Tags
British drama, E4, Effy, Emily, insider trading, Naomi, Naomily, review, Skins, Skins Fire, terminal, TV
Warning: This review contains spoilers for the Skins episode, ‘Fire: Part Two’.
I feel like that saying about old dogs and new tricks applied to the second part of the first story of Skins’ seventh season – ‘Fire: Part Two.’ Because in spite of the stylistic changes that the show has undergone between seasons six and seven (some have improved the show, others less so), it contains the same ‘rise and fall’ structure that it seemed to employ throughout each of its generation. For those who don’t know, the core of that is that in the first season for a generation (or in this case, the first part of ‘Fire’), groundwork is laid in terms of characterisation/setting etc. and the tone is generally more comedic than dramatic. And in the second season (in this case, the second part of ‘Fire’), the tone becomes decidedly darker and more dramatic. Sometimes it’s works, sometimes it doesn’t (once again, I feel compelled to point the finger at the ludicrous generation two (seasons 3 and 4) ending).
Here, the B plot (Naomi’s cancer plot) that was introduced in final moments of ‘Fire: Part One,’ is the main point of bleakness in the episode, and Effy’s insider trading storyline develops to. But the problem with ‘Fire: Part Two’ is that the A plot involving the insider trading was simply not as attention grabbing as the B plot. I’ll admit to a slight bias here since the B plot brings back Emily (Kathryn Prescott), who’s always been my favourite Skins character, so even though her screen time is disappointingly minimal, whenever she appears, she steals her scenes, especially at the end of the episode (visiting a terminal Naomi in hospital), presenting a powerful emotional rawness, the kind of raw, engaging material that Skins is perhaps best known for, and exactly the kind of material that Effy’s storyline was missing.
Now, it might not be particularly fair of me to be disappointed with Effy’s story development in this episode because it lacks traditional Skins material. After all, that happened in the first part of ‘Fire‘ and I had no problem with it. The problem here is that her storyline doesn’t really go anywhere, and when it does, it’s not particularly interesting. It feels like it’s treading water, and we see more of her relationship with Jake than anything else, and Jake just isn’t an interesting character, and despite doing fine work, Scodelario is weighed down by weaker material. On a more positive note, Dominic, who I pretty much loathed in the first part, managed to a grow a backbone in the time skip between the two parts of ‘Fire’ and manages to go toe-to-toe with Effy in some great dramatic scenes. And although their sleeping together seemed out of left field, the resulting awkwardness was amusing, providing one of the comic moments of the episode.
In part two of ‘Fire’, it is Lily Loveless’ Naomi that steals the show, going through chemo and finally facing the fact she is terminal. Loveless does exceptional work with the material, a writhing storm of emotion and uncertainty, she utterly dominates the episode which, in a strange way is problem given that ‘Fire’ is meant to be focused on Effy and she is so overshadowed by Naomi here.
All of the good from ‘Fire: Part One’ remains. The direction is assured and subtle, and although this time some raw material is injected into the mix, it never feels too overplayed or melodramatic. However, for all its grown up subtlety, it seems strange that Skins, of all shows, would end in such a lazy way. Of course we know the fates of the two core characters here (Naomi will die and Effy will go to prison for insider trading), but that’s the problem. We know because we get told what will happen. Simply put, it’s not like Skins to tell something instead of showing it.
‘Fire: Part Two’ lacks the evenness of it’s predecessor, and if it weren’t for some interesting character development, and frankly incendiary performance from Loveless, as well as the scene stealing and far too briefly scene Prescott, this episode would have been a major step down. As before, it shows that Skins has matured, and the remaining episodes have a great deal of potential in being effective, well told adult stories. It’s just such a shame that this one ended – in spite of an emotionally powerful B plot conclusion that spelt the end of one of my favourite modern TV pairings – not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Grade: B
Episode MVP: Lily Loveless