Skins - Series 3, Episode 2

With Skins producers deciding to cut most of the original cast members at the end of Series 2, the regular skins fan was left with only Effie Stonham and Pandora to drag them through to the current series. With this in my thoughts I was in two minds about watching the new series, but I did and I must say, I'm lovin it.

It's different than the original, but then every series has to grow and change or otherwise face the inevitable axe. Our first episode incorporated subtle references to some of our favourite ex’s, Sid’s old locker became the focus of some rather destructive forces and the old gangs antics were mentioned in the head of Roundview College’s welcome speech. This being said, without the younger Stonham gracing our screens it is largely out with the old and in with the new.

 Cook, turning 17 and wanting to throw the inevitable drug and drink filled party, soon had the new gang holed up in his local and proceeded to down tequila’s, beer, and entire cake that had been made. In his haste to party himself Cook failed to see that everyone else was less than impressed and before long the group had had enough whereupon Cook thought it would be a good idea to gate crash an engagement party. And this is where the obligatory skins destruction started. Pandora wonderfully announced “I’ve decided I love drugs” before eating an entire packet of Cocaine (I’m sure of which amount would have actually killed her), whilst Cook, on the promise of sex if he impressed, boarded the stage for some karaoke.

The place soon descended into chaos when the once warring sides of the family, the bride’s side headed by notorious gangster Johnny White, once again leapt at each others throats, our skins tribe caught in the middle, Cook now with bloody nose along with other various damages and a full bag of coke in his system. Fleeing the party in a hurry Cook’s mission to bed a girl that night began to flag as first Katie, then Pandora and finally Effie turned him down and it seemed that even Freddie had finally had enough of keeping his friend out of trouble.

Not to let his birthday pass without some action Cook was soon misguiding little lamb JJ as the pair took to a brothel, where JJ proceeded to have his first kiss!! Cook done, and JJ a bumbling bag of nerves after his £10 kiss they discovered that it wasn’t only they that had paid for some womanly services as they found a chained and whipped Johnny White in the next room. The already riled gangster was further taunted by Cook who seems to know no boundaries and proceeds to rob, punch and humiliate the man – possibly the worse move he could make. It remains to be seen whether Johnny White will come-a-looking for Cook and the gang.

Always on the charm offensive Cook seems to have a knack for causing trouble

 Skins 3 is shaping up into a fine new series. I’m enjoying our new characters who seem to pushing the boundaries further than before, or perhaps we just got used to the lives of Sid, Tony et al….but their actions do seem to be paling to insignificance compared with these lot. It remains to be seen whether the drugs, obscenities and drink can continued to be mix with more softly family drama’s and personal emotion as per the previous 2 season but currently I can’t wait to see more.

E4 - Thursdays at 10pm