--- title: "Skins: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/skins/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/skins" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Skins (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 11 reviews: 8 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like Skins, and the praise clusters on the writing. Reviewers agree the dialogue sounds the way teenagers actually talk, mixing self-absorption with vulnerability, and several credit the show’s young writers for that. The decision to replace the cast every two series draws admiration for keeping the programme fresh, as does the habit of building each episode around a different character. Reviews written years after broadcast are warmer still, treating the series as the standard against which later teen dramas are measured. The reservations gather around plot. The Guardian finds the characters as irritating as real teenagers and the storylines predictable, and also questions the largely middle-class casting. Collider calls it addictive but poorly plotted and implausible. The one outright negative notice, from Variety, sees shock value with no point of view underneath it. The spread is wide, from the low thirties to the nineties, and the American reviews are the coolest. ## Evening Standard — Ben Travis Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2017. Skins was the perfect teen show because it was ambitious, messy and inventive, much like real teenagers. It captured the era with daring storytelling, music, and constant reinvention across generations while staying entertaining. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/skins-was-ambitious-messy-erratic-and-inventive-and-that-s-why-it-was-the-perfect-teen-show-a3449721.html) ## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2017. The first episode of Skins still holds up well a decade later, remaining fresh, funny and insightful about teenage life. It introduced characters and world convincingly with strong performances and writing that largely avoids dated pitfalls. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/skins-at-10-how-well-does-e4s-teen-drama-hold-up-after-a-decade/) ## The Telegraph — Iona McLaren Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2013. Skins raised the bar for teen TV by being better written and more daring than previous youth programming. It succeeded through its authentic dialogue, young writers, and clever regeneration of cast every two seasons. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10226015/Skins-the-show-that-raised-teen-TVs-game.html) ## Empire — Kat Brown Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 September 2007. The series is an enjoyably bitchy take on British teen life that stands out from lesser shows like Hollyoaks. It follows Bristol A-level students through parties, drugs and college, with strong cast and writing talent that should return for a second series. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/skins-season-1-review/) ## The Times — Ian Johns Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2007. The critic praises the script for capturing the mix of self-absorption and vulnerability in teenagers, along with its heart and entertainment value over issue-raising. He notes strong performances and a sense that the series shows promise beyond its initial shock tactics. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/spaced-out-with-the-skins-generation-hzx0qf2cwgv) ## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2007. The critic finds the teenage characters as irritating as real ones but grants that the dialogue captures authentic adolescent speech and vulnerability. She notes the show's energy and naughtiness while critiquing the middle-class casting and predictable plotting. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jan/26/broadcasting.tvandradio) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2008. The show offers edgy high-school archetypes and shock value around British teens' sex and drug use but lacks a compelling point of view or depth beneath the surface. It feels rudderless despite fine elements and some strong sequences. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/skins-2-1200507796/) ## Den of Geek — Caroline Preece Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2017. The critic hails Skins as one of the greatest teen dramas ever made and a trailblazer for its raw, honest take on adolescence and its platform for young British talent. She singles out its bold, quirky storytelling and ability to capture the intense, confusing feelings of being a teenager for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/skins-revisiting-the-british-teen-drama-10-years-later/) ## Paste — Lacy Baugher Milas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2020. The retrospective hails Skins as a gold standard for teen drama that gets adolescence right through emotional honesty and respect for its young characters. It singles out the show's willingness to tackle real issues like mental health and sexuality without condescension or soap-opera excess. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/skins-uk-streaming) ## Digital Spy — Catriona Wightman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2012. The critic celebrates Skins as a groundbreaking and risk-taking series that has aged into a beloved cult favorite. They single out its willingness to push boundaries in storytelling and its authentic capture of the teenage experience. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a360795/skins-why-we-still-love-e4s-teen-drama/) ## Collider — Eli Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 February 2009. The reviewer finds the UK teen series addictive brain candy despite calling it obnoxious, poorly plotted, and implausible. They single out the episode structure that focuses on a different character each week for keeping the show fresh and empathetic. [Read the review](https://collider.com/skins-season-one-dvd-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/skins.md