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Talk Back: "Skins" Season Three Opener on BBC America

You had the chance to read my advance review of Skins' third season premiere a few months ago, but now that the episode has aired in the US, I'm curious to hear what you thought.

Did you miss the original cast of Sid, Tony, Michelle, Cassie, and the rest? Are you intrigued by this new batch of unruly teens? Did the tone feel slightly off between the casual and brusque sexuality of Effy and Cook and the oddness of that first day college assembly? Are you completely amused by Pandora or turned off by her sunny quirkiness? Which characters stand out most to you?

And, most importantly, will you tune in again next week?

Talk back here.

Next week on Skins ("Cook"), Cook prepares to celebrate his seventeenth birthday, although things take a turn for the worse when he encounters a gangster by the name of Johnny White.
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Comments

Jim Ferris! said…
Having seen the entire third season, I remember how I was uncomfortable with the new cast at the beginning. It was strange to try to connect with the previous cast (which I loved dearly), but with Effy there to connect to Tony it makes it a little easier. There are, throughout the season, other First and Second season characters who appear, but none of the core cast. After about episode 4 is when I started warming up to the new cast, and by the end of the season I had embraced them as much as the original members. Emily became my Cassie, Cook became my Chris, and Effy seriously started standing on her own and blew me away.
8/07/2009
Myles said…
I think that the premiere is actually quite interesting, although I was disappointed that the clip from January Press Tour released by BBC America pretty much spoiled its entire plot. As an isolated hour of television, I find that it's quite compelling, but I think that the rest of the season squanders that potential.

But those are comments for another day, hmm?
8/07/2009
Joey Bersack said…
Being on the left side of the pond I hadn't even seen Skins, Series one or two until this past Saturday when BBCAmerica rocked a marathon. Of course, being a television addict, I had heard of the show only by its reputation. But I can say it didn't disappoint.
Turning in last night for Series three, I felt like what I was watching was the trailer promo that they had been running for the last week. I wasn't impressed, but at the same time I wasn't disappointed. Now that we are introduced to the characters, I am ready for the rhythm of the show to kick in and for the plots to start moving along.

Overall, I was entertained but am now waiting for the show to hit the gas.

Joey
tvwtf.blogspot.com
confessionsofapa.blogspot.com
8/07/2009
Harleypeyton said…
It's not bad, not good, and sometimes in between. And a long, long way from the brilliance that a animated the first/second series. That opening shot you adore -- for reasons that escape me -- sorta sets the tone. Look-at-me narcisissim (the writers, not the actor), painfully obvious slapstick (cop does header into garbage truck! teh comedy!!), and the kind of falsity you'd never find in the previous series.

And then the ending. Compare the wistful romance -- with a nice sharp edge wrapped inside -- of that first pilot, Cassie and Syd on the trampoline, with the whambamthankyouwham sex between Effie and Cook. Yes, the writers wanted to make a point. New series, new attitude.

Unfortunately, this new attitude is lacking in most of the qualities that made the first series so memorable.

And yes, it gets a little better in subsequent episodes. But probably not better enough.
8/07/2009
Bella Spruce said…
The characters are all interesting and unique in their own way and I already adore Effy and her wild ways. I just hope they keep the focus more on the kids and less on the teachers. I enjoyed the pilot except for the student assembly part which was actually quite painful. I mean, fart jokes? Really? The writers have proved that they are much more clever than that!
8/07/2009
Danni-l said…
Hi from the UK. Your comments are all very varied and range from very impressed to rather cynical. I hope those of you who are impressed already know about the lastest series that has just finished broadcasting here...and will probably be with you in the spring. I don't quite know if anyone will get to see this comment because since last July no1 has posted :D
Make sure you watch the new series because for those of you that liked lesbian action, shrooms in the wood and sex here there and everywhere...it couldn't get much better...and I hate to say it being a british teen myself...100% realistic :P
3/24/2010
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