This
show was getting some notice even before one of its actors (Dev Patel)
turned up as the star of Slumdog Millionaire. It’s a shame British
shows aren’t more widely embraced by U.S. audiences unless they are
Americanized, and sometimes even that doesn’t work. While Greg Daniels
and crew did a great job with The Office, Americans should take their
British TV straight, and Skins is a good place to start.
A teen drama
somewhat akin to our One Tree Hill, the show follows the lives of a
group of teenagers in Bristol, England. Teens are teens all over the
English-speaking world as it turns out (see Canada’s Degrassi
franchise), yet there is something particularly engaging about this
group of young people. Maybe it has something to do with the accents? Partying, love affairs
and dysfunctional parents are some of the familiar issues, but it’s
done with a brutal honesty and that dry British sense of humor. Tony,
the smooth, goodlooking one is best friends with awkward Sid. Sid is
love with Tony’s girlfriend until he meets the lovely Cassie, who seems
to fancy him as well. Chris is having an affair with a teacher, while
Anwar (Patel) is best friends with gay Maxxie. Each episode usually
focuses on a different character with sub-plots involving most of the
rest. Familiar yet exotic. Cheers! (P.F. Wilson) Grade: A
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