Flow of Madness

Character Podcast Spotlight: Sketch

Joined with Rachel (Sulasass) 

Questions: 

• Do you think Sketch could strike up a genuine, successful friendship with any of the Skins characters, from any generation? — Freya 

• Where do you think Sketch would be in life right now, and where do you think she’d be when she’s 35 - 40 years old? - Freya 
• Do you think Sketch is a sympathetic character? - Anon
• Are all Welsh people like Sketch? - Anon

Character Podcast Spotlight: Maxxie Oliver

Summary: 

• randompanda47: How do you think the series would have went different if Maxxie wasn’t gay? 
• shrivelled-wank-claw: How the hell are Maxxie and Anwar friends?
• alwaysathindreamer: How do you think Maxxie and Tony became friends?
• If Maxxie doesn’t make it as a dancer what do you see him doing? 
• jay-jay16: What story line would you have given Maxxie? 
• Lack of story line rant

So these are my thoughts and reaction about Series 7. 

It is definitely a huge risk that the Skins people are taking on. Considering many of the characters may not be all the fans favorites. People may have moved on. People may still be angry at being disappointed over the massive turn around for Series 7. 

These are my initial thoughts on the Series. 

Skins Fire: This is the mini film that focuses on Effy. Honestly the thing I am most excited about this episode is the promise for some Naomi and Emily action. My massive worry about this one is that Jess Brittain is writing it. I am not a fan of her writing style and I feel like she writes quite melodramatically. She is in charge of not handling one but three of our favorite characters. Two of them are in the most popular ship Skins has seen. Effy is one of the most easily dramatic characters to write as well. So I worry about the combination of her writing with this character. 

I am not a huge fan of the job Effy has landed herself. Receptionist? But then again I know many young adults who are working jobs that kill their soul. So it is rather realistic that she is doing something so unlike Effy. I am not a fan of the affair with her boss plot. 

I reckon we will have some Naomily scenes. I feel like they broke up while we’ve been absent from their lives and maybe they get back together in the special. 

As for the tragedy it could be the tragic character that is Effy winds up getting herself too far gone to be saved. Or land herself into some massive trouble or get Naomi involved in something. Any of those ideas seem plausible at this point. 

Skins Rise: Jamie Brittain is back worshiping one of his favorite characters, Cook. I feel like this episode can either be really good or really bad. I don’t think it will be in the middle by any means. It will either be the same old Cook plot. Which is he does a bunch of impulsive things. He gets in over his head. He loses all feeling of living and pretty much asks to get killed. Then comes through. 

Or it can be poignant and they can do something with Cook besides the same cycle. That he has repeated over and over and over again. I hope that he gets a bit more development and less regression like we saw with him breaking out of prison. 

Skins Pure: This is the one I am most excited to see. Cassie is such a complicated and interesting character. It will be interesting to see how much she has changed and what new issues she has. I think it will be a rather quiet and depressive episode. Mainly psychological. I bet Skins Rise will be rather physical. I hope that we get some information about Sid as well some closure on that point because I know many people are looking for it. Bryan is writing this one and he does good with Cassie. So I am most excited about this one. 

As always always interested in your thoughts! Feel free to answer here or send it in. 

Tomorrow unleashes the information for Series 7. Whether we are ready for it or not. 

Despite my disappointment in the handling of Series 7 in terms of information, transparency, and honesty I am curious about this series. I do believe they should have said that they had no idea what Series 7 would be about or say it was going to be Gen 2 centric from the beginning. However it happened and that’s that. 

Still upset but no use ranting about it every day, yeah? 

So here are my hopes and/or expectations for tomorrow. 

Casting: 
Jack O’Connell (Cook) 
Kaya S (Effy)
Lily Loveless (Naomi)
Kat Prescott (Emily)
Megan Prescott (Katie)

I hope that they have some Gen 1 people like Hannah Murray (Cassie), April Pearson (Michelle), Mike Bailey (Sid), and Larissa Wilson (Jal.) I would like to see some Gen 1 love along with Gen 2. However I doubt it will be Gen 1 prevalent but I hope I am wrong.

General Thoughts: 
They say it is going to be three Mini movies about the transition from being a teenager to an adult. It seems like a really thematic approach which could be quite interesting. I think that they may address certain things; however, I feel like not all our questions will be answered with Series 7. 

I think that it will be more plot driven and it will not be a reunion show. I also think it will be Cook and Effy heavy. 

I will have more of my thoughts after everything is announced tomorrow. What do you guys think? Answer here or send me an ask with your opinions, hopes, or expectations on Series 7. 

Character Podcast Spotlight: Michelle Richardson

Summary: 

• noducksinamyspond : If Josh wasn’t a psycho would he have been good for her?  
• What kind of guy would be good for Michelle? 
• shrivelled-wank-claw: Why did it take her so long to admit that Tony was a total twat, even though it was apparent to everyone else that he’d been fucking around?
• thisistheskinshouse: best and worst qualities of Michelle?
• Do you think she is one of the most realistic characters?
• everythingisskins: Which nipple do you think was weird? 
• davidknowsall: Three wishes Michelle would ask for?

I was thinking due to encouragement by my lovely followers one in particular jay-jay16 about the lucky coin Cassie introduces. 

In the beginning Cassie gives this coin to Jal. As she tries to navigate her own pregnancy and her relationship with Chris. Jal gave the coin to Chris for luck as he goes to the hospital. He ends up pulling through the surgery. Only to later die from his brain condition. 

Cassie keeps this coin that failed to keep Chris safe. Now the question is why would Cassie keep this coin and what is the significance of this scene. 

Coins are two sided and when you flip a coin in the air there is a 50 percent chance of it landing on the side that you desired. It all comes to chance and sometimes life like a coin ends up in your favor and sometimes things don’t. In terms of Chris the coin failed to show the desired side and Chris died. 

Cassie takes the coin in my opinion because despite all the bad things and the hard times. There is still a belief that things may be okay even if it is in the air and even if there is a chance of disappoint. There is still hope. To me that coin represents that hope.

In Series 1 when Chris wakes up and puts the clock in the fish bowel. It just hit me. The symbolism of it is ridiculous whether intended or not. Especially that shot (which I reblogged a second ago.) Where Chris is looking into the fish bowel and the clock is in the shot along with the fish. Fish are notorious for not having long lives and they are often killed after a few days due to lack of care. Chris of course is left by his parents and does not take care of himself in the way that he should in terms of his body. Then you have the clock. Tick tock. Time is moving. Time is running out. Time is moving forward. 

It is an interesting shot and quite powerful. This just hit me. Though it should have hit me sooner.

(creator of the beautiful gif: wherethefuckareourmemories)

I am breaking down all the major symbols and motifs that were used in Skins throughout the generations. One of the major ones is the use of benches. 

If a character is sitting on a bench usually it is a scene in which a character is sitting in a introspective silence by themselves trying to figure things out…trying to make a choice. Liv Malone sat on a bench smoking a cigarette as she decided whether or not to go to the doctor’s to get the strange sensation in her side checked out. Katie Fitch has sat on a bench determining what to do with a life changing piece of news. Cassie has sat and danced on a bench as she decided to to attempt suicide. Benches where the people are alone tend to signify a crossroad in which someone has to make a hard choice. 

Benches in which there is more than one person tend to symbolize truth and honest discussions and connections. JJ and Emily bond on a bench. JJ and Lara also bond on a bench. Cassie and Sid finally get on the same page on a bench. People are still at a crossroads though, but they are not alone they are connecting with another person as they deal with the difficulties of one’s life 

To me these choices are brilliant, because benches tend to represent in life a place to watch, to relax, to think, and to wait. The use of the bench in the scene adds to the scene and it’s quite nerdy for those who catch these kinds of things. 

This is analysis about the wonderful mixed gender friendship between Cassie and Chris. I will be examining why they became friends and what their friendship means. All under the cut. 

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