I am tempted to describe Skins as a teen issues show, maybe Degrassi, on crack, but the acting is just so much better and it is actually feeling so much more subversive so far.
What a wonderful misdirection for the opening of the episode. I entirely expected the opening shot to be Cassie's dilapidated and broken home, only to find out it was a food fight party at Michelle's. Instead, Cassie's home life comes with a wonderful nuance and contradiction. It is joyful and bright, her parents are horny and in love, and they love their new baby boy. The problem is that they are so self involved that they don't pay enough attention to Cassie to realize what's wrong, just assuming that she is getting both the attention and help she needs at the clinic.
Without the right balance, the relationship between Alan and Cassie could have come off as creepy; an old man telling a young girl that he loves her, but I was really moved by the depiction of the one adult that seems to really care about Cassie, who is so desperate to find someone who cares. I loved that final moment in the diner while Cassie tried to make excuses and use her usual deceptions for not eating. Also, maybe I am an absolute sucker for pining and lingering romance, but I sure hope that Sid starts to care and have feelings for her, even after two episodes.
A little bit of me is worried that in a way, Angie is almost like the guiding adult, a Miss Bliss or Mitch Leery, but again, her character strikes such a balance between the responsible wiser adult and a naive young adult that makes mistakes in a way I really don't think I have ever seen on a show that I feel like I don't have to worry too much. Plus, I feel pretty assured she will do the irresponsible thing and sleep with Chris.
I also can't wait to see how Madison and Sid plays out. Two episodes in and I am already looking forward to seeing how that plays out, Tony and his neighbor, the love rectangle of Sid, Cassie, Michelle, and Tony, and Angie and Chris.
Really, maybe my expectations were extremely lowered by hearing the show continually described as fun trash, which it is in some respects, but as a fan and casual viewer of most teen high school shows from The Wonder Years, Dawson's Creek, The OC, Saved by the Bell, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Friday Night Lights, as well as Buffy Season 1-3, I feel like I'm really seeing something entirely new and original presented in a way I have never seen before.
2 comments:
I can't tell you how happy this post made me. Cassie annoyed the piss out of me early on, but she grew on me, especially in how desperate she is to please everybody, ie: "I'm totally better" and when she hugs the head psychiatrist! (Did you catch whose Mom that is? That becomes important later on). I can't wait until you are caught up with me. Can we start dressing like the kids?
Was that Michelle's mom? I thought she looked familiar but then couldn't place it. Was there someone else in the clinic that I've seen before too? Some skinny girl. Also liked the Jamie Oliver reference. I wish my class was over so I could go home and watch episode 3.
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