The second series of Skins, a BAFTA-winning teen drama created by father and son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, is notably darker and more dramatic in tone than its predecessor. The series is an unflinching attempt to capture the lives of a group of young people on the verge of adulthood. Tony (Nicholas Hoult, who you may recognize from About a Boy), Michelle (April Pearson), Sid (Mike Bailey), Cassie (Hannah Murray), Chris (Joe Dempsie), Jal (Larissa Wilson), Maxxie (Mitch Hewer) and Anwar (Dev Patel, now better known for his work in Slumdog Millionaire) are all students at Roundview Sixth Form College, trying to navigate their way through a difficult stage of life. If you have seen Volume 1, Volume 2 will leave you confused. I suggest you check out my review of the earlier volume and be sure to watch it.
Series 2 starts approximately six months after the conclusion of the first. Miraculously, Tony has survived being hit by a bus. However, he is a very different young man. Despite the lack of visible injuries, Tony has suffered brain injuries that have left him unable to write, button his pants or find his way home. At the same time, Tony’s friends are struggling to come to terms with his impairments; Sid is consciously avoiding his best friend, unsure what to say.
Maxxie wants to leave school and pursue his dreams as a dancer. First he has to convince his father Walter (Bill Olivier) that he can succeed. Eventually, after Walter has had much time to reflect on his relationship with his son, they agree that he will at least continue his A Levels, even if he does not join his father as a builder afterwards as Walter would prefer. Because Maxxie is an aspiring dancer, he’s excited to be participating in the schools musical production of Osama: The Musical. Unfortunately for him, he is being stalked by a fellow student named Sketch (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) who dreams of winning the lead in the musical and kissing Maxxie. Sketch will do anything to accomplish her goal–she makes false claims against a teacher and poisons a fellow student, in pursuit of that kiss.
As series 2 begins, Sid’s life is in turmoil. His best friend is a different person after the accident and his relationship with Cassie is on the rocks after she moves to Scotland. In the midst of all this, Sid suffers the biggest shock of his life, when his father (Peter Capaldi) unexpectedly dies. Shortly thereafter, Sid joins the gang on a camp trip planned to celebrate Michelle’s birthday. Tony, still unsure where he fits in, decides not to attend. With Sid grieving the loss of his father and Michelle having given up hope of ever reestablishing her relationship with Tony, the two have sex on the beach. No one is aware of the new relationship, until Cassie, who has come to visit Sid, catches them kissing.
Chris has been expelled for numerous misdemeanors and goes to Jal for advice. Chris and Jal make a deal–Chris will give life a real shot and Jal will stop saying “no” to everything. After several unsuccessful tries, Chris finds a job he’s good at–salesperson–he ends up squatting at a house he’s supposed to be selling and Cassie moves in temporarily. Inevitably, Chris and Jal end up a couple and Chris really starts to straighten his life out. He’s become the best performer at work and he’s happier than he’s ever been.
Chris is unaware that Jal is pregnant and she struggles with whether to tell him or not. Though it’s never clear how, it is revealed that Cassie is aware of the pregnancy. Michelle and Jal’s dysfunctional family discover her secret shortly after. The next day, Jal goes to a music audition at a prestigious college of arts, and performs well. However, when she returns home, she discovers Cassie looking anxious sitting on the table in the apartment. They both head to the hospital where it is revealed that Chris is suffering from the same illness that killed his brother. Jal tells Chris she is pregnant and tells him she loves him. Though he recovers initially, Chris dies from a second a second subarachnoid hemorrhage that occurred shortly after Cassie heard him crying over Jal’s decision to abort their baby.
Skins has been a devastatingly real look at a group of teenagers from the word go; the show goes farther and deeper than anything we see on standard cable in America. However, series 2 is particularly dark and unflinching. The writing is sharp and pointed and the acting strong. Skins represent a terrific sampling of British television.
Skins – Volume 2 doesn’t boast what I would call a stellar video transfer. The widescreen format does allow for a fairly solid transfer, unfortunately there is some noticeable grain and noticeably dull coloring.
The stereo soundtrack is good but not great. You will notice occasional volume drops throughout the set. While the soundtrack boasts some of the best up-and-coming artists in music, some music has been edited from the original due to music clearance issues.
Skins – Volume 2 does offer a few bonus features:
• Five Bonus Skins Stories – Most of these just flesh out scenes that are included in different episodes. While they weren’t necessary, they give viewers a deeper look into the minds of several characters.
• Auditions – I always think it’s neat to watch actors audition for their roles, as we get the chance to do here.
• Christmas Special – At just over seven minutes long, Tony isn’t really talked about much here, so I guess we’re to assume he’s still in the hospital. The friends discuss the turkey they’re going to have. Chris and Anwar do not want to celebrate Christmas so decide to go off on their own. It mainly follows them throughout, until they join the others. Kenneth and Maxxie do the infamous “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” dance and Anwar is, Anwar.
