Flow of Madness

The major disappointment and worry that has gripped the Skins fandom has to do with the apparently abrupt transformation of Franky from Series 5 to Series 6. I have been postponing my judgement about the situation until I see a bit more of the series. However this is my working thoughts on how Franky went from the left to the right. 

Change in Style:
This is the part that I find forgiving. High School and I imagine UK Sixth Form many people go through phases. Junior year I was a headbanger and Senior year I wasn’t. There was no explanation I just grew out of it. Franky burned that dress in Series 5, because she did not want to change to be accepted. She was accepted then she changed. It happens. Also, having sex and having a boyfriend does change how we think about our bodies. Some girls become more feminine with that experience and start to explore the power of their femininity. So the physical look does not bother me as much, because experience has prove that when your young how you define yourself changes quickly and sometimes with little thought to it.

Change in Personality: 

There are two things that people really seem to be emphasizing.

The first thing that people are saying is that in Series 5 Franky was sweet to everyone and tried to bring the group together. Referring to the random Franky (Jesus like moments). Like being on the swings with Nick. Talking to Mini at the club after the fashion show, etc. In Series 6 she seems to be making decisions that are ripping the group together. 

My Thoughts: Franky in the fifth series was trying to find a support system while not losing herself in the process. Sometimes by doing that we change without realizing it. After reading the Holiday book that was released for this generation I realized something about Franky. She is not as innocent as she appears to be sometimes. I think there is something about Franky that is dangerous and that side of her did not come out in Series 5 (except in Ep. 8 for split second), because she was building herself a community of friends. Trying to give this new life and second chance a go. Now that we are in the Sixth season. She has that support system and she in a relationship. She is becoming bored and that side of her that lusts for danger is coming out in full force. 

2) The other factor people keep referring to would be how Franky went from freaking out over sexual intimacy to becoming a bit of an oversexual being. 

My Thoughts: This is where the abruptness of it all really comes into play. I would have loved seeing the transition between freaking out and being oversexed. This is not an impossible story line. It happens to many people. Sex is not important or something that scares you. Then once you have it…you awaken something inside you. However with the absence and the time period that Skins covers many things are left unseen by the audience. She obviously had a summer with Matty that dealt with her fear of physical intimacy. Then once she discovered it she realized the empowered feeling it gave her and fed into her danger lust in a new way. When we see her in Episode 1 in the Sixth season she has conquered her physical intimacy; however, her emotional intimacy issues have yet to be conquered. She is bored with Matty and looking for a way out. Sadly her way out created a chain reaction that led to an innocent (Grace) being hurt. 

Mini/Franky Factor: Many people are upset about Minky not seeming to be a possibility. This I feel falls more with Mini than Franky. Mini was the one with a bit of a girl crush. I wish that they would explore that a bit more with Mini’s story line. Franky though was all about Matty and did not show the same infatuation that Mini showed.  

CONCLUSION:

There is still much to learn about Franky in Series 6 before we can declare her as out of character or random. I do agree with everyone that the change in Franky is in your face and seems insanely out of the blue. I do though think that some of the changes can be explained. Will Skins explain it? Who knows and most likely not. However as long as I can rationalize it to myself I will not have too much of an issue with it. I never thought of Franky as an innocent victim as many people seem to think of her. Which could be why I am not as angered as some in regards to this change. I do think there were many story lines that could have been interesting to see as an audience including the story line about her sexual awakening; however, my guess is that the writers needed it to happen quick in order to start the season in the place they wanted. So I guess my main point is that I do not think Franky has been ruined with this change…it all comes down to what happens next.