Characterization
JJ is a friend of Cook and Freddie who dub themselves The Three Musketeers. He is very well spoken, articulate and excels academically, particularly in maths and science. He is on the autism spectrum, and although he can understand some social cues, such as humour and sarcasm and is able to interact with his friends normally, he has difficulty interacting with strangers and controlling his emotions, and is extremely sensitive to sensory stimulation. As a result, he finds it difficult to make friends outside of his main circle, and is prone to becoming stressed and disorientated when in a large crowd of people, an intense party atmosphere, or an awkward situation - which he refers to as being "locked on". He often needs a friend come to his rescue, such as in his self-titled episode in series three and the Pandora episode. Because of this, he has been put on various medications geared towards making him appear more neurotypical (although this is not common medical practice for autism alone). JJ is interested in magic tricks, and his proficiency in magic is something that allows him to be accepted by the rest of the gang, most of whom view him with a mixture of affection, amusement and mild irritation. JJ becomes close to Emily Fitch, who finds him to be a source of support for her own issues and in turn helps him with his. Because of this, he is the first person to whom she confides about her closeted homosexuality, and she in turn has sex with him, so that he may lose his virginity. This is in sharp contrast to the unkindness her more judgemental sister, Katie, shows him.
JJ often acts as a mediator whenever Freddie and Cook fight. Although he was in love with her in series three, he also grew to dislike Effy, seeing her as the cause for the break-up of Freddie and Cook's friendship. He forms a close friendship with Thomas Tomone in series four, who proves instrumental in getting JJ his first real girlfriend, Lara.
Character history
Series 3
JJ first appears in "Everyone" when he meets best friends Freddie and Cook before starting their first day at Roundview College. There he often goes unnoticed despite his magic tricks and articulate speech. He, along with Freddie and Cook become infatuated with Effy. In "Cook", JJ manages to impress the gang with a magic stunt involving a goldfish, which Cook spoils. Cook persuades JJ to accompany him to a brothel where JJ nervously asks for a kiss from a prostitute. In "Pandora", JJ and Cook attempt to sneak into Pandora's "girls only" party. After Cook goes in, JJ goes in himself only to find Emily and Naomi kissing. The party turns into a massive house party when Katie's boyfriend and his football mates come round. JJ calls Freddie to get him out of the party after he gets "locked on". Freddie arrives and takes him home.
In "Freddie", JJ witnesses Effy's destructive influence over his closest friends. He performs an elaborate fire eating stunt which impresses Effy, Freddie and Cook. He votes against Karen in a reality television program, under Cook's instructions, as revenge against her stealing Freddie's shed, a previous popular hang out place for the gang. However, this sparks a violent confrontation between Freddie and Cook. In "Naomi", JJ proves a useful asset in helping Cook's sixth form President campaign.
In JJ's centric episode, his autism and his temperament are made clear. He regularly attends a clinic where he requires heavy medication, here he also expresses his fury at Effy's manipulation of both Freddie and Cook. At the clinic, he meets Emily who is receiving counselling, and the two discuss their woes outside the clinic. She confides to him about her homosexuality, and he in turn confesses his desire to be normal, shocking her with the number of drugs he has been prescribed. He also expresses his fury that the friendship he had shared with Freddie and Cook has been destroyed the love triangle caused by Effy. At Emily's urging, he stands up to Freddie over his treatment of him, accidentally revealing Emily's homosexuality to her twin sister Katie in the process. He then confronts Effy about her role in destroying a friendship he prized so much and confesses his love for her. Effy, seeing the impact she has had on his life, is apologetic and suggests they become friends, and is hurt when he coldly refuses. When he goes to confront Cook, he accidentally discovers that he is continuing his affair with Pandora, though he does not reveal this to anyone else. Seeing that Cook is, like Freddie, indifferent to his own feelings, JJ explodes at him over it. Cook, moved by this, gives him a hug and invites him to buy drugs, which subsequently gets busted. Cook and JJ escape and Cook, desperate for drugs, takes JJ's new medication on JJ's suggestion. JJ, however, did this because he knew that the drug is designed to both calm someone down and make them more honest. As a result, at a party Cook settles into a relaxed state, which surprises the gang, and reveals his affair with Pandora, which Pandora's boyfriend Thomas overhears. Cook also reveals Effy loves Freddie. JJ leaves the party and finds a distraught Emily whom he allows her to stay at his place after her argument with Katie. She in turn offers to take his virginity which JJ nervously accepts, and the two have sex. The next morning he introduces Emily to his mother (portrayed by Juliet Cowan) who is relieved to see that her son finally made a good friend.
In "Effy" JJ accompanies the gang (minus Cook) on a camping trip. When Cook invites himself along the gang reveal their true feelings about him, including JJ who states they are no longer friends after the way Cook had been treating him. In "Katie and Emily", JJ sees Emily through her disguise as her sister in an exam, but does not tell anyone else. Later on, he and Freddie meet the Fitch sisters while buying clothes for the college prom. Emily is horrified when JJ reveals he told Freddie about their fling. Freddie mentions it to Katie, who is equally shocked. Katie then reveals Emily and JJ's fling to Naomi, who is upset. This causes a fight between the Fitch sisters.
In the series finale, While at work with Freddie he gets into an argument with when he says that it's fine refuting this saying angrily that nothing's fine and resigns from his job and walking out on Freddie. JJ then encounters Effy's mum, Anthea who reveals her sadness at not having Effy around who has run off with Cook. After Freddie receives a call from Effy, JJ pressures him to find her, accompanying him along the way. Cook challenges Freddie and JJ to a race, the winner is allowed to keep Effy. JJ wins the race using his intelligence, and as a result he forces Effy to admit she is in love with Freddie and not Cook, which upsets the latter. They flee the town on Cook's dad's boat.
Series 4
In "Thomas", the series opener, JJ attempts to make the gang seem happier despite the suicide of Sophia, Effy's refusal to return to college and Thomas’ strained relationship with Pandora hanging over them. JJ concedes that Effy's disappearance is affecting the "Three Musketeers". In "Emily", JJ tries to break up a fight between Cook and a fellow party-goer, Shanky Jenkins only for Cook to head butt him in rage, although Cook did not see JJ at the time. This upsets JJ and Freddie, the latter confronting Cook about it.
In subsequent episodes, JJ develops a close friendship with Thomas as Cook is arrested and Freddie spends more time with Effy. This highlights JJ's developing maturity and his ability to make other friends.
In "JJ", JJ asks out Lara Lloyd (played by Georgia Henshaw), a fellow co-worker at a confectionery store. Thomas pressures JJ to do this after he concedes he has developed feelings for her. Before the date, Freddie forces a recently escaped Cook onto JJ who is not pleased to see him. JJ allows Cook to stay at his in exchange for some dating tips. JJ discovers Lara is a single mother and her baby, Albert, is fathered by her previous boyfriend Liam. Liam catches JJ with Albert and demonstrates his overly protective attitude for his son. The date does not go well, largely because of Cook's poor dating advice. However, Lara reciprocates JJ's feelings and they make love at her house. Liam sees JJ at a clinic receiving his medication.
JJ takes Lara to meet Emily and Naomi. Emily confides to JJ that Lara could be using JJ to get back at Liam; JJ refutes this by stating they have trust in their relationship, something Emily and Naomi lacks. This brings Emily to tears. JJ later takes Lara to meet his parents but this does not go as well. JJ's mother, via a Freudian slip, mentions that she thinks Lara is a slut. This, along with JJ and his mother arguing over the bathroom door being locked causes Lara to leave, and JJ reveals Cook is hiding in the bathroom. Liam confronts JJ at the confectionery store, demanding to know about his medication. JJ angrily lashes out at Liam which prompts a watching Lara to break up with him. JJ later apologises to Liam who admits his protectiveness is of his son. He does ask JJ to take care of Lara. JJ, with the help of his friends, manages to win Lara back.
After his centric episode, JJ makes fewer appearances but is usually seen at parties with the gang. Lara makes no more appearances, but JJ is sometimes seen with Albert, suggesting they are still together.
In "Effy", the gang receives their A-Level results, and JJ scores very well; 2 A's and a B. JJ is last seen at Freddie's shed partying with the rest of the group.
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 story-lines have explored issues like dysfunctional families, mental illness, adolescent sexuality, gender, substance abuse, death, and bullying.
Anthony "Tony" Stonem is a fictional character from the British television series Skins. He is the protagonist of the first seasons. Portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, the character was created by Bryan Elsley; Tony was the series' central character in its first and second season, from 2007 to 2008. In the first series finale, he is hit by a bus, leading to a trauma-related subplot in the second series. The character is considered an antihero, and in some respects his actions are very antagonistic due to his antisocial tendencies. However, this changes in the second series after he becomes a victim of a subdural hematoma and, as a result, becomes more vulnerable. Hoult, along with the other starring actors of the first two series, departed the show after its second season. 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 North American adaptation of the show, Tony is played by actor James Newman, and the character's surname is changed to Schneider.
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.
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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
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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.
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"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.
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.
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 third series began airing on E4 on 22 January 2009 and ended on 26 March 2009. This series sees the introduction of a new cast; it follows the lives of the second generation of sixth form students Effy Stonem, Pandora Moon, Thomas Tomone, James Cook, Freddie McClair, JJ Jones, Naomi Campbell and twin sisters Emily and Katie Fitch.
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.
"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.
"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.
