If, like me, you jumped on the Skins bandwagon a little too late, this DVD is going to fill in quite a few niggling holes in the plot.

It’s not my fault though. Who was to know this tale of teenage angst, created by the same crew of writers and producers responsible for the superbly deviant Shameless series, was going to be every bit as good as its predecessor? 

By the time episode three was being aired, yours truly and half of the viewing audience in Australia had realized its potential, albeit a bit late to witness the character development of the first couple of shows.

The story revolves around a group of late teens growing up in Bristol, which turns out to be about as far away from Dawson’s Creek as you can get.

In this gritty world, heart-wrenching paeans are replaced with drinking, taking drugs and getting laid, which were far more prevalent in my upbringing than getting in touch with inner feelings or connecting with parents (the other show should have been called Dawson’s Crock, don’t you think?).

There’s Sid, the mopey under-achiever in a permanent beanie, Cassie, the tripped out hippy with an eating disorder, Tony, the handsome popular kid with an uncontrollable evil streak, Abigail, the posh chick who loves to party and pill-poppin’ Chris, who’s a hit with his sexy young teacher.

Plotlines include Sid’s run in with an unpaid drug dealer, pornographic photos on Tony’s mobile phone and a hilarious religion/sexuality conflict for Anwar and Maxxie.

It’s a fascinating look at Gen Y’s arrival on the social scene, complete with all the misplaced loyalties and desires that have plagued young adults for the past 50 years.

Underpinning each raw and sometimes uncomfortable episode is an erratic soundtrack , which again reflects perfectly the difficulties of living in ‘the age consistency forgot’.

One minute it’s dance music, the next it’s rock n roll, while saving enough room to chuck Cat Stevens and The Brian Jonestown Massacre into the mix.

It's eclectic, eccentric and totally unpredictable. Just like a teenager.
 
4 misunderstood wannabes out of 5.