Skins – Volume One (BBC TV DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episodes: C+

 

 

The BBC has a hit on its hands with Skins in part because of its boldness to show teen acting out of turn in abusing parents, teachers, drugs and their bodies.  The show has its share of teen nudity you would never see in U.S. productions and as a result is not as phony as most U.S. teen shows that think they are realistic.  That does not make the show the TV version of Larry Clark film like Kids or Bully, et al, especially since the BBC is not a pay cable service.  They would like you to think that, but it is not that edgy, though it can be bold at times.

 

Unfortunately, the 9 episodes (over 3 DVDs) don’t offer too much more than we have already seen and the show is really part of a declining cycle of teen fiction where childhood is dead and life is a free-for-all too much.  The sad results need not be explained, yet it is often honest and there is some good casting and acting throughout.  There is conflict and it is well written enough, but will they be able to keep this up?  I was reminded of At Home With The Braithwaites starting out even more strongly and holding up for a while.  Can Skins avoid being a soap opera and implode before it gets started?  We’ll see.  This is worth a look if you are interested.  If not, wait and see how the show goes.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is good, but a little softer throughout than a new production should be and not the best-looking of the recent BBC productions we’ve been covering.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is also not bad, but has no surrounds and is nothing more than a modern-style TV recording.  Extras are few and include video diaries and an ancillary storyline section, which is disappointing.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo