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Pop Watch: Skins, Episode 9 "Cassie"

PopSugarUK — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:28:00 -0700

So last night's Skins episode was the penultimate one for this cast, and this time we were given a little insight into the mind of Cassie. And lets face it, we've kind of needed that this season, as she's become more messed up and less likeable. As always I really want to know what you all thought of Cassie's episode too, so make sure you leave some comments as you read my thoughts and let me know!

First off, how amazing was the soundtrack to last night's episode? I loved it. Check out the Skins Music Guide from the production team for further info on it.
Joe Dempsie's performance as Chris was fantastic, through and through. The myriad of emotions he let out through his eyes really portrayed Chris as the multi-layered character the scripts describe. I was blown away. And Hannah Murray put in her best performance to date also, without a doubt. Especially in the final scenes.
So, Chris was seriously ill after his hospitalisation at the end of episode 8, but discharged himself so he could chill at home. All his friends rallied around in varying degrees – Anwar ate his grapes, Tony offered him a spliff, Jal was scared, but Cassie was 100% there for him.

If you didn't see last night's episode then don't read any further, but if you have and what to read more of my thoughts on the episode, just read more

RIP Chris!! Oh so sad, even though I did know it was going to happen. I guess we're going to have to say goodbye to them all next week as the series ends, but I'm still teary about the fact my favourite character died. Did you shed a tear?
But lets rewind a little, who else is curious about Chris's impression of Mick Hucknall from Simply Red?!
Sid and Cassie were still having major problems, mainly due to Sid's ridiculous inability to stop mentioning Michelle. He's always been fairly oblivious, but come on! No wonder Cassie's still so unhappy.
Jal was mostly absent from this episode, which was so sad as it was Chris's final one. Chris asked Cassie to tell him again about Jal not leaving his side at the hospital, as it gave him more hope that she loved him. So sweet and sad. And he felt so bad for not telling her he was ill, that broke my heart a little.
I really laughed when Cassie sent Sid in to change Chris's groin bandages despite the fact she's already done them. Chris headbutting Sid gave me a much-needed giggle. Although perhaps not the best thing to do when you have a hereditary brain illness?

That crazy disco sequence in Cassie's rescheduled A-level exam was a little insane.
Vanilla with spaghetti and meatballs? Cherries and nuts in the Smash? That meal Sid prepared for Chris, Tony, Michelle, Sid and Cassie sounded hideous! Bless Chris though, he just chowed it on down happily whilst the others picked at it.
And it was at the meal that Chris found out something was up with Jal – offscreen she told him she was pregnant and that she wasn't sure she wanted to keep it. When he spoke to Cassie about it the next morning it was obvious he wanted the baby even though he said "I'm not really qualified to be a dad. I don't know what they do." He just looked heartbroken. Meanwhile, Jal had disappeared off to the recalls for her music college auditions.
Chris's Mum returned, albeit briefly, and hinted to Cassie that the reason she had left was because she knew this illness would take Chris from her. Chris didn't see her, and didn't even find out she'd visited. But he was inside crying when Cassie got back into the flat, proving how much of a front he was putting up.
Quote of the episode: Cassie to Chris "You're right about Adam Sandler – he's quite sweet if you keep the sound down." True words.
And then it happened. Chris was excited about the Monkey Man t-shirt Cassie had shoplifted for him, and when he was gushing "I can't wait to show...." he realised he couldn't remember his girlfriend's name. Jal. He got dizzy, Cassie panicked, and then he died. From the sound effects I'm guessing Cassie called an ambulance, and then she packed her things and left...
...for New York! A great place to escape to if you ask me. She ended up meeting a seen-it-all NY cabbie who she managed to soften, before ending up in a cafe and wangling her way into staying at a guy named Adam's apartment to stay. But he left her too, and she ended up alone in NYC, running through the streets.

I'll leave you with Chris's final message.... to God. It's an extra that hasn't been aired on TV, and takes place between episode 8 and this one. So yes. He's really gone.

Join with me and keep repeating – "It's only a TV show, it's only a TV show, it's only a TV show..."

The final episode's up next week, but as always, let me know what you thought of this one.

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)

Hannah's Funky French Fancy

PopSugarUK — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I don't know about you, but I've definitely been having a little Skins withdrawal since the original gang left our television screens for good. So I was pretty gleeful when I saw this funky photoshoot in online French mag Dirrty Glam starring Hannah Murray who played Cassie. The series is on its way over to the US to make its debut on American TV on August 13, so it will be fab to see what audiences over the pond (who haven't already found ways to see it online) make of the flawed British teenagers we grew to love over the two seasons.

Meanwhile over here rumours have been flying about who we can expect to see in the new class alongside Kaya Scodelario as Effy... it will be interesting to see how happily viewers accept the new gang. Can't wait!

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Take A Stroll Down Crescent Row With Benefit Cosmetics

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:30:00 -0700

The best selling brand in the UK has taken a field trip to Bath and what they saw there completely rocked their world. Benefit Cosmetics owners Jane and Jean have been looking for a way to incorporate Jean's daughters Maggie and Anne into the family business. About two years ago, the girls visited Bath and were in awe of the Royal Crescent. The Row became the inspiration for the brand's latest launch; a trio of fragrances called Crescent Row.

The three scents are called Laugh With Me Lee Lee, Something About Sofia and My Place Or Yours Gina. They can can be worn separately or blended together, and the idea is that each of the fragrances take on their own personalities. Lee Lee is the lovely and prim homemaker who has a sweet and woody floral aroma. Sofia is captivating and dazzling with an oriental floral scent, whilst Gina is sensual and seductive - a woody oriental aura you can't miss.

The packaging also stayed within the family, as it was designed to look like a vintage pocket martini flask that Jane and Jean's great Aunt Ruth used to keep in her purse. When you open each box, you see the interior of the girls' homes, and on the outside, there's a poem capturing the essence of their character. The girls, however different, all live on the same street and are best friends. Isn't it just to cute for words?

Crescent Row launched yesterday on Oxford Street at Debenham's, and the 30ml eau de toilette's are available instore and online for £29.50. To read about the ingredients in each of the fragrances and to see images from the big Debenham's launch yesterday, read more.

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Laugh With Me Lee Lee: is the stable gal who has a steady boyfreind. She's the sweet one who bakes, cleans and loves to arrange flowers. The scent reflects her personality by containing notes of citrus, cassis, melon, jasmine, violet, lily, musk, amber, santal and blonde wood.
Something About Sofia: is the confident romantic. She has a boyfriend, but he travels which allows her to remain slightly mysterious and mischievous. Sofia's scent has more sweet oriental notes like freesia, jasmine, lily, peony, skin musk, caramel, mango and vanilla bean.
My Place Or Yours Gina: is provacative, sexy and she likes to flaunt what she's got! This scent is for someone who wants to be noticed as it's a blend of spicy pink pepper, tangerine, bergamot, raspberry, jasmine, lily, patchouli, tonka bean and vanilla.

Pop Watch: Skins, Episode 8 "Jal"

PopSugarUK — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Okay. I'm stilll a little upset by the events in last night's episode of Skins, not to mention the fact the cast will be replaced next season. Seeing it in black and white is a little sad, even if I was aware it was going to happen. Anyway, we were back with Jal last night and her crazy family, which meant we got a little more Chris too!

I wasn't a massive fan of Jal in series one, and her episode was honestly one of the ones I didn't enjoy too much. But this series has really amped up the storylines for her, and Larissa Wilson is doing really well with them. I was pleased to see her family and extended family again, I often forget what a mad house she lives in, but it was sad that her dad won't give Chris the time of day. I guess if he doesn't watch the series then he's probably going to be a little concerned. Scratch that... if he watched the series that could make things even worse.

The A-levels are days away for the teens, so it's a pretty nerve-wracking time for some of the characters. Anyway, Jal's practicing her clarinet as she has an audition to get into music college. The scene where she was in her room, checking herself out in the mirror, crying a little and trying to practice for her audition as so sad. Oh, and Chris is taking pills out of a medicine bottle. And not looking happy about it. Something's up.

For more of my thoughts on this heart-breaking episode as well as a recap, just read more

Cassie know something's going on with Jal, as she's some kind of genius, so she tries to coax Jal's secret out of her whilst she's revising. Her impersonation of Jal was dead-on, and she told Jal she knows she's pregnant and not telling Chris. Cassie hints she knows something about Chris too before disappearing back to her room... and he then walks through the door, all adorable.

At college the next day, Maxxie introduces James as his new boyfriend, and Sketch doesn't look too happy. As we found out earlier, Michelle's still speaking only in Spanish to Jal in preparation for her exam. So that doesn't really help Jal to tell her she's pregnant, she does it in Spanish, and Michelle doesn't understand. Then Tony showed up and took her off somewhere so he could carry her books – it's still slightly freaking me out that he's being so nice these days. Of course Cassie shows up and whisks Jal away to a terrible high street casino, where the guy in the booth seems to know everything about them bar their real names. Cassie goes there to escape apparently. And continues to hint that 'other people have secrets'. I was getting a huge knot in my stomach when she kept saying that, as it can only mean badness for Chris, right? Jal wins a special gold coin at the casino and heads over to Chris's place. Before not going in, and just walking away.

Chris is lying in bed looking worried and waiting for Jal, who hasn't shown up. Oh dear. Meanwhile, Jal is summoned for a family meeting where they announce they're starting the 'Do You!' clothing range and are trying to get her Dad to invest. Jal's not too interested... and blurts out that she's pregnant, leaving the rest of them stunned. Her Dad follows her out the room and asks her what her plan is, gives her her options and tells her he's so disappointed in her. Jal asks where her absent Mum is and he leaves the room, visibly upset. Her brothers come in and hug her though, which is a nice family moment. Until one of them has the inspiration to start a 'Do You!' baby range.

Chris is waiting outside when Jal leaves her house for her audition, but she's rushing and won't speak to him properly. Chris keeps saying things like "we'll run out of time" – he doesn't want her to go to the audition and move away – and his little speech made me so sad. Especially when he said "I could be dying and you wouldn't know about it" and I knew it was going to be bad. As always he leaves her on a joke, before shoving his hands in his pockets and walking away. Oh Chris.

Jal goes for the hardest piece at her music audition after being slightly taunted by those auditioning her. And she plays superbly. Michelle goes to Chris's place to see Jal (having worked out what she was told earlier) but Cassie opens the door. Michelle wants to tell Chris, but Cassie tells her he's gone to bed as he's not feeling well again. There's still a little bad blood between Cassie and Michelle from the whole Sid/Tony situation.

Jal comes home to an empty house, and then sees her Mum in the kitchen making food for her. It's not clear how long it's been since they've seen each other but it's been a long time. It turns out that her Mum and Dad have been speaking over the years, and she knows Jal is pregnant. That doesn't make up for her absence over the years though, and Jal goes to leave. Her Mum leaves her by saying that the one thing her father couldn't forgive was the fact she lied to him. And she tells her not to make the same mistake with Chris. Wise words.

And so it's finally time for the Spanish aural exam, and Jal tells her examiner she's pregnant in a long speech in Spanish. Pretty impressive. Michelle's waiting for her outside and gives her a massive hug. And so it's time to go and tell Chris. She's prepared – she's dealt with a lot over the past couple of days. But the door to his flat is open, and Cassie is sat on the kitchen table all curled up and tells her that she's been trying to call her. Oh no.

The next thing we see (after an advert break that felt like it was an hour long) the girls are sat in the hospital, and Cassie reminds Jal she's not the only one with a secret and that there's something wrong with Chris – he fell on the floor with blood in his ear and Cassie didn't know what to do. Jal goes in to see him, and he's hooked up to machines in a hospital bed. He's pretty drugged up and doesn't realise it's Jal. He tells her everything is cool and when she asks what pills he's been taking, he tells her it's a secret, and not to tell Jal – because if she tells Jal then she won't move in with him anymore. Chris! And that's when she tells him she's pregnant and trying to work out what to do. He's pretty much out of it though.

The nurse tells Jal that Chris is having an operation – he has swelling on his brain caused by a clot, and it's hereditary. Remember his brother died when he was younger? So sad. And Jal panics, chasing after his bed as he's taken down to surgery. He lightens the mood slightly with a typical Chris-quip as he drifts in and out of consciousness and she gives him the gold coin from the casino, telling him it's all the luck that she's got. And so he's wheeled off into surgery, holding up the coin so she can see. Okay. He has to be okay, right?

Next week it's Cassie... lets hope it reveals a little about her state of mind at the moment. And that will be the second-to-last episode with this cast. Anyway, lets focus on the present, not the future. What did you think of the episode? Did you suspect something was going to be going on with Chris, or did that completely come out of the blue for you? And how are you liking Jal these days?

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)

Win a Huge Assortment of Pacifica Products From Sephora!

BellaSugar — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:30:00 -0700

I see hydrated skin, soothing, calming scents, and an air of relaxation in your future; and it's all thanks to our friends at Sephora. From now until Sunday, we're offering up a huge collection of Pacifica products, guaranteed to have you feeling cool, calm, and collected. Ahh. If you're chosen the lucky grand prize winner of this set, you'll receive the following eco-friendly products.

They include:

Lotus Garden Soy Candle - A natural, handmade candle perfumed with scents of lotus blossom, cassis, green violet leaf, and pink pepper.
A selection of Guava Butters - Three luxuriously scented intensive body moisturizers in Hawaiian Ruby, Bali Lime Papaya, and Brazilian Mango Grapefruit.
Brazilian Mango Grapefruit Travel Set - A trio of grapefruit-scented goodies, including a Soy Candle, Body Butter, and Solid Perfume.
Tuscan Blood Orange Body Wash - An everyday cleanser scented with spicy blood orange, strawberry, raspberry, and mandarin.
Malibu Lemon Blossom Lotion - A luxuriously scented daily body moisturizer inspired by lemony Litsea Cubeba, flowering Angel's Trumpet, and fresh herbs.
Bliss Blood Orange White Pepper Sugar Scrub - And as a special bonus, you'll also receive this skin-cleansing scrub that's formulated with an energizing citrus scent.

To enter, just take the quiz by 12 p.m. PDT on Sunday, May 31, and one winner will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to enter. So if you're not already one, register for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: You must be logged in to TeamSugar for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

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Pop Watch: Skins, Episode 5 "Chris"

PopSugarUK — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

Now this is the main Skins ep I've been looking forward to. It's no secret that Chris is my favourite character in the show and Joe Dempsie plays him brilliantly. So lets begin... It was going to happen eventually – Chris is kicked out of college and so he can no longer live in his student flat. Needless to say that this isn't good, but permanently rose-tinted-glasses-wearing Chris doesn't really get the gravity of the situation. Jal wakes him up and makes a deal that she'll start saying "Yes" more often, if he stops saying "F**k it" and giving up.

Next he goes to a slightly loopy and swearing-averse careers advisor and goes through a bundle of jobs in a really amusing montage, eventually kind-of getting the hang of not cursing by putting a P at the beginning of every swear-word. Which was very funny. When he meets up with the guys, (Anwar now has Maxxie's fringe, obviously under the guidance of mental-Sketch) he notices the 'Tony, Sid and Michelle problem', showing he (like Cassie) notices things no-one thinks he does.

We also saw the fallout of Sid and Michelle being together – Cassie got really angry and slapped Sid. Hard. Poor Cassie. So now the rest of the group know what's going on there, and Jal feels left out by her 'best friend' Michelle not telling her. Chris, being the lovely guy he is, takes her out of the party to talk and calm down. And...

For more of my thoughts / recap, just read more

...they kiss!! Hurrah! It was clear something was going to happen between them, and I'm pretty behind this pairing. What do you think of them as a couple?

Anyway, so Chris needs to get a permanent job. He goes to an interview and is asked to "sell me this cup of tea". This was definitely a highlight of the episode, where Chris sets fire to his interviewer's tie so that he needs the tea to put out the fire – genius! He gets the Estate Agent position, and has one of the most annoying co-workers ever (we've all been there in the past). Chris's 'work outfit' is sweet, with those massive bright shoes sticking out of his trousers, and wearing his scarf fashioned into a tie. He's assigned to show the worst flat ever to potential buyers... and seeing as he doesn't think he'll sell it, he decides to move in.

After all his hard work Jal rewards him, and they cement their new relationship in his new (but un-paid-for) flat. How long until all this blows up in his face? Aha! Cassie arrives. She's gone slightly mad due to the Michelle/Sid thing, and couples being all around. Obviously the new Jal/Chris pairing does not cheer her up.

Chris and Jal have a big in-depth chat where Chris filled her in a little more on his sad back-story. He used to escape as a kid by reading "The Hungry Caterpillar" over and over inside his bedcovers (incidentally, what an excellent book...). His lack of progress in his job is getting too much for him, and Jal counters his opinion ("Chris, you're not a f**k-up"), giving him the advice to try and sell the house he used to imagine living in when he was little. And he gets good at his job... finally!

Oh no. Then Angie arrives. She's back! With a bob. And flirting incessantly with him. Chris is being pretty good though (for Chris) and confesses to his careers advisor over the phone the effect Angie has on him. Of course the careers advisor has him on speaker phone and Cassie is there. Ohhhhh dear. Of course crazy Cassie tells Jal (because she's crazy, trying to wreck everything, taking cocaine... ) and throws a housewarming party for Chris.

Another very amusing moment came up next, where Anwar revealed he now not only has the Maxxie-fringe, but blonde hair too, and looks much like his blonde buddy in his new cardi. Their faces when they were looking in the mirror together were priceless! Meanwhile Jal won't answer Chris's calls, so Chris (using Chris-logic) has sex with Angie, but stops. Jal arrives at the party halfway through and realises he was with Angie in the bathroom as his shirt's inside out, so she leaves again. This is exhausting!

Predictably, Chris gets fired as he was living in that tiny flat without permission and trashed it. Then he and Cassie have a heart to heart... a rather dark heart to heart.

Elsewhere, Tony's re-learning to swim with his dad in a childrens class. Chris goes to see him, which seems to put everything in perspective. Oh, and Jal's pregnant. But the main problem (aka Angie) is leaving, and lets Chris stay in her flat. Chris invites Jal to his new flat and tried to explain why he thinks he messes everything up for himself. "It's easy when you've got nothing, 'cos nothing can be taken away from you."

And the thought I'll end this ep with is – Chris loves Jal. Hurrah!

That was such a great episode. I'm not loving insane Cassie though, so I hope that gets sorted fairly sharpish, and I hope Sketch... stops being so sketchy. What did you think? Do you love Chris as much as I do? And how's the Jal pregnancy thing going to work out? There's not many episodes to go now...

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)

Pop Watch: Skins, Episode 7 "Effy"

PopSugarUK — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

Can you believe we're seven episodes into the second season of Skins? Only three more episodes are left for the majority of this cast. Well, except the star of this week's episode, Effy, who will lead the next season's band of troublemakers.

So Tony and Effy's house was an absolute mess – their Dad's away and their Mum was still pretty affected by everything that happened with Tony. And she was also taking his medication. Michelle wasn't replying to any of Tony's rather stalker-like contact. And Effy's still at the school with the interesting uniform – love that hat.

Her art teacher was very amusing, and inappropriate. But Effy's having a little problem with her emotional artistic inspiration. Enter new girl Pandora, who the art teacher invited to either paint, or get naked and pose. What a welcome to a new school. Not that it mattered, as Pandora is oblivious and fully admitted she was "useless", although she didn't go for the naked option, so that's something. The foolish/brilliant (I'm not sure which at this point) art teacher assigned Effy as Pandora's mentor.

For more of my thoughts, the rest of the recap and to let me know what you thought, just read more

Effy's acquaintance Jake arrived and he was pretty obsessed with the idea of sleeping with Effy, much to her annoyance. So he bothered her while I was pretty sure Pandora was hanging herself from a tree, but it turned out it was by her ankle. I'm not loving Pandora.

Sid showed up at the Stonem's house to see Tony and there's all kinds of tension going on there. Pandora opened Tony's parcel from Michelle, which ended up being the watch he bought her all crushed. I enjoyed Sid and Tony's awkward couch-based chat, and their secret handshake. Although every time Sid took a sip of that gone-off milk I felt a little ill. So, Sid had to get Michelle back for Tony in order for them to be friends, and Effy brings in some bargaining tools – if Sid does her emotional art homework, Effy will sort out their "soap opera" for him.

Effy took Pandora to Cassie to pick up their drugs for the evening, where Pandora was shocked by Cassie's new lifestyle (sleeping with everyone.) So Effy's first attempts to try and sort the Sid/Cassie thing don't go brilliantly, but the girl's scheming, that's for sure. And Pandora fell for Tony and got stoned. Oh, how I consistently wanted to slap her round the face and shout "wake up!" during this episode. Which I suppose is what Effy's doing with slightly more unorthodox methods.

Sid's first art attempt using four biros wasn't great, although I enjoyed it, so he was stuck in Effy's room while she, Pandora and Tony went out. Enter my favourite supporting character for a while - the doorman. I think I'd prefer it if he was in it more often, and Pandora... left. The doorman wouldn't let Tony in, but did allow the much younger Effy and Pandora into the club. And Jake was inside too, to sell the weed. Drugged-up Pandora danced like a maniac, and Tony was stuck outside reading the doorman's novel draft, kindly recommending that the "orgy scene comes before the disemboweling of the elvic hoard". Apparently this was good advice as he finally got into the club, only to see Effy giving away Michelle's watch and then being lovingly attacked by Pandora.

Meanwhile back at their place, Sid finally found his emotion using alcohol. After the clan returned we saw that Jake had found his way back to Effy's place and was sleeping in her room, ready to collect the prize he won for making over £100 from the weed. And what a prize – Effy set him up with Cassie, who he bonded with over her pet snails Sidley and Mischa. These people were obviously all wheels in Effy's little plan, as she was outside taking photos of the two kissing, which she then taped to the sleeping Sid. An odd tactic, but whatever works to get them all back together with the right people.

Effy must be a great person to have in your family – Michelle received her watch back, all fixed and with "Forever" engraved in the back of it. Yay. Meanwhile, seeing those photos, Sid ran to Chris's place to see Cassie and Chris threatened him rather noncommittally before disappearing. And the showdown begun.

Sid told Cassie he never loved Michelle, that he loved her. That she wasn't there when his Dad died and Michelle was. And, after a little more fighting and some crying, they kissed! Hurrah! I enjoyed Chris's little interruption as usual – I think you can tell I love almost everything Chris does. Meanwhile, Tony called Michelle again, who finally answered to say "I love you too" before hanging up. Good progress.

And so we go back to Effy's school, where it turned out, Sid's picture was for Pandora, and Effy's piece... well, she's turning in a 'conceptual piece' that no-one can see. And so she knows she'll be expelled. Dad Stonem comes back at the end of the week and the house looks super-clean. And Tony's all happy and, well, I would say back to normal, but... Tony's a new normal now. A happy, more-regularly-nice normal.

So next week is Jal, and it's a fantastic episode. How's she dealing with her pregnancy? And Cassie has secrets. Secrets about other people. It's going to be good, I can tell you that right now.

But that was Effy's episode – she sorted everything out as usual. Bravo to her! What did you think of this one? Did you prefer it to the insanity of last week? Or did Pandora make you want to scream? Let me know!

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)

Pop Watch: Skins, Episode Six "Tony"

PopSugarUK — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

OK. Lets all try and take a second to digest the madness that was last night's episode of Skins. To say it was intense is a bit of an understatement if you ask me. I'm going to try and sum it up as best I can, but so much happened that I'm sure I'll miss a few bits. I'm really looking forward to reading your comments on this sixth episode of the season, that's for sure. Let's begin...

So, Tony's still having nightmares about the bus crash and Effy's being a great sister – reading to him and generally being lovely. Tony went out to a club with the gang and could tell something was up with Jal (reminding me of the ramifications from last week's ep). Cassie took Tony aside, and gave him some pills – not content with ruining herself, she wants to bring Tony down even further. The pills kicked in and Tony went, as Peter Andre would say, insania. Oh, but it was nice to see that Anwar's hair is back to normal.

To read more of my thoughts on this episode, just read more

Tony got super-angry and let out all his frustration about the Sid/Michelle thing, which culminated in him throwing up in one of the loos. Enter mysterious woman. This was the first sign this episode was going to go fairly off-kilter.

The next thing we saw was Tony on a train going to a Uni interview, and speaking to an odd bloke played by Sean Pertwee, with a very scarred face. Perhaps this was something about how Tony doesn't have any obvious physical evidence of his injury?

Once he arrived at the University, Tony got really lost and arrived late for the group interview, which was also headed up by Sean Pertwee – without a scarred face this time... confused much? Mysterious girl (Peter Andre is starting to become a theme in this recap... how odd) from the club toilets was there too, what a coincidence. She was evidently in his imagination. Testing him. Pushing him. Right out of the group interview. Oh dear...

Tony's Uni experience was riddled with bizarreness: He met some oddball students – Polly and Derek – who reminded me of his parents personality-wise (they wanted to keep him safe and pandered to him). Uber-rebellious mysterious girl got a tattoo on her shoulder, in a dorm - think of the hygiene, people!

Anyhow, through all of this Uni exploration, the Tony we all know and love(?!) returned – his sexual problems were solved by mysterious girl (which we were shown pretty explicitly). Now, then came a possible interesting bit – when the mysterious girl said "Don't look back Tony", I noted down that she sounded remarkably like Cassie. And she certainly didn't sound like Cassie at any other point – could this go back to the date they were talking through in the club at the beginning of the episode? I mean, his trip was obviously a different kind of trip – mental rather than physical. And perhaps Cassie slept with him as some kind of deranged revenge on Sid and Michelle? What do you reckon?

Anyway, back in normality-land Tony pulls Sid off Michelle and tells his ex-girlfriend that he loves her. He then tells Sid that he loves him too, and that they're wrong as a couple (Sid and Michelle, not Sid and Tony... that's one coupling they haven't explored just yet.) . He says to put things right, Sid should be back with Cassie and Michelle with Tony. Yes! Exactly!

Right at the end of the episode we saw that Tony has the tattoo the mysterious girl got during his 'trip'. So Mysterious Girl was a way for him to discover the old version of Tony? It was definitely all in his mind.

Anyway, if you need to decipher this episode and don't have it recorded Skins Series 2 boxset is out to buy on May 5th.

So come on, let me know what you thought about this weird and wonderful episode – I need help on this one!

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)

Pop Watch: Skins, Episode 3 "Sid"

PopSugarUK — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:55:00 -0800

Understated. That's the usual image of Sid we get on Skins, and that's why I've been looking forward to a more in-depth Sid-centric episode for a while. And what an episode it was. Wow. Let me sum up my thoughts and then I want to hear yours!

I'm a big fan of Sid and Cassie as a couple, so I loved the first few seconds when I realised he was talking to Cassie online. But she was in a bedroom... with a Scottish guy... in her underwear. Noooo! Poor heartbroken Sid. Obviously it was a misunderstanding and the Scottish guy was gay, but Sid wasn't to know that. Meanwhile, Sid's Dad was stressing because his own Father was coming to town.

Whenever Sketch arrives on the screen I expect there to be a freaky Psycho-shower-scene-style "riik, riik, riik" sound effect playing. So I really can't deal with her and Anwar being a couple. She's scary!

But back to Sid's Dad, and his Mum. I love that in this show the parents are as messed up, if not more, than the kids. Do you like the amount of coverage the show gives to the main characters' parents? Or do you think they detract from the show's action?

I've placed the rest of my thoughts under the cut as there was a pretty groundbreaking development that I don't want to spoil for you if you missed the show, but if you've seen it, then read more

When Cassie and Sid were arguing via the webcam I was shouting at the screen – Listen to her! Stop talking! It was so sad. And then there was the madness of the car crashing into Sid's house, which led to Sid's Dad finally (and very satisfyingly) saying what he wanted to his horrible father.

The big shock of the episode was Sid's Dad's death. It was clear something was going on from the way he was humming happily to himself as Sid went to bed. And then, there he was in his chair the next morning, lifeless. I thought Sid's reaction was so beautifully played by Mike Bailey. He was as lost as Tony has been lately, confused and dazed. And only then were the rest of the gang brought back in to the fold, with Jal still showing sweet concern and care for an oblivious and Angie-obsessed Chris, and Tony re-learning how to smoke. Incidentally, do you think Angie will be back? Despite her leaving message?

Sid and Tony's friendship got back into gear in the club – I thought that their hug in the middle of all the madness was great. But enough about me, I want to know what you thought about Tony and Sid getting back on track, the ending – where Cassie and Sid missed each other on the trains – and absolutely everything else. So much happened! What did you think?!

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)

Pop Watch: Skins, Episode 10 – Series 2 Finale

PopSugarUK — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:55:00 -0700

So, that's it then? Last night we said a proper goodbye to Chris. And, for that matter, Sid, Tony, Cassie, Jal, Anwar, Michelle, Maxxie, Posh Kenneth and Sketch as Skins series 2 came to an end. So here, for the final time, are my thoughts on this episode...

The dreaded A-level results day fell on the same day as Chris's funeral, and everyone agreed not to open their results until they'd said goodbye to Chris. Well. Anwar was a little impatient and worried about his future, didn't get the results he wanted and spoke to Sketch (always a bad plan) who told him he'd be stuck right there forever, left behind. Dev Patel did some great acting throughout this episode (incidentally he's next starring in Danny Boyle's new movie Slumdog Millionaire.)
I never tire of seeing people wake up under Tony's 'naked people' sheets. Especially when Sid's head is on top of the woman's body.

For more of my thoughts on this tear-jerking goodbye to the current Skins cast, just read more

John Thomson showed up as a really, really bad funeral director. He had no idea what to say, for example: "It's nice though; a father burying his son... It's not nice... It's a nice novelty for me though..." Oh dear.
Chris's Dad did not want the gang at the funeral to maintain Chris's image to his family. Shame that Chris's family didn't care at all over the past two seasons. Just saying...
Tony to the rescue. Kind of. He suggested stealing the coffin. Which led to my highlight of the episode, watching Sid and Tony steal the coffin whilst the funeral director and Chris's Dad were talking in the house. And I loved the crazy pop soundtrack of their Italian Job-style car chase, "Sound Of The Underground" and "Oops I Did It Again". I think Chris would have loved that too.
Jal, however... not so impressed. She told them to return the coffin, which caused a very amusing reverse of the original sequence as the funeral director apologised for not locking the hearse:

FD:"I'm not a thinker, I don't think."
Chris's Dad: "Why would they do this?"
FD: "ASBO culture... or Arabs. It's one of the As..."
Jal had the abortion. Which put paid to the possible cliche ending of 'Jal has the baby and calls it Chris' some people were expecting, which I was actually incredibly happy about. That would have been a complete cop-out. Michelle took Jal to the zoo to cheer her up and showed her where she first met Chris when she was seven, by the aquarium. Ah the fishes...
The gang showed up to the funeral, but stayed at a distance, and Jal delivered her own speech eventually drowning out the priest conducting the funeral. It was a tearjerker. And then the fireworks... gorgeous fireworks exploding to "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. Perfect. RIP Chris.
The gang hung around at the cemetery after dark to smoke, drink and open their A-level results. The inevitable had been put off enough. Watching their reactions to the results felt oh so familiar. That pride that you'd got through it and made it to the other side, but the depressing thought things would never be the same again. Michelle and Tony did well, so the lovebirds will be separated at Cardiff and York Universities.
Jal and Chris's Dad had a sweet chat in the rain at Chris's grave, where he showed his remarkable similarity to Chris in his attitude to parenthood. He apologised for not letting them attend the funeral, and Jal accepted it.
Remember Cassie? Well she's still in New York, and she has the coin that Jal won in the casino and Chris took into surgery - the lucky coin. Meanwhile Tony and Michelle has bought Sid a ticket to New York so that he can see a certain someone.

Tony: "She's thin, she's blonde, she says "wow" a lot..."
Maxxie was about to leave with James, but he was worried about Anwar who went missing after the funeral. He showed up at the coach station to say goodbye to Maxxie, though. Despite the Sketch business, their friendship has been lovely throughout the series. And then Maxxie invited Anwar to go to London with them, and they all leave together on the coach. YAY ANWAR!
Saddest goodbye ever award goes to Tony and Sid's awkward hugging in front of the airport. Tony's crying made me get all misty-eyed. I love the way they portray male friendship in this show – they're rubbish at talking about anything, but they care deeply for each other.

Tony: "I always loved you the best, Sid."
Sid arrives in New York, searches around for a while, and eventually finds himself outside the cafe Cassie's working in. They don't see each other though. I like to think they did... just after the fade to black.
The credits with the clips was fab, and a nice touch.

All in all, I genuinely thought this episode was a great portrayal of that moment when you have to go out into the big wide world. Be it Uni or real life. Your friendship group splits up to all different sides of the country and you don't feel ready for it. Relationships are forced to end, seeing each other every day becomes seeing each other every few months and all you have are the memories. Nothing's set in stone, there are no completely perfect endings. Not everything was wrapped up with a shiny bow a la The OC etc.

But enough about me, what did you think of this final episode?

(Images courtesy of Channel 4)