Skins Series 6 ep. 3

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Skins: Series 6 Episode 3: A look back at British Teen Drama/Comedy.


Now if you have read the first review you know what this show is about if now, here it is! Quick overview to catch you up; Skins is a British series set in Bristol South West England, it revolves around a group of teens that are going through sixth form, (or Key Stage 5) is the final (optional) two years of secondary schooling when students are sixteen to eighteen years of age and normally prepare for their A-level examinations. The term is used for describing the final two years spent in a secondary school contrary to a sixth form college (UK use) where students start at age sixteen after leaving secondary school.


Episode 3: Alex


I got crap for my review last week, two anons said it wasn’t a review but a synopsis. basically because I do a play by play of the episode and they obviously didn’t read the entire review because the last five paragraphs talk about my feelings so that’s what I’m going to do. So enjoy reading a review with no context as to what the fuck I’ll be ranting about. Just for you two anons.


This week we meet Alex Hanley, he lives with his Grandmother who is going senile. His father is out and probably always off on work calls and the like. Alex is the newest character in Skins, he is this years Sketch/Thomas. From what I have seen on the internet, people like him. I know I do. He is very different than many Skins characters but similar in certain ways. He always carries a die with him, he had a few index cards with six things to do. Example: 1) Kiss next person to enter room, 2) Punch next person to enter room and so on, the 6th is always run away. 


Whenever he needs to do something he pulls out the card, rolls the dice and does what the card says. This gets him to punch Alo for no reason and eventually kiss Liv. He makes quite the impression for a first day. Doug introduces him to the gang and we learn that Doug has a surname and it's "Cyhoeddus-Gwalchmai." Don't ask me to try and pronounce it. 


As the episode goes on we see the group begins to fracture, with Grace passed away and Rich not around it's starting to affect the group dynamic. So having Alex join the gang during this will create some drama. Alex is very intuitive and can spot little things that most people don't see. He brings Liv over to his house to meet his gran and I really like his gran. She is very funny and such a great actress, her illness isn't over dramatized and I think she made me like Alex more so. Especially when he reads from a small journal to her, it seems to be his grandfathers.


He goes out to meet up with Liv at the pub, Alo isn't pleased to see him and neither are anyone else. Mini doesn't want any new friends. Alex tried to ask Nick about Grace when he gets the group beers but Nick tells him to not talk about her. You can see he wants to make friends but he isn't the best at it. When Mini goes off to dance with some guys Alex mentions that Alo looks distressed about his girlfriend and Liv laughs it off, saying it's just Alo. But Alo jumps up to dance, asks Liv and Franky to dance, even Nick but they turn him down, he then turns down Alex but Alex runs off to take a call and Nick decides to dance with him. I describe this scene because it's one of my favorites, this episode has quite a few great moments.


Alex has father issues like I've mentioned and as he talks to himself Liv overhears him explaining how he met a great girl, and then they go gambling. Alex has luck like you wouldn't believe or he cheats. It sort of keeps it in the grey area until we see him blatantly cheat in a coin toss. He takes the money and runs off with Liv. He sends her off and this is where we find out Alex is gay. We have a homosexual sex scene but it is done surprisingly tastefully, I actually thought he was wanking at first. I as a heterosexual male wasn't bothered by it and thought it was funny when Alex tells the guy he should update his profile pic and fix his dental problems.

As the episode goes on, I like him more and more. He explains Numbers to Nick and we find out some douche is throwing a memorial for Grace. The gang at firsts decides not to go but then they show up and the scene at the memorial is great. The music is subtle the whole episode, and as always Segal does his best. The acting has gotten so much better from the entire cast, I don't think there is a character I don't like these past two seasons. Plus the final scene on the boat, oh it has so many great moments. I've rambled on too much about what has happened and this is becoming a synopsis again, and I'm sorry.

Skins has not disappointed me this season, I have enjoyed the twists and story telling. Even if they show follows a formula. All original ideas have been told so now we tell the same stories but with little differences and that is Skins. A look in the live of a group of friends that have to deal with everyday problems. We get wonderful jokes, some terrible acting here and there and a great guest cast of adults. This is a great episode, and you should see it.