I have to get something off my chest, something I’m sure many other people have needed to get off their chest.

Skins UK went downhill after the first generation. Okay. It did.

The first generation of Skins was absolutely incredible. The acting, the plot, the music, the metaphors/symbolism, the raw emotion, the half nakedness. Everything about volumes one and two of Skins were amazing. What the frick happened when Effy and her friends took over?

To me, the second generation of Skins has taken a turn for the tacky. This isn’t necessarily the actors’ fault, I more blame the producers for this. The first generation was extremely realistic (well, I mean, not always, but you know what I mean), and suddenly the third volume was just like any other teen dramedy. The incorporation of the college environment and dorky professors was what really did it in for me. The entire tone of the show seemed to change with a new cast of characters, and it was ultimately disappointing.

I also felt that the second generation of characters had a lot of potential, but I really couldn’t find myself able to connect with them like I did with the first bunch. What I loved about the first generation was that they were real, with skin blemishes, non-ideal bodies, and messy hair. There were so many scenes where they would be in only underwear and go through extremely real moments together. Everything about it was believable. There was also crazy symbolism and metaphors that really impressed me about the whole show. The first generation was simply just well done and was a piece of art in itself. It dealt with real, traumatic and difficult problems that a lot of teens have to deal with. It evoked emotion and made you fall in love with the characters like they were your own friends. There was no sugar coating of these issues, and there was diversity. The second generation, though there is diversity, I can not find myself to really believe or even care about the characters. Like, I groan whenever Pandora comes on the screen. I could not care less about Emily and Naomi’s relationship. JJ is interesting but I can not bring myself to truly care. Why?!? I’ll be honest, I never really liked Cassie or Jal or Anwar, but I cared about them deeply. I was excited to see their respective episodes, even if it meant seeing Sid or Maxxie less. They were just so good that it was fine for me. If I see there is an episode for one of the twins, I just feel like I want to skip it. Though I did appreciate that Cook got Sid’s locker (with the porn mag and beanie, like, TBT!) and Cook lived in a room that said “Chris Loves Fish”. LIKE, that’s amazing. I’m here for that.

With that being said, I really wish Cook and Effy were in the first generation. (I know, Effy makes appearances in the first, but you know what I mean). I think both of these characters had a lot of potential that could have been made into something really amazing in the first generation. The second generation just is not made the same as the first. I find that Effy is romanticized and objectified for JJ, Cook, and Freddie’s storylines. I also think it’s pretty ridiculous that JJ and Freddie profess that they’re deeply in love with Effy when the audience has barely seen any interaction between any of them. I mean, all Effy and Freddie do is make some prolonged eye contact and suddenly he’s in love with her and cannot live without her? It’s not accurate and we missed a lot of relationship development that we would see in the first generation. I also think that Cook, who is played by an incredible actor, really could have shined if he were with the first generation. I fell in love with darling Chris because all of the scenes he was in were emotionally raw and realistic. If I could have seen Cook in similar filming and production styles I think he could have been an even more amazing character.

I also must say, though this is nit picky, that the incorporation of music in the second gen just sucks. The scenes are so short with barely any substance, and transition music is played every two minutes. In the first gen, I did not notice the music as much because scenes were much longer and had much more impact. When I did notice the music, it was amazing and only added more to the scene, it provoked emotion. (see “Lights Out” by Matthew Pop, one of my favorite songs now). The music played now is just filler for scenes because it appears that the actors cannot carry it themselves.

Though the first generation definitely was not perfect, it seems like everything after the original crew did a complete 180 and the shows tone changed. It no longer makes me think about everything and appreciate my life. I just wait for make-out scenes between people who have known each other for half an episode and then wait for the pointless drama to ensue. There is no longer deep friendships like those between Sid and Tony, or character development like Tony, Michelle, or Chris…or Cassie, or Sid, or Maxxie, or Jal, or Anwar. I just miss my old friends! Yes, Effy Stonem may be absolutely gorgeous with her eyeliner always halfway down her face, but it’s not enough to save the disappointment that I experienced after the first generation went off to university. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to continue on and finish the fourth volume, let alone watch the third generation with completely random people. I may have to just hold on the first generation for the rest of forever.