Skins

Advantages: Great Fun To Watch

Disadvantages: Not Suitable For Sensitive Audiences

Skins is a series/drama following teenagers who's lives are surrounded by drink, drugs, sex and parties.

~The first season had 10 episodes (as its based in the UK and is a UK drama - and UK dramas generally have very few episodes in every season). The first season has completed on E4, but if you missed it and want to watch skins its about to start on channel 4 now.

----The characters----
---guys---

Main character, Tony Stonem is played by Nicholas Hoult
(when he was younger he in that Hugh Grant film 'About a boy' (he was the boy) (looks the same just older now);
---description-----
The best-looking, most popular boy in town, Tony's a born leader, always whipping his crew off on a new mission. Always at someone else's expense. (his full profile can be seen on the channel 4 website)

Sid
Poor Sid. A virgin with no confidence, his best friend Tony plays him like a fool, and it doesnt help that Sid's forever lusting after Tony's gorgeous girlfriend. But Sid's cleverer than he thinks and eventually he'll face up to Tony and win the girl of his dreams. It's just not the girl he thinks.
- Sid is arguably the main character of the tv series, from the audiences perspective he is often the most loved character.

My favorite character: Always game for a laugh, Chris will smoke/screw/rob/snort anything. But nothing stops him getting to psychology class. Because nothing gets him going quite like his psychology teacher Angie. For Chris, she's out of this world.

The gay one: Magic on his feet and a whiz with his hands, Maxxie can have any boy he wants. And he wants them all.

the 'muslim': Anwar's family want him to study the Koran, not drink, not smoke, not gamble, not listen to decadent music, not have sex, not take drugs. Anwar likes Tequila, Dope, Pills, Lupe Fiasco, Breasts and X Factor. He's sixteen (another favorite character of mine!)

Rudeboy wannabe: Posh Kenneth offers us a rare mix of upper crust elocution and street bangin' slanguage. What no-one knows, is that the Big K is a big hit with the ladies.

---The gals----
Michelle
Tony's girlfriend is just as you'd expect. She's drop dead gorgeous with a quick wit that keeps everyone on their toes. Everyone except Tony, who runs rings round her. And Michelle knows it. She just doesn't know how she's going to set herself free.

Cassie, the troubled one: An anorexic, self-harming, drug addict with zero self esteem. We never know whether Cassie will die or heroically rise from the ashes but we love her. She's magic.

Jal, the middle one: Super bright and the most talented young classical clarinet player in the country, nothing gets past Jal. Especially not the way Tony treats her best friend Michelle.

Effy Tony's rebellious sister: Our kids are sugar and spice and all things nice compared to Tony's little sister and her shadowy ways. Effy's the one person Tony really cares about, but she'll lead him to places he doesn't want to go.

Abigail the posh one: Posh, pretty and pumped full of prescription medication, Abigail lives in a world of imported carpets, private school and constant therapy. Just think of all the fun Tony can have with her...

---The episodes---
They follow the different characters, usually each episode is mainly about a different character though all characters are involved.
Episodes are great fun and always eventful for example the teenagers go to Russia for a school trip, end up staying in the weirdest prison type place and meet the neighbours... (i cannot describe the episodes as words cant do them justice, you'll have to watch them!) - you can get them on 4od (4 on demand - watch through the channel 4 website).
The channel 4 website is great, you can get full detailed profiles of all the characters and watch exclusive videos prior to episodes (eg. for the Russia trip how the teenagers managed to get the money to pay for the trip)

Be warned this programme is not suitable for most audiences as it works very adult themes and has very strong drug content in every episode (especially when Chris is around!).
The funniest character is probably Anwer due to his very different family lifestyle compared with the others, the last episode of season 1 shows his birthday party; there is a tragic twist ending the episode which I cannot spoil.
Each character has their own thing going on, Chris his life's a mess his parent have gone, he lives alone then some hobo took over his house and now he is homeless - used all his money for drugs.
Sid Jenkins the geek is wrapped up in his love for Michelle and doesn't realise how much Chrissie likes him.

Just by saying this I am revealing too much about the episodes so I end here.

---critics---

Critics have complained that the series depicts an unrealistic and stereotypical portrayal of teenagers
and that it indulges a 'teenage fantasy world' portrayed as being close to realistic. It has also been criticised for excessive promoting of the show using new media and many TV trailers, whilst other critics criticized the writing as poor in comparison to other similar themed series.
Theyre completely right, it is over fantasised the lives they live but its great fun to watch!

The second season starts soon, cant wait!

more info on the charecters can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skins_%28TV_series%29

---Spoiler Exclusive---
Shane Richie has apparantly landed the role of a pervy teacher in the upcoming second season

Ex-Eastenders star Shane Richie has signed up to appear in controversial teen drama Skins.

Summary: Skins is a gripping drama, filled with action and tragedy, unrealistic, yet great fun to watch!