While I have already made mention of the ways that Skins so deftly balances comedy and drama within each episode, the tonal shifts that the show is able to handle from episode to episode are also quite impressive. While I didn't totally love the comedic ungrounded shift of the Anwar and Maxxie episode, it could not have been any further a cry from this episode featuring Effy, which was so dark, twisted, and generally fucked up. Even the little bit of humor ("What is so sexy about thighs? What can you possibly do with a thigh?) was undercut by the present awkwardness of that exchange being between Tony and his father.
This awkwardness was then carried through the episode (at least before things just got weirder and darker) with Tony crashing Chris's. The strain of the group was palpable. Actually, and to my surprise, I was actually feeling sort of sad for Tony who was lonely enough to turn to the paperman. The fact that Tony later confesses to feeling like everyone wants a ball buster around made it seem even sadder that while Tony is conniving and manipulative, he does it partly because he thinks it's who his friends want him to be.
After finding Josh such a sweet counterpoint to Tony in his first appearance, it was really surprising to see him so dark and menacing. He first seemed to be someone that was most likely over-medicated by his psychologist mother, but there is something royally wrong with him. And what is with the villians of the series wearing scarves? Mad Twatter did too.
Though Effy really hasn't done anything since her first appearance at the beginning of the series where she had Tony help her sneak back home, it was really interesting to have an episode feature her. Though I was already told that she wasn't going to speak, I still found it to be surreal and mysterious, in a way that means that I don't want an explanation. Her dreamy monologue before passing out was enough for me ("Sometimes I think I was born backwards. You know, come out my mom the wrong way. I hear words go past me backwards.") and while I guess it makes me wonder if her inability to speak is psychological or by choice, I kind of like it as just something weird. I sort of dread the idea of her being like Silent Bob, where any time she does speak it's supposed to be profound (which is sort of what happened in the season finale with her telling Tony what a twat he is.)
I don't want to finish writing without just mentioning how much I loved the confrontation between Sid and Tony. I finally feel like I can begin to understand why Sid is so loyal to Tony, even without much of a real explanation. Also, the scenes between Sid and Cassie were so sweet.
Josh's ultimatum to Tony had to be one of the most fucked up things I have seen on television, ever. EVER.
While I have already made mention of the ways that Skins so deftly balances comedy and drama within each episode, the tonal shifts that the show is able to handle from episode to episode are also quite impressive. While I didn't totally love the comedic ungrounded shift of the Anwar and Maxxie episode, it could not have been any further a cry from this episode featuring Effy, which was so dark, twisted, and generally fucked up. Even the little bit of humor ("What is so sexy about thighs? What can you possibly do with a thigh?) was undercut by the present awkwardness of that exchange being between Tony and his father.
This awkwardness was then carried through the episode (at least before things just got weirder and darker) with Tony crashing Chris's. The strain of the group was palpable. Actually, and to my surprise, I was actually feeling sort of sad for Tony who was lonely enough to turn to the paperman. The fact that Tony later confesses to feeling like everyone wants a ball buster around made it seem even sadder that while Tony is conniving and manipulative, he does it partly because he thinks it's who his friends want him to be.
After finding Josh such a sweet counterpoint to Tony in his first appearance, it was really surprising to see him so dark and menacing. He first seemed to be someone that was most likely over-medicated by his psychologist mother, but there is something royally wrong with him. And what is with the villians of the series wearing scarves? Mad Twatter did too.
Though Effy really hasn't done anything since her first appearance at the beginning of the series where she had Tony help her sneak back home, it was really interesting to have an episode feature her. Though I was already told that she wasn't going to speak, I still found it to be surreal and mysterious, in a way that means that I don't want an explanation. Her dreamy monologue before passing out was enough for me ("Sometimes I think I was born backwards. You know, come out my mom the wrong way. I hear words go past me backwards.") and while I guess it makes me wonder if her inability to speak is psychological or by choice, I kind of like it as just something weird. I sort of dread the idea of her being like Silent Bob, where any time she does speak it's supposed to be profound (which is sort of what happened in the season finale with her telling Tony what a twat he is.)
I don't want to finish writing without just mentioning how much I loved the confrontation between Sid and Tony. I finally feel like I can begin to understand why Sid is so loyal to Tony, even without much of a real explanation. Also, the scenes between Sid and Cassie were so sweet.
Josh's ultimatum to Tony had to be one of the most fucked up things I have seen on television, ever. EVER.
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