[Tom4784]

From Digital Spy, I was gonna post it in the topic but what the hell.

The Style


In an effort to keep the “Skins brand” alive, they’ve copied the UK version’s credit sequence style (flashy images, colours, sexy bits), logo and ad-break bumpers. But the music’s new – it has lyrics alongside tinkly piano. As for the style of the show itself, you’ll be pleased to hear it’s just as gritty and youthful as the original, although there is a saddening lack of proper nudity and the swears are bleeped. The ******ers.

The Story


Those of you that have seen the trailer will know that the plot of episode one is the same – a deliberate move on the part of creator Bryan Elsley to lay the foundations himself before introducing a host of new American writing talent later in the season. Everything you remember from ep one in the UK is there – squeezed balls, trampolines, a car in a lake – sometimes word-for-word or shot-for-shot. But stick with it, because episode five is more original. Written by new writer Mark Hammer, it sees the characters hit broadly similar plot points to the UK version but by taking a very different journey involving Stanley's dad's prized car, an army base and an amazingly annoying teacher, whose best line is: "Drugs? No thanks - I'm high on life."

The Characters


Tony: He’s still called Tony and he still is Tony: he's ridiculously charming, uses sex as a weapon and is as cocky as ever. But new star (and amateur boxer) James Newman is more rugged, macho and well, American. Think Nick Hoult’s Tony mixed with last season's Cook if you will. Although his duvet cover's not as good as UK Tony's.


Michelle: Tony still calls her Nips and she still hates it, but just like in the UK series, she can’t quit him. Although she retains her frisson with Stanley/Sid, the US version is more spunky and a better cat-fighter. Out of all of them, she’s the most similar.


Stanley / Sid: The loveable nerd becomes a lazy bum in the transition but he's still the hapless virgin who you root for. Less Ron Weasley and more Michael-Cera-as-Scott-Pilgrim in the looks department, he’s still at the command of Tony and desperately in love with Michelle.


Tea / Maxxie: Yikes! They made the gay dancer a lesbian cheerleader? This might be controversial as Maxxie was so well loved, but we reckon that feisty Tea should be given a chance. She’s strong and stands up to Tony, but their complicated relationship might just cause tension later on (now where have we seen that before….?)


Chris: Full disclosure: we can’t remember if we always loved the UK Chris as much as we do now we know he dies horribly, but we weren’t as enamoured with the Stateside version. Maybe it’s because he’s a bit rougher, more of a skinhead – but we think you’ll see a softer side come out. He’s still in love with his emotionally wonky teacher after all.


Cadie / Cassie: From pale and wan Hannah Murray to wild and creepy Britne Oldford, Cadie is just as weird but in a very different way. She makes erotic sculptures – out of vegetables – and she loves knives. She’s still Tony’s choice to pop Stanley’s cherry and still ODs on a trampoline, but she replaces Cassie’s floatiness with a deadpan menace. Barring Maxxie's gender-swap, she's the most changed character.

The Rest: And fear not, fans of other characters – they’re all still there, we just didn’t get enough of a feel for them to judge. Jal becomes Daisy (and her clarinet becomes a trumpet); Anwar is now Abbud, and he still struggles to balance Islam with partying; and Effy is reincarnated as Eura, who looks a lot like Cassie, but remains as enigmatic and impassive as Kaya Scodelario’s version.


The Bottom Line

To be honest, if you’ve seen ep one of the UK Skins, you may be a little bored of the opener to the MTV series, but don’t give up too quickly, because from what we’ve seen, there’s lots of humour, emotion and conflict to come in the new episodes. And with Bryan Elsley’s plan to eventually make this a completely new version of Skins, coupled with a very promising new cast, we think this is one to watch.

Ugh where to start, They bleep out the swear words? It works for comedies like South Park & Family Guy but that's going to be horrific here. They might as well not bothered with the swearing. As for the characters... If they wanted a 'new version of Skins' why have they used and cannibalized the UK characters? I think people wouldn't have been so divided over this if they used a new set of characters.

I'll still give it a watch but it sounds terrible.

[Captain.Remy]

The first couple of episodes will be "WTF" but then it will be alright during the second half. I'll give it a chance. I quite like it actually.

[ILoveTRW]

Latest episode is great, better than any uk episode.

[Tom4784]

I'd say so far the american series is on about the same level as Series 5 of our Skins. It needs to stop copying storylines though as it's best when it's doing it's own thing. It doesn't compare to the UK's first generation though, they don't have the charm.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by ILoveTRW

Latest episode is great, better than any uk episode.

I disagree completely. Abbud's episode was probably the third best episode of the US series so far and the only episode I'd say that could hold a candle to ours was Tea's episode. I think Tea's the only element of the US series that's better then ours. Tea's an all round better character then Maxxie was. The rest of the cast are weak when you compare them.

[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I disagree completely. Abbud's episode was probably the third best episode of the US series so far and the only episode I'd say that could hold a candle to ours was Tea's episode. I think Tea's the only element of the US series that's better then ours. Tea's an all round better character then Maxxie was. The rest of the cast are weak when you compare them.

nope this is the only episode that i have actually found really funny