Skins: Volume 2 (DVD)

Amazon.com British drama Skins remains leagues above U.S. teen shows like Gossip Girl and the revised 90210 in quality, emotional impact, and fun. Teen dramas don’t generally get a lot of acclaim from critics (and usually they don’t deserve any) but the surprisingly great Skins returns for Volume 2 with a whole lot more sex, drugs and angsty confusion, neatly conveyed via sharply written dialogue, spot-on performances and absorbing plotlines. The show has gotten a lot of press for the racier scenes and questionable (mostly bad) choices made by the teens, but there’s a tender and sweet side to these characters. It’s impossible not to empathize when party-boy Chris faces parental abandonment with no explanation; or Sid’s heart breaks over Cassie’s departure and their mutual difficulty in successfully pursing a long-distance relationship at 16. In general, Cassie remains in a state of complete disaster, fighting an eating disorder, loneliness and mostly, not fitting in wherever she is. After Volume 1’s shocking ending where Tony (About a Boy & A Single Man’s Nicholas Hoult) gets abruptly hit by a bus, his character has the most compelling journey in Volume 2, as he works to rebuild not only his physical strength, but all those relationships his arrogance and selfishness destroyed in Volume 1. Whether it’s because they’re all just trying to make their way in a world that’s not very accommodating or because everyone can relate to being young and miserable, Skins is mostly about finding joy in those in-between moments with your friends, and remains relatable well beyond adolescence. Skins continued on BBC America after the final episode featured here, but with a new set of teens, led by Effie, the mostly mute younger sister of Tony. It’s an exciting and interesting concept, but also really sad to say goodbye to this specific cast after these two compelling seasons. --Kira Canny Product Description Skins: Volume 2 (DVD) It's been six months since Tony's collision with a bus - remarkably, he isn't dead, but he sure isn't the same person. Sid can't get his head around the fact that his best mate is a shadow of the man he's always looked up to. And to top it off he finally got the girl, Cassie, only to have her whisked off to Scotland. Sod's law! Michelle is lost without Tony, too. Maxxie's got hell at home because his Dad doesn't want him to follow his dream of being a dancer. Even Anwar has changed since he bagged himself a secret girlfriend. Jal is throwing of