2024 is a significant year, marking a decade since the farewell to "Skins" (2007-2014) and five years since the introduction of "Sex Education" (2019-2023). Both dramedies have left a lasting impact on generations and the British media landscape. Let's dissect the elements of these successful formulas and examine how they have aged.
Setting
Settings play a significant role in shaping the backgrounds of the characters in both "Skins" and "Sex Education." In "Skins," the stories revolve around British teenagers from Bristol, a working-class city. The city's socioeconomic conditions, including unemployment, poverty, and housing instability, deeply influence the characters' experiences, relationships, and struggles throughout the series. On the other hand, "Sex Education" is set in the fictional Moordale Secondary School, situated in a picturesque rural area of England. Despite the lack of specificity regarding the location, the show features a variety of accents, including posh and regional ones. While "Skins" is rooted in social realism, authentically depicting life in Bristol, "Sex Education" employs a charming and somewhat stylized setting. This setting serves as a strategic appeal to its audience, even though the show also includes commentaries on societal taboos.
Narrative
Both "Skins" and "Sex Education" employ multi-strand narrative principles to engage viewers with diverse storylines and character arcs. In "Skins," each episode typically delves into the storyline of a specific character, providing insight into their lives, struggles, and relationships. These individual narratives are interconnected and gradually converge towards a unified storyline, particularly evident in the series finale where all characters' arcs intertwine. The series introduces fresh narratives by swapping out casts every two seasons, referred to as "generations," to prevent the stories from becoming stale.
On the other hand, "Sex Education" primarily focuses on the character of Otis Milburn and his experiences as a teenage sex therapist. However, the show also explores the lives and relationships of various other characters within the school setting. Each character has their own storyline and struggles, which often intersect and influence one another as the series progresses. By weaving together these multiple storylines, "Sex Education" creates a rich and interconnected narrative that explores a wide range of themes.
Representation
Both "Skins" and "Sex Education" take different approaches to representation. In "Skins," diversity was praised but often criticized for being limiting and leaning towards tokenism. This means that while the show attempted to showcase diversity, it sometimes fell short of genuinely addressing systemic issues faced by marginalized groups. Characters from minority backgrounds were occasionally depicted using stereotypes or clichés associated with their ethnicity or cultural identity, resulting in one-dimensional portrayals that failed to fully develop their characters. Sometimes, these characters were used as plot devices rather than given substantial story arcs or development.
In contrast, "Sex Education" has been lauded for its nuanced and multifaceted portrayal of minority characters. The show delves deeper into the lives of its diverse cast, moving beyond surface-level representations to explore their individual experiences, challenges, and identities. Characters are not defined solely by their ethnicity, race, or sexual orientation but are portrayed as fully developed individuals with complex stories. "Sex Education" also emphasizes the intersectionality of identity, acknowledging that individuals may face multiple forms of discrimination or marginalization. Overall, the show's approach to representation is seen as more authentic and inclusive compared to "Skins."
Behind the Scenes
Recently, Kaya Scodelario (Effy) and Dev Patel (Anwar), among others, revealed behind-the-scenes issues from their time on "Skins." In various interviews and discussions, including the videocast Dish and an NME feature, they highlighted concerns such as lack of supervision for underage actors, the absence of psychologists and intimacy coordinators on set, and instances of body shaming and exposure from producers. These revelations shed light on the challenges faced by the cast, given the heavy themes addressed in the show, including substance abuse, mental health, family dysfunction, sexual assault, socio-economic inequality, and eating disorders.
In contrast, "Sex Education" is commended for its proactive approach to addressing similar themes while prioritizing the safety and well-being of its cast. The show delves into complex issues such as sexuality and identity, relationships and consent, body image and self-esteem, mental health, family dynamics, sexual health and education, and abortion. Both series resonate with young audiences by tackling these themes authentically and providing support to actors through the employment of intimacy coordinators and other measures behind the scenes.
Skins
Under contemporary lenses, Skins is a fruit of its own time, a portrayal of the Millennials generation. It causes an uproar in the conservative groups due to its teenage depictions of casual sex and drug use with an underage cast amidst a growing scandal surrounding potential child pornography allegations linked to MTV and its content. Back in the day, it stood out of the crowd, most teenagers TV shows were American with a cast of actors at least 10 years older than their fictional age with a romanticised perspective and ostentatious lifestyle. A British teen television show about the complicated and messy lives of working-class youth in Bristol. Its raw portrayal of adolescence is acclaimed with discussion of taboo topics that continue to resonate with viewers, even after years of its first aired. However, its behind the scenes and representation with predominantly white, middle-class cast and occasional reliance on stereotypes did not age like fine wine.
Sex Education
Sex Education is a depiction of the early generation Z. Diversity and intimacy coordinator, even though it relies on the American formula to cast older actors vs younger characters and a kind of sanitised American-influenced representation of Britain. Across its four seasons, "Sex Education" serves as a powerful platform for young voices, addressing contemporary challenges such as navigating online relationships, societal taboos, and the importance of sexual education. Fearlessly tackling issues like abortion and sexual assault, the show refrains from demonization and emphasizes the significance of therapy during adolescence. It boldly explores themes of female pleasure, identity, gender dysphoria, male affection, body positivity, and inclusivity, portraying diverse experiences from sexuality to disability with empathy and authenticity. Through its characters' journeys, "Sex Education" provides vital insights into health, relationships, and personal growth, while subverting stereotypes and providing representation for marginalized groups in traditional school cliques.
Wrap-up
Albert Bandura's groundbreaking experiment in the 1960s, which involved children, parents, and a Bobo doll, showcased how observing aggressive behaviour can influence individuals' actions. This phenomenon extends to media consumption, where people often mimic behaviours they see depicted in media products, underscoring the impact of social observation on behaviour. Both "Skins" and "Sex Education" leave a rich legacy as seeds for future British teenage dramas. However, it's crucial to recognize that media producers wield significant influence in shaping the direction of society, particularly in a media-driven culture.
You can watch Skins on Channel 4 and Sex Education on Netflix