michelle more this week but she really does have a low opinion of herself if she puts up with Tony. The Vicky Pollard style girls who beat her though I hated.

Chris/Maxxie/Anwar -I would've liked more continuity with Chris' ongoing plot of last week but he was quite funny here. So were Maxxie and Anwar as Angel/Devil with Sid and drama class but overall the latter two are too one-dimensional so far.

Rating:9/10.

The music in this episode rocked, especially this particular track ...

Tricky - Hell is Round The Corner

The song which was used during Cassie's pill popping and Sid/Michelle/Tony dance. This guy is married to Martina Topley Bird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HycQfM9c7ik

Totally agree what you guys said upthread. I just hope we see a change in the Sid/Tony dynamic in the next episode. It'd be a real shame if they reverted back to the 'control and manipulation' relationship without even noting Sid's recognition of Tony's behavior.

Since the show keeps focusing on Sid's virginity, I assume everyone else, save Jal, has lost theirs? It's kind of odd how much of an emphasis they put on it though, is it considered that weird to be a virgin still at 16/17?

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I'd say Maxxie and Anwar are both still virgins as well. Maxxie doesn't seem to do that much socialising with other gays, and Anwar gets way too excited over boobs and porn to be getting any. Sid is just more stated because he's the one who's really hung up about it. And it's not considered weird, but most kids would be looking to lose their virginity from 14 upwards these days.

Anwar definitely screams of being a virgin and I think maybe Maxxie is too. Cassie, Tony, Michelle and Chris aren't though and I doubt Abigail is as well.

Oh, man - Tony is so vile. Really sickening. But in some ways I too get madder at Michelle, for her vapid stupidity (and messing with Sid) and at Sid himself. 'Cause, really, I spent half his episode yelling "dammit Sid, what are you DOING?!" at the screen. Honestly what an idiot! Hope he makes more progress next week too.

Incidentally is this the first time we've seen Sid's hair? It's nice hair. Not in that way, these kids are way younger than me. I think that's why in some ways I don't mind the characters who act so stupidly, because they're young and could grow out of it - well, Sid, anyway, maybe Tony.

Like everyone else I love Jal. Did you notice her dad's poster in the pub Sid and Michelle were in? He must still currently be making records, unless it's a classic album or something.

Next week they're going to Russia?! Blimey, school trips have got better since my day.

This is one of my favourite shows on at the moment, I don't even know why. It's just really enjoyable every week.