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Warning: This review contains spoilers for the Skins episode, ‘Fire: Part One.’

I’ve always had a rather interesting relationship with Skins. Although it’s aimed to appeal very much to people of my age-group, with its portrayal of teen life, which is sometimes brilliant (Emily and Naomi in the second generation of characters remain, for me, an exceptionally well written relationship), sometimes infuriating (like the bizarre and unnecessary choice to change Franky’s androgynous characteristics to overtly feminine ones in between generation three series), and sometimes downright stupid (yes season four finale, I mean you). And now, after six seasons and three sets of characters, Skins is back for its swansong, six episodes, each of them two parts, focusing on three different characters.

The first of these two part episodes, ‘Fire’, focuses on fan favourite Effy Stonem, who has now developed from the melancholic teen into a seemingly well rounded young woman working at a hedge fund in London.

Quite a lot happens in this first part of ‘Fire’, laying some interesting groundwork for its conclusion. We are introduced to Effy once again, living with former schoolmate Naomi, who has aspirations to be a stand-up comic (that are far-fetched to say the least. We are treated to an attempt at one of her routines at an open mic night. To say it goes badly is an understatement), and is struggling with the long distance relationship she is in with Emily. Here, Effy and Naomi are polar opposites, the former is climbing the career ladder after hijacking a meeting with a client and getting wind of a takeover of the company she’s at, netting herself a healthy sum of money, whereas Naomi spends most of her time at home in pyjamas, smoking and drinking wine in the middle of the day.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this final season of Skins is that it’s, well, not very much like the Skins of seasons past at all. Yes, there’s still thumping club music and the occasional bout of substance abuse, but now Skins seems to have genuinely matured with its characters. It feels less melodramatic, a little more even, and often has shades of subtlety that were often few and far between in its earlier, excess-driven seasons.

Kaya Scodelario (who appeared recently in Andrea Arnold’s cinematic adaptation of Wuthering Heights), seems to have come far as an actress since her earlier portrayal of Effy. She never falls back onto old material, or cashes in on the fanbase’s considerable affection for her. In fact, in this episode, she comes across as very unlikeable at times. During a night of entertaining clients (after Naomi’s disastrous comic routine), she shuns Naomi in favour of the clients, in a scene that is exceptionally well acted and directed, serving as one of the episode’s highlights. It’s only after this confrontation that Naomi reveals she has cancer, which of course, has an impact on Effy, in spite of her realigned priorities. It seems not everything is coming up roses after all.

While Scodelario delivers the strongest performance of the episode (with Loveless a close second), some of the ensemble unfortunately lags behind them, with the lovelorn Dominic helping to give Effy the inside track, the performance given by Craig Roberts is unforunately one note and a tad whiny. The same goes for Effy’s boss (Amy Wren), who comes across as, perhaps by design, nothing more than short tempered and irritated, which by extension causes her to be irritating.

This opening episode of Skins’ final season certainly has a lot going for it, presenting us these characters in a world that is hostile to them, one that is not their own. Scodelario and Loveless are both excellent, and the subtlety and depth brought to the table by Charles Martin’s direction helps it to stand on its own two feet, especially since there will no doubt be dissent on the changed tone and focus of the series.

Grade: B+
Episodes MVP: Kaya Scodelario