 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Skins (U.K.)
- BBC America
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
Unflinching British teen soap isn't for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this British series focuses on the lives of a group of upper middle-class teens, the show's content is controversial and decidedly adult. Both teens and adults engage in various simulated sexual acts, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and deal and use prescription drugs and marijuana; most don't suffer too many consequences for their iffy behavior. Expect plenty of talk about sex and virginity, partial male and female nudity (some is blurred out), and lots of profanity (words like "t-ts" and "s--t" are audible, while "f--k" is muted). The series also touches on some serious subjects, like anorexia and peer pressure.
What's the story?
SKINS is a controversial British dramedy about eight teen friends growing up in Bristol, England. Mike Bailey stars as Sid, a nerdy-but-fun guy who looks up to his rather arrogant friend Tony (Nicholas Hoult). He's dating the more experienced Michelle (April Pearson), who introduces them both to her troubled friend Cassie (Hannah Murray). The rest of the ensemble is rounded out by their friend Chris (Joe Dempsie), over-achiever Jal (Larissa Wilson), tap-dancing Maxxie (Mitch Hewer), and the semi-religious Anwar (Dev Patel); occasionally Abigail (Georgina Moffat) and Sid's rebellious younger sister Effy (Kaya Scodelario) join the fray as well. Together the teens are forging through their final years of adolescence, having all kinds of (mis)adventures along the way.
Is it any good?
Skins is an unflinching look at the complicated world of an upper-middle class British teenager's life. Each episode focuses on a single character and explores some of the issues that teens face as they approach adulthood -- like coping with intense peer pressure and dealing with feelings of inadequacy, abandonment, and betrayal. But in order to appreciate these themes, viewers must be able to look beyond the risky behavior that some of the young characters engage in. From sex to drug use, these activities are presented as both expected and accepted parts of their daily lives -- and most of them have few consequences. As a result, it's sometimes hard to tell whether the teens' actions complement the deeper and more meaningful storylines or are included gratuitously to entice would-be audiences. It also leaves you wondering whether you should be rooting for them or wishing that they'd get caught and ultimately learn some important lessons about growing up
Obviously, the show's mature content rules it out for kids and makes it pretty iffy even for teens. But for mature viewers, the series does offer well-written, often funny entertainment. Though not always likable, the characters are well developed and emotionally genuine. The storylines also cleverly blend the lives of various adult characters into the ongoing teen narratives, which often makes what some of these teens are going through more poignant, funny, and/or disturbing. And throughout it all, the teens characters remain close and loyal. If you're comfortable with (or can look beyond) the stronger content, this British import's focus on friendship certainly has something to say.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether it's OK to show teen sex, drinking, and drug use on television. Do shows like this present a realistic view of teen life, or is anything exaggerated for entertainment? What would the real-life consequences of the characters' behavior be?
Aside from the accent, what sets
British series apart from their American counterparts? Why is some
content (swearing, nudity, smoking) more accepted in other countries?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
A great show for older teens.
For anyone under 15, this show really isn't something to watch, but for those of us who are old enough to understand the messages as well as relate, on some level, to the characters and situations, it's great. I love this show and I believe it's something that teens should watch, as long as they don't take it to heart that they have to party and do illegal things to be cool or anything because that's definitely not the message. Sure there's a lot of swearing (come on, they're British) and sex and drugs but that's what makes the show so great: it's really realistic and original and not all fake (cough, Disney channel, cough). It deals with some real life situations that, though they may not be common, have pretty universal themes... and it offers solutions to these problems that should be taken with a grain of salt. Often, the characters make bad and frankly stupid choices, but it makes viewers realise what should've been done or at least think of alternative actions. Oh, and I think that for all its entertainment (I mean, it's better to watch other teens screw up their lives than to live those problems), the show might actually be beneficial. At least, for me it helped me understand myself better... Effy's depression and breakdown in the fourth series made me realise that I was severely depressed (and in denial) and was literally the reason I sought out help on my own. So for parents who won't let their teens (especially those at least 15) watch Skins, I highly suggest reconsidering your policy if you want to be open-minded towards your sons/daughters... and for my peers, if you saw the American version and then learnt about this one, I definitely say watch it because it's way better, and if you're just iffy about the show, I also say to watch it (unless you have moral issues with what you've seen/read) because you might learn a bit more about life.
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AGE
AWESOMELY REALISTIC!
I. Love. This. Show. It's like a dirtier Degrassi, and it truly shows what teens face. I mean, sh*t, I go to f*cking Catholic school and I've done worse thsn these kids.
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Kid, 12 years old
November 2, 2010
AGE
Skins is quite a realistic representation of life as a teenager in Britain. Its got quite a lot of swearing and some sexual content but this adds to the drama and the realism of the show.
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AGE
Skins is quite a realistic representation of life as a teenager in Britain. Its got quite a lot of swearing and some sexual content but this adds to the drama and the realism of the show.
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Kid, 11 years old
November 2, 2010
AGE
Skins is quite a realistic representation of life as a teenager in Britain. Its got quite a lot of swearing and some sexual content but this adds to the drama and the realism of the show.
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AGE
Amazing
for people that aren't overprotective and want their kids to know what real life can be like. GET OUR OF YOUR BUBBLE
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AGE
I'm a dude, and I hate most teen soap operas, yet I love this show
Skins is an excellent show that is definitely for teens and up only. This series is about a group of teens living in Bristol, England who attend a college. Tony is the popular one, but he always protects his younger sister Effy, who is extremely mysterious. Tony has a few friends too: Sid is quiet, but in love with Tony's girlfriend Michelle, whose best friend Jal is an excellent clarinet player. Their friend Anwar is a confused Muslim (played brilliantly by Dev Patel who is also in the film Slumdog Millionaire!), his friend Maxxie is openly gay, their friend Chris is a party animal with family trouble, and Cassie is basically crazy. There's also Lucy, nicknamed Sketch, who lives near Maxxie. I've only seen Series 1 and 2, and can't wait for Series 3 to hit America; in that series, Effy is the main character. Like I've said before, Skins is for older teens and up. In its native Britain, the series was shown on the pay-TV version of Channel Four (E4), aimed at teens and young adults 15-25. So there's no doubt Skins isn't a kid-friendly series. This makes Gossip Girl look tame by comparison! Sex is a frequent topic: there are scenes of simulated sex of all types, stalking, awkward sexual advances, masturbation, and more; there's also a lot of nudity and crass sexual dialogue. Also, profane language is frequent. F-bombs fly a lot, but are muted on BBC America broadcasts. However, on the DVD, online, and original British broadcasts of this show, the F-bombs are loud and clear. Various milder profanities are spoken, and I do remember some uses of the word "c**t" (muted on BBC America, uncensored elsewhere). Finally, there is rampant, near-constant use of drugs and alcohol by teens. A few drugs of choice: cocaine, ecstasy, lots and lots of marijuana and tobacco smoking, and extreme drinking. If you can handle the offensive content, you will really like Skins. The BBC America version is fine for most teens ages 13+, but the DVD version, which is uncensored and contains additional sex scenes and very strong language, is more appropriate for those 15 and over.
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AGE
Mature teens only..
For Mature views, who are less likely to be influenced by the content.
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AGE
Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
Love it. Even though my life isn't really like this, it feels very believable and realistic.
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AGE
16+ at Minimum, Recommended only for Adults
Exceptionally offensive British show with graphic language, very strong sexual material, drug usage, and poor morals.
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| TV rating: | TV-MA |
| Network: | BBC America |
| Cast: | Hannah Murray, Mike Bailey, Nicholas Hoult |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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