Skins (series 7)

Last updated
Skins
Season 7
Skins series 7 boxset.jpg
DVD cover art for the seventh series of Skins
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes6
Release
Original network E4
Original release1 July (2013-07-01) 
5 August 2013 (2013-08-05)
Series chronology
 Previous
Series 6
List of episodes

Skins is a British teen drama created by father-and-son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures. The seventh and final series, entitled Skins Redux, began airing on E4 on 1 July 2013 and ended on 5 August 2013. The final series sees the return of several characters from the first two generations of the show.

Contents

Summary

Notably, all of the characters featured have undergone enormous personality changes since their last appearances: Effy has cast her party-hard lifestyle and issues aside, and has become more mature and ambitious. Naomi has lost much of her ambition as a principled young woman and is now a layabout and stoner. Emily has become more confident. Cassie has overcome her mental issues, but has become solitary, serious, principled and tired, and Cook has become much more subdued, serious and calculated, as a result of having spent years on the run. In addition, the series leaves behind its traditional setting in Bristol, moving to London where Effy, Cassie and Naomi now live, as well as Manchester where Cook now lives. Its subject matter moves on from teenage problems to more adult issues, such as insider trading, terminal illness, rough living and the criminal underworld.

Background

On 8 March 2012, Channel 4 confirmed that Skins would come to an end after a seventh series of six episodes, which would feature characters from the first and second generations. The third generation would not be involved in the seventh series. Channel 4 promised "a celebration of this truly iconic series".

Jamie Brittain, who had quit the show after series 5, returned as part of the writing staff. Brittain also revealed via Twitter that filming would begin in late October. [1]

Series seven marked a departure in style with former stars Hannah Murray, Jack O'Connell and Kaya Scodelario returning to the roles which had shaped their careers in three individual stories, each one broadcast in two one-hour parts.

The three stories had distinct titles: 'Skins Pure' (featuring Cassie), 'Skins Rise' (featuring Cook) and 'Skins Fire' (featuring Effy). Lily Loveless (Naomi) and Kat Prescott (Emily) also appeared in guest roles. Each two-part episode centres on the characters now in their early twenties.

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleFeatured character(s)Directed byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)
561"Fire (Part 1)"Effy Stonem Charles Martin Jess Brittain1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)0.872

Effy, now aged 21, is working a dead-end job as a receptionist for a leading London hedge fund and lives in a flat in Canary Wharf with Naomi Campbell, who is an aspiring stand-up comedian, while Emily is currently in New York on a lucrative internship.

Note: Also featuring Amy Wren. [2]
572"Fire (Part 2)"Effy StonemCharles MartinJess Brittain8 July 2013 (2013-07-08)0.706 [3]

A few months have passed since Part One. Effy is in a fully-fledged relationship with her wealthy boss Jake and, despite her illness, Naomi is becoming a successful and popular stand-up comedian, though she still can't afford rent.

Note: Also featuring Kathryn Prescott, Lara Pulver, [4] Craig Roberts [5] and Amy Wren. [2] Final appearances of Effy, Naomi, and Emily.
583"Pure (Part 1)"Cassie AinsworthPaul Gay Bryan Elsley 15 July 2013 (2013-07-15)0.499 [6]

Cassie, now 23, attempts to make sense of her life by spending time alone in London, but she soon realises someone is following her. Suddenly a strange friendship blossoms out of mutual loneliness, but she is unsure the new relationship can survive in the real world.

Note: Also featuring Olly Alexander and Neil Morrissey.
594"Pure (Part 2)"Cassie AinsworthPaul GayBryan Elsley22 July 2013 (2013-07-22)0.53 [7]

Cassie's strange new relationship is tested to its limits in the concluding part of Skins: Pure

Note: Also featuring Olly Alexander and Neil Morrissey. Final appearance of Cassie.
605"Rise (Part 1)"James CookJack Clough Jamie Brittain 29 July 2013 (2013-07-29)0.547 [8]

Cook lives a life on the run, working as a drug peddler for a powerful crime boss in Manchester. When he is asked to help his employer's girlfriend find a house and finds that she is irresistibly attracted to him, he sets off a chain of events which will lead him into a world of savage revenge and a confrontation with his own dark past.

Note: Also featuring Liam Boyle, Lucien Laviscount. [2]
616"Rise (Part 2)"James CookJack CloughJamie Brittain5 August 2013 (2013-08-05)0.59

In the final part of Rise, Cook's dalliance with his employer's girlfriend has devastating consequences.

Note: Final appearance of Cook.

Related Research Articles

<i>Skins</i> (British TV series) British television series (2007–2013)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Stonem</span> Character in Skins

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 North American adaptation of the show, Tony is played by actor James Newman, and the character's surname is changed to Schneider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassie Ainsworth</span> Fictional character from Skins

Cassandra "Cassie" Ainsworth is a fictional character in the television series Skins, portrayed by Hannah Murray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effy Stonem</span> Fictional character from Skins

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandora Moon</span> Fictional character from Skins

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Fitch</span> Fictional character from Skins

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Fitch</span> Fictional character from Skins

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.

"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 (<i>Skins</i> series 3) 7th episode of the 3rd season of Skins

"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 (<i>Skins</i>) 4th episode of the 3rd season of Skins

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"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 (<i>Skins</i>) Fictional character from Skins

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie McClair</span> Fictional character

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.

<i>Skins</i> (series 1) 1st series of the British television show Skins

Skins is a British teen drama created by father-and-son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures. The first series began airing on E4 on 25 January 2007 and ended on 22 March 2007. This series sees the introduction of a new cast; it follows the lives of the first generation of sixth form students Tony Stonem, Michelle Richardson, Sid Jenkins, Cassie Ainsworth, Chris Miles, Jal Fazer, Maxxie Oliver and Anwar Kharral.

<i>Skins</i> (series 3) 3rd series of the British television show Skins

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.

<i>Skins</i> (series 4) 4th series of the British television show Skins

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.

JJ Jones (<i>Skins</i>) Fictional character from Skins

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.

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