Flow of Madness

This was a topic that was proposed by alolovesmini. For me to examine and analyze the toxic relationships and friendships that Skins gave us. 

Before reading this…I do want to say that sometimes relationships and go friendships go through toxic phases. Now if communication occurs and things start to improve a toxic relationship can be righted. This is also not an exhaustive list so feel free to send me some of your own observations! 

These are brief observations and I will go into more detail about all of these relationships sometime in the future! Also I was looking for toxic/unhealthy instances that made things a bit different than your normal friends/romantic drama. Many of the friends I mention were able to turn things around. I just wanted to do a comprehensive look at the different forms of unhealthy relationships and instances of unhealthy relationship moments. 

Generation 1: 

Michelle/Tony -
Tony has a tendency of striking matches and flinging them into dangerous situations to see what happens. Michelle at least in the beginning loves Tony so much that she is willing to forgive him for many things. She tolerated his mean nicknames, his selfish statements, and even his fuckery for so long that the power in their relationship was imbalanced. It was an extremely toxic relationship despite genuine feelings. However, Michelle reached her limits after learning that Tony made a move on Maxxie. From here she made Tony beg to get her back and forced him to prove how much he cared about her. This turned the tables in their relationship and showed us that Tony wanted Michelle as much as she wanted him. (Toxic Issue: Power Dynamics) 

Tony/Sid - 
Tony and Sid’s friendship is similar in terms of Michelle. Sid has allowed Tony to take all the power in the relationship. He determines what happens and what Sid will do. He messes with Sid and abuses his affections. Over time we learn that Tony has a false sense of control and it turns out that Tony needs Sid more than Sid needs him. Sid starts to stand his ground at the end of Series 1 and confronts Tony about his behavior. In Series 2 it is about these two trying to rebuild their friendship after Tony’s accident and Sid’s fling with Michelle. The friendship that we see in the lost shot though is a healthy relationship. Tony is doing the selfless thing by encouraging Sid to leave and go after Cassie. The friendship in the beginning is toxic. (Toxic Issue: Power Dynamics)

Anwar/Sketch -
This is a couple that never really became a couple. It was a relationship in which the two used one another for something. Anwar used Sketch for sex. Sketch used Anwar to get at Maxxie and slowly tried to turn Anwar into Maxxie. It was a toxic and useless relationship. Even in the finale Sketch tries to talk Anwar into staying in Bristol and accept his fate of being a nobody like her. This relationship has no redemption and had nothing healthy to stand on or even to hold onto. (Toxic Issue: Using) 

Cassie/Sid -
Cassie and Sid are toxic for several reasons. Sid is a guy who does not understand emotions and may not fully understand everything Cassie needs. He is oblivious most of the time. Cassie suffers from insecurities and also mental health issues as well. Due to Sid’s passivity and self-image problems and Cassie’s personality most of their relationship is spent on the wrong page. Whether they are literally heading in different directions, Sid thinks the past is the past and Cassie is still bitter, Sid likes Michelle and dismisses Cassie,  or Cassie needs to go to Scotland or New York. They never seem to be able to communicate about their feelings and get to the root of their issues. (Toxic Issue: Miss-communication) 

Michelle/Sid -
Their friendship works especially when Sid stopped fancying Michelle. However once their relationship turned sexual in Series 2 the sexual relationship between them turned toxic. Both Michelle and Sid throw themselves into a comfort sex relationship in order to escape how lonely they feel in terms of Tony and Cassie. (Toxic Issue: Escapism)  

Generation 2:

Effy/Freddie -
Effy and Freddie’s relationship was extremely toxic. Freddie’s instant passion for Effy and his fascination with her consumed him in many ways. Effy being the person she is was not ready to be in a relationship. She needed proper support and help in order for her to become a person that was capable to be in a relationship. Freddie also desperately clung to Effy. The love between them made one another weak. If Effy got proper help and Freddie had other passions besides Effy they may have been a couple to be reckoned with. (Toxic Issue: Co-dependency)

Effy/Cook -
Have the same premises of Effy/Freddie though they have a different conclusion. Like it was stated there is something destructive about Effy that needs to be dealt with and figured out before she can be a proper girlfriend. Cook is also a reckless personality who has a hard time controlling himself. He needs handlers and he is aware of this fact. Effy being Effy encourages this side of him oppose to reigning him in. Together they destroy, pretend they don’t care, and escape the consequences of the real world. (Toxic Issue: Escapism)  

Cook/Freddie -
Cook and Freddie have a friendship that is based on Freddie cleaning up after and keeping Cook from snapping. Cook expects this from Freddie, because I think sometimes he scares himself. There relation is portrayed as one in which Cook needs Freddie. Though later on we see that Freddie needs Cook as well. Another toxic situation that occurs between these two friends is the chase for Effy. Competing for the same girl and both of them refuse to back down. (Toxic Issue: Co-dependency & spite) 

Freddie/Cook/JJ -
The three musketeers has a strange power dynamic. Freddie and Cook are the main decision makers of the group. Competing sometimes over the role. Freddie tames Cook. Both of them do not listen to or take JJ seriously. Even though Cook is better at it than Freddie. Both of them ignore JJ’s demands, feelings, and opinions most of the time. This creates an unhealthy imbalance for this amazing threesome. (Toxic Issue: Power dynamics.)

Emily/Naomi -
I absolutely adore Emily and Naomi together. However even the most beautiful of relationship have moments of toxic behavior. Naomi who has intimacy issues has an affair instead of communicating those fears to Emily. This is an action that Emily cannot ignore. Feeling hurt she then begins to punish Naomi by being rude to her and having a strange relationship with a girl named Mandy. During this time they did not break up officially and they were living together at the time. It became a situation in which one person made a mistake due to not communicating her feelings to Emily. Then became an even more toxic relationship in which Emily begins to act out in passive aggressive ways (understandable…but toxic.) Toward the end Naomi finally reveals her vulnerability to Emily and Emily forgives Naomi. It looks like they are now headed in the right direction; however, during that time things were sure toxic. (Toxic Issue: Mis-communication and Spite) 

Generation 3: 

Mini/Nick: 
Mini and Nick’s relationship is based on appearances. Mini wants to have it all. She wants to be popular, she wants to do amazing things, and she wants an attractive boyfriend. She finds Nick and tries to make him that. Nick is also dating Mini for appearances she is a beautiful girl and is the type of girl that his rugby and his Dad would approve of. He gets a pat on the back for that conquest. Nick tries to pursue a sexual relationship with Mini who does not seem ready. Eventually she gives in and has sex with Nick in the hopes to hold onto him. While he is sleeping with her best friend. (Toxic Issue: False Reality & Using) 

Matty/Franky- 
Matty has an obsessive love toward Franky. It is an all consuming and irrational type of love that does not seem to see reason. He forces his presence upon Franky. Which may be understandable, but this lack of ability to understand that space may be what is needed can become quite dangerous. Franky is also not a whole person and she has her own issues she must deal with before entering such an intense relationship. (Toxic Issue: Lack of Control) 

Matty/Franky/Nick - 
The triangle that has many toxic and unhealthy elements. First of all the two members of this triangle are siblings. This heightens the messed up situation of the triangle. Franky loves both, but is emotional unavailable due to her having many issues to work through. Both Levan brothers are competing for Franky’s affections and throwing their relationship away in the process. Triangles in general are toxic. This one is no exception. (Toxic Issue: Lack of Control and jealousy)  

Liv/Alex: 
I love this friendship, but it was a friendship that was formed at such a strange time in Liv’s life. Alex became her escape from everything. Her escape from Mini, her escape from Grace’s death, and her escape from the negative feelings she feels. He became her everything. Even moved in with him despite knowing him for a short time. This clingy behavior is not healthy though it is understandable. (Toxic Issue: Co-dependency) 

Liv/Matty: 
Liv and Matty had one day of amazing chemistry and adventure while high. They spent their entire relationship trying to chase that moment by doing drugs and drinking profusely. While Matty had his eye on another. They were forcing the relationship and not being honest about the situation. Sometimes when we find someone we connect with even if it for a day it becomes an obsession to feel that free again. That is how I see their relationship. Though I know they genuinely care for one another they just weren’t made to work out. (Toxic Issue: False Reality)  

Mini/Franky: 
Is a relationship that is both healing and toxic. Or rather it has to get toxic before it can be healing. At the end of Series 5 Mini develops a strange crush and protective instinct over Franky. Then during Series 6 due to a shared secret these two characters became the only support they each had. Franky due to her underlying issues clings onto Mini’s new born baby as a sign of hope while Mini tries to figure out what it means to be an adult. During this time the relationship turns toxic, because they are both using one another for something—an escape and a second chance. Towards the end of the series with honest communication they turned this friendship around. It ended up being a healing one. (Toxic Issue: Escapism and co-dependency)  

Alo/Mini: 
Alo and Mini suffer from similar issues as Sid and Cassie. They take such a long time to honestly communicate and get on the same page. Their relationship begins as a “friends with benefits” situation. Alo though develops feelings for Mini and Mini who does not think Alo is the type of guy she wants fights her own. She verbally cuts him down and pushes him away. Only to find out she is pregnant and by the time she realizes that Alo is someone she does care for Alo is fed up. Then Alo becomes interested in Mini again, but Mini does not have faith in Alo to step up with the baby so creates distance between herself and him. Then they both seem to believe they belong to one another without any real communication between the two of them. Finally Alo finds out Mini is pregnant and reacts badly so he leaves. Then with Rich’s help he is encouraged to make contact and step up. Then finally Mini with the help of Rich shows up and they finally get on the same page. The communication break down between the two of them though and the defenses that were set up made this relationship toxic for most of it. (Toxic Issue: Mis-communication)