Skins Complete Seventh Series DVD Review

Creators: Jamie Brittain and Bryan Elsley

Starring: Hannah Murray, Kaya Scodelario, Jack O’Connell, Lily Loveless, Kat Prescott.

Rating: 18

When SKINS announced that it would be reuniting some of its original cast members for a movie, the Internet almost collapsed with excitement. But when plans of the movie fell flat, we were given one last series, with three stories from generation’s past and what they are up to now. But how did it live up to the possible movie hype?

SKINS: FIRE – It’s been quite clear from the start that Effy (Kaya Scodelario) has been the superior character in SKINS. She’s the only cast member to span two generations, and to put it quite bluntly, had the only decent character development in the franchise. But how did Effy get on in her adult years? Not too shabby, but she still has traits from the past that she just can’t get rid of. She’s also living with Naomi and Emily (Lily Loveless and Kat Prescott). While Naomi’s revelation of cancer seems a bit quick in episode one of SKINS: FIRE, it plays out to be some of the most heart breaking acting from Loveless and Scodelario. While it can’t be no coincidence that she finds herself with an older man who’s very similar to her love interest in series three and four, there does not seem to be any mention of Freddie at all. While Scodelralio acting ability was robbed of a ‘confronting the past’ story line, Scodelario portrays the teenager trying to deal with the adult years with such accuracy it’s quite hard to watch. Amazing performances all round.

SKINS: PURE – The once wide eyed and big grinned Cassie (Hannah Murray) now avoids social interaction and keeps herself out of trouble now she finds herself in London, and sadly there isn’t an “oh wow, lovely” in sight. Cassie finds herself become an Internet sensation after somebody takes pictures of her in a paparazzi style way. Apparently, nobody is going to mention the fact how creepy it is, because the photos look absolutely amazing. The storyline seemed to be aimed at the Tumblr fan girls who have seen Cassie as a bit of a cult figure in the SKINS community, but in reality her story is still hard to deal with because she has become a complete shadow of her former self. But despite that, she seems to be the one from SKINS episodes past that can take charge, and when her dad (Neil Morrisey) finds himself in a deep depressing after the passing of his wife, she takes charge and takes her little brother in while her dad gets better.

SKINS: RISE – Can you believe it? Five episodes in and we finally have a character trying to deal with the actions of his past. Cook (Jack O’Connell) is in Manchester, taking on the nomad lifestyle as he tries to deal with the fact he killed the man that killed his best friend. He’s a drug dealer, rolling with the big supposed “gangster” types and trying not to get on the wrong side of him. But he does, and ends up being chased down in a CABIN IN THE WOODS type finale. It’s a much fitting ending to the SKINS franchise, a little out there, but it makes sure the series goes out with a bang following the slightly disappointing ratings with the third generation.

While a movie would have given a much better goodbye, it does not add a dampener to its bow out. Creators Jamie Brittain and Bryan Elsley made sure that the world knew just how groundbreaking SKINS was, and will always will be. Goodbye SKINS, we’re gonna miss you.

SKINS COMPLETE SEVENTH SERIES IS OUT VIA 4DVD. ORDER THE COMPLETE SKINS BOXSET AT AMAZON NOW