Frederick McClair | |
---|---|
Skins character | |
First appearance | "Everyone" (episode 3.01) |
Last appearance | "Effy" (episode 4.07) "Everyone" (episode 4.08) (voice; uncredited) |
Created by | Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain |
Portrayed by | Luke Pasqualino |
Seasons | 3-4 |
Centric episode(s) | "Freddie" (ep 3.05) "Finale" (ep 3.10) "Freddie" (ep 4.05) |
In-universe information | |
Nickname | Freddie Freds Fredster Fred |
Occupation | Student |
Family | Leo McClair (father) Mary McClair (mother, deceased) Karen McClair (sister) Norman McClair (grandfather) |
Significant other | Effy Stonem (girlfriend) Katie Fitch (ex-girlfriend) Ruth Byatt (sexual encounter) |
Death cause | Beaten to death by Effy's counsellor, John T. Foster |
Frederick "Freddie" McClair is a fictional character from the British television series Skins . He is portrayed by Luke Pasqualino. In the third series, he is involved in a love triangle with Effy Stonem and his best friend James Cook. This causes a conflict between him and Cook, as well as their other best friend JJ. In the fourth series he continues his relationship with Effy and attempts to help her through her depression. [1]
Freddie is best described as a laidback and sensible character who enjoys skateboarding and smoking cannabis. His best friends are Cook and JJ; they call themselves "The Three Musketeers" because of their close friendship. Freddie cares deeply for both his friends, most of the time helping JJ through his social problems because of his Asperger syndrome and attempts to control Cook's wild, if often uncontrollable behaviour with varying degrees of success. [2]
Despite his friendly nature, his home life is particularly difficult as he doesn't get along well with his father and sister. He dislikes how his sister, Karen McClair uses her mother's death as leverage to win sympathy and popularity in a talent competition. His relationship with his father is also poor, as he believes Karen gets preferential treatment over him. By the fourth series, Freddie significantly matures and he becomes closer with his family as well as Karen, having resolved their differences, although it is revealed in his central episode that his mother took her own life, making him paranoid that Effy will do the same.
Freddie is portrayed as a sensitive character that falls in love with Effy Stonem. In series three his friendship with Cook deteriorates. Cook's wild image has become unbearable and exacerbates Freddie's concern for him as well as Cook eventually sleeping with Effy and boasting about it to Freddie. However Effy chooses Freddie in the series finale and Freddie is willing to reconcile with Cook, showing his capacity for forgiveness. [3]
Starting from the second episode in series 4, Freddie is in a relationship with Effy, which becomes troubled when the latter develops psychotic depression. In the penultimate episode of the series, Freddie is murdered by Effy's psychiatrist Dr. Foster, and the last episode's main plot sees the gang investigate Freddie's disappearance. His death was foreshadowed multiple times in series 3, such as when he asked Cook "Do you want to die?" in the latter's central episode when criticising his reckless behaviour, and during his own central episode when Naomi tells the story of Hamlet while looking at him, finishing with "somebody has to kill him".
In “Everyone”, Freddie starts his first day at college and is smitten by Effy and consequently competes for her attention against his best friends Cook and JJ. Effy proposes whoever breaks the college rules first gets to have sex with her, which Cook completes. In “Cook”, Freddie gets a call from Karen interrupting Cook's birthday outing only to discover she wants drugs. Freddie discovers she's at an engagement party and the gang go there only for Cook to cause trouble. Freddie admits he cannot take care of him anymore although Cook reconciles with him at the episode's end.
In “Freddie”, he watches Karen reach the final of a talent show but is disgusted at how she uses their mother's death to further her progress in a singing competition, and is implicitly uncomfortable with the sexual presentation of his sister, which is only aggravated by Cook's comments. At home Effy arrives and talks to Freddie in his shed whilst smoking weed. However Cook and JJ arrive only for Cook to demand Effy leave after she turns down his offer of sex. Later Freddie returns her bracelet and hints at a relationship but she rebuffs him, stating that she would “break his heart”. As Karen begins to further her progress in the singing competition, Freddie gets increasingly annoyed with how things are turning out - from his father converting his shed into a dance studio for Karen to forcing Freddie into supporting his sister during a televised interview, which he ruins. To calm himself down, Freddie opts to meet up with Cook and JJ at a pub, where JJ inadvertently reveals that Cook had sex with Karen, angering Freddie. Later in the episode, Freddie seeks out Effy at a park where they share a passionate kiss in the water. He confesses he loves her. After a confrontation with his father and Karen, and feeling that his father has a point, he eventually offers Karen his support through the competition finale. After Karen loses the competition by 15 votes, Cook, without any hesitation, admits that he got his uncle's pub to vote entirely against Karen as revenge for stealing the shed, infuriating Freddie to the point where he even attacks Cook, ending their friendship. Nonetheless, the end of the episode shows Cook around Effy's where Freddie sees them in her bedroom window. Effy appears emotionless as Freddie walks away.
In “JJ”, JJ is motivated by Emily to confront Freddie about the ruination of their once-strong friendship with Cook. There, he discovers that Freddie has developed a relationship with Katie Fitch, Emily's twin sister, and inadvertently reveals Emily's homosexuality to her. In the ensuing meeting he has with JJ, Freddie informs him that he must choose between him or Cook, which upsets JJ. It is also revealed that Freddie has his shed back after the events of his central episode. Cook later takes some of JJ's prescription medication which compels him to tell the truth. After seeing Cook getting attacked, Freddie berates JJ for being careless, though the two eventually manage to rescue Cook. Cook groggily admits to Freddie that he loves Effy, and that Freddie discovers Effy does not love Cook back which gives him some hope.
In “Effy”, Freddie is continuing his relationship with Katie Fitch to Effy's dismay. At a camping trip most of the gang attend, Freddie grows distant from Katie, flirting with Effy after her apparent rejection of Cook. Katie confronts Effy's behaviour but because of Effy's consumption of magic mushrooms (and subsequent bad trip), she knocks Katie out with a rock after she was pushed and pinned to the ground. Effy wanders back to the camp-site; she is too scared to tell the others of Katie and proceeds to have sex with Freddie. Katie is eventually found and taken to hospital where she reveals Effy hit and left her (although conveniently left out the reasons why she did so). Nonetheless this disgusts Freddie and a disgraced Effy leaves Bristol with Cook.
In “Katie and Emily”, Freddie and JJ run into the Fitch twins at a clothes shop. Freddie talks to Katie and apologises for his behaviour at the camp-site, Katie forces Freddie to take her to the prom and volunteers Emily to go with JJ. Freddie jokes that JJ would love to go with Emily after the two had sex. This causes problems for the Fitches and Emily's relationship with Naomi.
In the series finale, Freddie gets a call from Effy, who states her concern for Cook and how his father manipulates him. She tells Freddie where they are, who takes JJ with him and travels there. The town host an annual race which the boys enter, stating the winner takes Effy. JJ surprisingly wins the race using his intelligence and uses the occasion to take charge and demand Effy picks one of them. Whilst she does not say anything, her gaze lingers at Freddie which angers Cook, who leaves. Cook gets in an argument with his dad, who threatens to burn Cook's face off. Freddie arrives to knock Cook Senior out, helping his friend. The four travel back to Bristol, where the problem seemingly remains unsolved despite Freddie temporarily patching up his differences with Cook.
In “Thomas”, the suicide of Sophia plunges the gang into mistrust. However Freddie is not affected by this, he is dwelling on Effy's refusal to come back to college, and has been out of contact with her for some time.
In “Emily”, Effy returns to college and speaks to Freddie. They discuss where Effy had been before she leaves, stating she missed Freddie the most. Freddie is doubtful when he sees her hugging Cook. When Emily questions Freddie whether he can trust her, he fails to answer. Later at a house party, Freddie and Effy kiss making a watchful Cook lash out at a fellow party-goer out of rage and jealousy. They promptly leave.
In “Cook” it is revealed that Cook's mother, Ruth, had given Freddie a blowjob at Cook's 15th birthday party. Freddie reveals this when he goes to see Cook having been concerned about his recent behaviour, and feeling sorrow for Cook being expelled from college. After Cook is arrested, Effy visits him in prison and informs him that she loves Freddie. On the date of his hearing, Freddie, Effy and JJ visit him and await the trial conclusion only to discover Cook is being held in custody.
In “Freddie”, Effy and Freddie live a hedonistic lifestyle away from their family. Freddie's education and interaction with his other friends suffer as a result. He is persuaded to see a school counselor, which proves ineffective. However, Freddie notices Effy's psychotic tendencies and after a talk with his grandfather Norman, Freddie is motivated to look after her and not make the mistakes his father did with Freddie's deceased mother. A trip outside with Effy starts well but eventually Effy is scared and loses Freddie in a street parade. Surprisingly it is Katie, part of the parade, who notices Effy and despite their past, she helps Effy find Freddie. They take Effy to Norman's but after being left alone, Effy attempts suicide by slitting her wrists, only for Freddie to find her and take her to hospital. There, he meets Anthea (Morwenna Banks), Effy's mother, and tells her Effy needs her mother, not him. Cook, now escaped from custody, convinces Freddie not to give up on Effy.
In “Effy”, Effy returns home from hospital with a new schedule and a new reserved personality. She visits Freddie and they talk about her psychiatrist Dr. Foster (Hugo Speer) who has removed Effy's bad memories and forbids Effy from seeing Freddie as part of the treatment. Freddie is understandably upset Effy had bad memories of him. Later the gang announce their A-Level results. Freddie attains 2 Cs and an A, grades that are slightly better than Katie's and Emily's. Effy declares the results are unimportant to her and leaves. When Freddie next sees her and they argue, Effy's personality changes as Dr. Foster's psychological work makes her forget everyone she has loved. However, after she talks with Cook (who saves her life in the process) she realises who she is and goes to Freddie and tells him to tell Dr. Foster to leave her alone. Freddie orders Dr. Foster to leave Effy and subsequently stays with Effy for the night and she tells him “I love you” several times and he cries and says “I love you too so so much and I will see you in the morning”. This is the last time she sees Freddie. Freddie receives a phone call from Dr. Foster and as a result he goes to confront the doctor personally. Freddie does not tell anyone about his decision. When he reaches Dr. Foster's house, he demands that Foster leaves Effy alone. The doctor admits to him that getting too personal with Effy was a mistake. However, when Freddie attempts to leave he finds the door is locked. Dr. Foster approaches him and informs Freddie that Effy means much more to him, and says that "she really loves [him]" and "that's why [he] can't let [him] go". Dr. Foster then proceeds to brutally murder Freddie with a baseball bat out of view.
In the series finale, Cook discovers Freddie's concern about Dr. Foster and follows the doctor back to his house. Cook breaks into John Foster's basement where he finds Freddie's blood stained clothes and shoes. Cook then seemingly hears Freddie's ghostly voice warning him to leave before Foster comes, this spooks Cook and he turns on a light just before Foster arrives with his baseball bat. John hits him in the stomach almost knocking him to the ground with his bat and verbally taunts him. Cook gets up laughing and admits he is a "waste of space" and a criminal, but then he tells John that he knows he killed Freddie. He then gets angry and holds his fist up ready to beat him and screams out "I'm Cook!" and launches himself at John as the season ends. As it is later revealed in Series 7, Cook killed Foster avenging Freddie’s death.
Skins is a British teen comedy drama television series that follows the lives of a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of sixth form. Its controversial storylines have explored issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness, adolescent sexuality, gender, substance abuse, death, and bullying.
Anthony Stonem is a fictional character from the British television series Skins. He is the protagonist of the first two series. Portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, the character was created by Bryan Elsley; Tony was the series' central character in its first and second series, from 2007 to 2008. The character is considered an antihero, as many of his actions are questionable and antagonistic due to his manipulative tendencies. However, this changes in the second series after he becomes a victim of a subdural haematoma, affecting his personality and memories. Hoult, along with the other starring actors of the first two series, departed the show after its second series. The character was subsequently alluded to in episodes of the third and fourth series, which centred on Tony's sister Effy, played by Kaya Scodelario. In the 2011 American adaptation of the show, Tony is played by actor James Newman, and the character's surname is changed to Schneider.
Sidney "Sid" Jenkins is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Mike Bailey. In the first series, Sid is portrayed as a nice guy stereotype, an unlucky virgin who is nervous around girls, and has low self-esteem. Tony Stonem is his role model, whom he frequently looks up to. However, by the second series, Sid is more dependable and following Tony's accident, becomes more confident in his own skin, leading him to have sexual relationships with both Cassie Ainsworth and Michelle Richardson, as well as standing up for himself more often.
Elizabeth "Effy" Stonem is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Kaya Scodelario. She appears in all of the first four series, as well as the seventh series, and appears in the most episodes (27). Kaya Scodelario was included in Entertainment Weekly's 2009 "Summer Must List", being named "Bad Girl" for her portrayal of Effy. She was included in AfterEllen.com's Top 50 Favorite Female TV Characters.
Pandora Moon is a fictional character in the E4 television series Skins, portrayed by Lisa Backwell. Pandora and Effy Stonem are the only "Second generation" characters to appear in series two, and she is prominent throughout the third and fourth series. She is known for being the sexually naive and immature friend of Effy Stonem from very early on in the series, and later for her troubled relationship with her boyfriend, Thomas Tomone.
Katherine "Katie" Fitch is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Megan "Meg" Prescott. She is introduced in the third series. Her twin sister Emily is played by Megan's real-life twin Kathryn "Kat" Prescott.
Emily Fitch is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Kathryn Prescott. She is introduced in the third series as the show's "second generation" of characters. Her twin sister Katie is played by Kathryn's real-life twin Megan Prescott.
Thomas Tomone is a fictional character in the E4 television series Skins. Thomas stands as being one of the only characters on the show who is not British-born, having originated from Sangha, Republic of the Congo; with his first language being French. He is a migrant who has recently arrived in Bristol, and is unused to the change in climate, and the British way of life. He became romantically involved with Pandora Moon. He is considerably kinder and more spiritual than most of the gang.
"Naomi" is the sixth episode of the third series of the British teen drama Skins, which first aired on 26 February 2009 on E4 in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Atiha Sen Gupta and Jack Thorne, and was directed by Simon Massey. The episode focuses on the character of Naomi Campbell as she competes against James Cook in their college's elections for Student President. She enters a romantic relationship with her classmate Emily Fitch while also receiving affection from her teacher Kieran.
"Katie and Emily" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the third series of the British teen drama Skins, which first aired on 19 March 2009 on E4 in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Malcolm Campbell and Bryan Elsley, and was directed by Charles Martin. The episode focuses on the characters of twins Katie and Emily Fitch as they prepare for their college's annual ball. Katie refuses to leave home, recovering from being hit in the head with a rock, and faces her weakening control over her sister. Emily, meanwhile, is heartbroken when her girlfriend, Naomi Campbell, turns down Emily's invitation to the ball, and comes out to her family about her sexuality.
"JJ" is the seventh episode of the third series of the British teen drama Skins, which first aired on 5 March 2009 on E4 in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The episode was written by the series' co-creator, Bryan Elsley, and was directed by Charles Martin. The episode focuses on the character of JJ Jones, who has Asperger syndrome, and his confusion about his life and his desire to be normal. He strikes up a friendship with Emily Fitch and attempts to solve the dispute between his friends James Cook and Freddie McClair over their shared love interest, Effy Stonem.
"Pandora" is the fourth episode of the third series of the British teen drama Skins, which first aired on 12 February 2009 on E4 in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Bryan Elsley and Georgia Lester, and was directed by Simon Massey. The episode focuses on the character of Pandora Moon, who is miserable after her boyfriend, Thomas Tomone, recently returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She holds a small pyjama party for her friends, but it descends into chaos when uninvited guests arrive and the food is spiked with drugs. Pandora and Effy get into an argument after both girls have sex with James Cook, but the argument is interrupted when Thomas unexpectedly returns.
"Emily" is the second episode of the fourth series of the British teen drama Skins, and 31st overall. It first aired on 4 February 2010 on E4 in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Ed Hime, and was directed by Philippa Langdale. The episode focuses on the character of Emily Fitch, her continuing romantic relationship with girlfriend Naomi Campbell as well as family problems with her mother Jenna Fitch. Emily decides to investigate the suicide of Sophia Moore, the girl who killed herself in the first episode, suspecting Naomi cheated on her with Sophia.
James Cook, known as Cook, to his friends, is a fictional character in the British teen drama Skins. He is portrayed by Jack O'Connell. In the third series, his true emotions are explored and it is revealed that his womanizing violent lifestyle is in fact a smoke screen to cover up his real emotions. His actions often cause trouble and create havoc, affecting those around him. However, in the fourth series, he begins to change his ways after a conversation with his solicitor and when he begins to realize the consequences of his actions, most notably witnessing his younger brother beginning to follow in his footsteps. His life is then taken in a wholly other direction when he investigates the disappearance of his best friend in series four's final episodes.
Naomi Campbell is a fictional character in the British television teen drama Skins, played by Lily Loveless. Naomi was a main character in the third and fourth series of the programme, as part of the show's second set of characters. Her story lines focused mainly on her romantic relationship with Emily Fitch and identifying her sexuality, and were warmly received by critics. Loveless reprises the role for the seventh series, in the feature-length Skins Fire, which catches up with Effy as she struggles to cope with adult life and Naomi struggles with a diagnosis of cancer.
Skins is a British teen drama created by father-and-son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures. The fourth series began airing on E4 on 28 January 2010 and ended on 18 March 2010. Like the previous series, this series follows the lives of the second generation, which consists of Effy Stonem, Pandora Moon, Thomas Tomone, James Cook, Freddie McClair, JJ Jones, Naomi Campbell, and twin sisters Emily and Katie Fitch.
Jonah Jeremiah "JJ" Jones is a fictional character in the British teen drama Skins and is portrayed by Ollie Barbieri. He was introduced in the third series as a socially inept teenager who was a long-time friend of both Freddie McClair and James Cook. JJ is notable for being autistic and was a virgin when the series started. However, as series three and four progress, JJ becomes more socially confident. He is the only character in the third and fourth series to appear in every episode.
"Skins Fire" is a feature-length episode of E4 television series Skins. It aired in two parts in 2013 as part of a specially-commissioned seventh season marking the end of the programme. The first six series of Skins aired from 2007 to 2012, a teen drama focusing on the lives of three separate casts of Bristolian teenagers. While previous stories in the series were teen dramas, "Skins Fire" like other stories in the seventh season revisits characters from the show's first two casts, now facing young adulthood.
"Skins Rise" is a feature-length episode of the E4 television series Skins. Airing in two parts in 2013, the episode was the third and final episode of the specially-commissioned seventh season intended to bring the series to a close, and the final episode of the series. While in its initial six-year run Skins was a teen drama about the lives of Bristolian teenagers, "Skins Rise" like the two previous episodes, "Skins Fire" and "Skins Pure", is a filmically and tonally distinct drama which revisits one of the show's characters as they face adulthood.
"Everyone" is the eighth and final episode of fourth series of the British teen drama Skins, and the 37th overall. It was first aired on 18 March 2010. It was written by Bryan Elsley and directed by Daniel O'Hara. It does not focus on any particular character. The main plot sees the gang investigate Freddie McClair's disappearance, upon being murdered by his girlfriend Effy Stonem's psychiatrist Dr. John Foster.