Skinned

So; it's the final episode this week and to be honest, i'm kind of sad about it and I will miss this latest line up of 'up and comings' more than I thought I would. Series 4 of SKINS upped it's game a bit. Kaya Scodelario certainly knows how to play a pyscho to a T, Ollie Barbieri is possibly a little underrated, Luca Pasqualino is completely delicious to look at but also plays moody, 'fun sponge, Freddie beautifully, Merville Lukeba was as adorable as ever and Jack O'Connell, well; someone give that boy an award for his interpretation of loveable, chav rogue 'Cook'.

'If your shag's just a shag - you're always gonna get your heart ripped out somwhere.... You just burn kid.... Just burn.... Just keep it on the inside' - Cook

I have a fair few 'best bits' from this series..... of course Cook's episode was always going to be a highlight, Effy drove me pretty mad but I was happy to see her and Freddie FINALLY get it on (more for Freddie's sake; though it wasn't a good move, seeing as he ended up dying and all that).... the opening was of course incredible (though the rest of the episode was a BIT of a let down) and SKINS managed to do it again with the shock factor, watching a teenage girl throw herself off a banister in a club way over its capacity.... I even found myself in tears at Katie's episode, pleading with her mum to be there for her as she struggled coping with her premature menopause :( - seeing as I don't even really like the twins, this was quite an achievement and even I had to hand it to them then that maybe this cast do have talent (still think 'Naomi' is a bit wooden however).

I think what I like most about SKINS is that even though it does go a little over the top sometimes, it's not afraid to explore the fact that teenagers feelings are sometimes the most intense and deep of all; teens are dismissed as not knowing enough, being immature, nieve - however, SKINS builds complex webs between these 'friends' - and takes us along for the ride; and even us 'adults' can find ourselves relating to the journeys they're on. Truth is, we all did learn a lot in our teens- it's probably the first time we got our hearts broken, first time we started to feel 'crazy in love', first time we felt betrayal, first time we felt the true weight of 'guilt' over silly decisions we made..........

'I went crazy when I was with you - I can't let that happen again. Love's not supposed to do that. You made me go mad.'

'And you're making me mad now, Effy; and that's exactly what love's supposed to do'.

I love how you can get lost in SKINS.... Sometimes it works the same way as a play, partly thanks to the beautiful filming - you're literally transported, you can see the hairs stand up on their arms (beautiful shot in series three between Freddie/Effy) - you can feel that moment before the kiss, that swirl in their stomachs, that swell in their jeans............... when SKINS hits the spot, it hits it good and hard - and totally right.

What also doesn't hurt is the sheer ridiculous BEAUTY of those young boys! Who I will officially admit I completely perv over on a regular basis and will miss hardcore on a Thursday night. Cook is probably every girls dream 'friend with benefits' (though you'd have to seriously catch yourself from falling) and Freddie, well, I'd happily marry him, if he weren't dead (we'll get on to that) - my obsession with 'Luca Pasqualino' has hit new heights, I reckon I could look at him all day! Even 'JJ' scrubs up a treat, and 'Thomas' is the cutest thing i've ever seen in my life! I wish the boys i'd gone to college with had been so brave and forthcoming - I would have had a whole lot more fun; but maybe that's where I remember it's scripted.

'We fucking know each other Effy. The fucking world knows us. So cut the fucking shit'.

My one complaint is probably Freddie's death. WTF? Why do you have to kill that beautiful boy.. and so brutally - murdered? With a baseball bat? I'm not sure how appropriate it really was? Especially with Effy trying to kill herself the episode before. I should've seen it coming really, my favourite character from the first couple of series, 'Chris' died in the second to last episode of series two, so there's clearly a format here.

'She broke my heart man'.

'she broke my heart as well..... you broke my heart. I bet you've broken hers at some point. So what are we gonna do? Are we just three losers screwing each other forever or are we something better than that. Fuck mate, grow up - cos i'm done here.'

So - Freddie did grow up; and he ended up getting beaten to death by a pyschopath. Wicked. I can't help but think that Skins could've pulled out all the stops without a death but it was shocking and moving and cleverly done (if not a little bit horror movie) all the same. But from now on; no more favourites... it hurts too much.

R.I.P FREDDIE

I'm keen to see how they tie it all up; i'm sure it'll be a sad and beautiful last episode and a lovely send off for this current cast, who I at first thought had nothing on the first lot, but unsurprisingly and rather predictably I have grown completely attached to. I don't want a new lot, but i'm sure i'll fall in love with them too. I rarely follow tv programmes, I even came to SKINS late, I borrowed the box set of series one and two from one of my best friends when I was ill; this was at least a year ago.. and it's still sitting in my house!.... Yeah; I was hooked and my obsession has continuted ever since, and series three and four didn't dissappoint. I sat over lunch with a friend after episode one of this series and we listed the things they had left to cover ... (seeing as the first two series dealt with death of a friend, death of a parent, divorce, getting hit by a bus etc) the list was....

1. Prison (Cook- saw that one coming.)

2. Suicide (they pretty much managed this on the first episode.... Then again with attempted suicide - Effy)

3. Pregnancy but actually 'keeping it' (kind of - JJ gets a girlfriend with a baby)

4. A Happy Ending - (looked like it with Eff and Freddie, for two minutes. But they had to screw that one up. Will they EVER manage it?)

Murder, is one we didn't guess..... As was early menopause and bankruptcy... They manged to surprise us!

I just wonder what five and six are going to have left to cover; sure they'll manage something however!

'People do stupid things when they try to act like their not trapped' - Mr Fitch

So I guess it's time to say goodbye to this beautiful cast of SKINS and I wish them well; the majority of the last cast kind of sunk without a trace; but I have higher hopes for this lot - there's something edgy and exciting about them - I think there are a few specials in there... and I am 100% convinced that Jack O'Connell will get the recognition he deserves, his talent is out of this world; head and sholders above the rest.

Goodbye Crazy Love.

Goodbye Beautiful Boys (Grow up fast please so I can quit feeling like a pervert).

Goodbye mental Effy who I kinda hated (as a character) but my, my - what a beauty.

Goodbye Wonderful Quotes (amazing writers).

Goodbye Wise Cook.

Goodbye SLIGHTLY over the top teen drug abuse!

Goodbye Ridiculous College; with faculty such as Will Young.

Goodbye Wicked Soundtrack.

Goodbye Thursday Night Cheer.

I'll Miss You ................. Hard.

'Do what you can now - forget what wasn't done then' - Freddie's Grandpa