The BEST episodes of Skins

#1 - Everyone

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/22/2007

The last episode in the series involves Sid attempting to pull himself together and tell Cassie how he feels about her, but with tragic consequences. Meanwhile, nobody is in the mood to celebrate Anwar's birthday, and Tony is out of luck when he tries to make amends.

#2 - Final Goodbyes

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/14/2008

It's A-Level results day for the gang but not all of them are present. Decisions are made as they all prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

#3 - Sid

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/25/2008

Sid hasn’t coped at all well with the fact that his best friend Tony is a shadow of the man he was. And his ‘girlfriend’ Cassie moving away to Scotland hasn’t helped either, particularly when he catches her looking like she’s having the time of her life with a pair of tartan-clad boys. So his mood is not improved much when his Grandad, a notorious Glaswegian hard bastard arrives, dying of cancer, to say his final goodbyes. He has never liked his son and he likes his Grandson Sid even less. So his arrival makes Sid’s Dad’s life a misery too. Especially as he’s brought Sid’s Uncle Sandy and his two weird cousins along for good measure too. Multiply all this by ten when Sid’s estranged Mum joins in to play happy families. So it’s Jenkins family meltdown. And when Sid comes down for breakfast he ends up making a discovery that nothing could have prepared him for. Sometimes life is just too sudden, just too cruel. So Sid’s life crisis deepens into a chasm of despair, what he really needs now is his best mate, he needs Tony.

#4 - JJ

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/4/2010

JJ is in love. But he thinks that the lovely Lara Lloyd is out of his league and lacks the courage to ask her out. After finally plucking up the courage, JJ realises that he's got to do it all by himself. Almost by himself anyway. But it's JJ's friends and family who are really messing things up.

#5 - Freddie

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/25/2010

Freddie and Effy use the Stonem house as a private place to drink, dance and fuck. Freddie is worried that he's failing his college work. Effy begins to act strangely, switching between depression and delusion and always drinking alcohol. After arguing with his dad and seeking advice from his grandfather, Freddie tries to fix things with Effy, to no avail. Cook becomes unusually compassionate and talks to Freddie about Effy, putting aside his own feelings for her.

#6 - Everyone

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/18/2010

With A-level results in for most of the gang, thoughts about the past and the future are on their minds. Slowly the gang end up in the one place that makes sense. In their final moments, they are reunited once more and anything could happen. But one thing's for sure, it will be eventful, and for some, there's no going back.

#7 - Cook

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/11/2010

After failing to reign in his jealousy of Freddie and Effy's reunion and hospitalising the kid he beat up in a room full of witnesses, Cook finds himself in prison. When released on bail, he is forced to live with his mother due to the terms of his electronic tag. His mum is a successful artist who owns a mansion, but it's no holiday for Cook; he and his mum clash again and again. With few people to talk to, Cook is helped by an unlikely ally and begins to question his actions.

#8 - JJ

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/5/2009

JJ’s (Ollie Barbieri ) feeling lost and confused. The upset within the gang has taken its toll on him, and his fine balancing act has come unstuck. When he visits his psychiatric clinic, he just gets given more drugs. At home, his mother (Juliet Cowan) is worn out with it all, and away from the home, JJ can see his friends coming apart at the seams. With Effy (Kaya Scodelario) at such a low ebb, and the chance discovery of Cook (Jack O’Connell), Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) and Pandora’s (Lisa Backwell) secrets, he feels the burden to be overwhelming. But an unlikely member of the gang - Emily (Kathryn Prescott ) - proves to be the true friend at his time of need.

#9 - Naomi

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/26/2009

Naomi (Lily Loveless) thinks she has the world worked out, and puts people in their appropriate boxes. There's her hippy mum (Olivia Colman); the adoration from Emily (Kathryn Prescott); Cook's (Jack O'Connell) insulting misogyny; and her politics teacher, Kieran's (Ardal O'Hanlon), flattery. She thinks she has them all sussed, and that it's only her who can see the truth. However, the upcoming student elections leave her at a loss, and her insecurities get the better of her. The trust and confidence inspired by a friend encourages her to stand up to her arch rival, the antithesis of everything she stands for, as her and Cook go head to head; but Naomi learns that nothing is black and white anymore.

#10 - Emily

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/4/2010

Emily and Naomi return home but are called in for questioning by the police. Emily discovers that Naomi was dealing drugs and that Sophia was pretending to be friends with them. Cook and Freddie try to keep away from Effy but neither can resist for long resulting in a fight. Emily finds a Naomi shrine in Sophia's locker.

#11 - Effy

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/11/2010

Effy has been in a psychiatric hospital recovering since she tried to take her own life. After lots of sessions with her counsellor John Foster, he tells her she is ready to go back home. Effy is worried she could slip back into her previous state, but John assures her that as long as she is disciplined she will be ok, and she will still visit him for sessions.

#12 - Maxxie and Anwar

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/1/2007

A school trip to Russia provides plenty of opportunity for the testing of friendships, as Anwar's religion and Maxxie's sexuality collide.

#13 - Pandora

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/12/2009

With the first and only boy Pandora’s ever fancied having been deported, Pandora is desperate for some fun and decides to throw a party. Unknown to Pandora, Katie has used some special ingredients in the chocolate brownies, which take the party to another level. Effy knows, but hasn’t warned Pandora or her mum Angela (Sally Phillips), who is munching happily on the choccie treats. Effy can only look on while her best friend’s mum’s behaviour gets increasingly bizarre. Pandora grabs the fun where she can, and towards the end of the evening lets her heart rule her head… but will she regret it in the morning, and will her best mate forgive her? Also guest starring (David Baddiel) as Steve, and (Harry Enfield) as Jim Stonem.

#14 - Cassie

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/1/2007

Cassie's family and friends are too wrapped up in their own worlds to notice she is not eating and that her health is at risk. Will this change when Cassie gets to know Sid?

#15 - Tony

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/17/2008

Tony’s world is a strange one. Isolated, alone, he is desperate to find the way back to himself. Since the accident he lives in a world of half understood dreams. He tries to act normal, but bumping into Sid and Michelle at a club sends him spiralling again. Nobody understands how the world looks to him, nobody except the strange beautiful girl he meets when trying to escape from his so-called best friend and ex-girlfriend. The next day Tony heads off to a University open day and runs into her again. Who is she? His head tells him that she is an angel. But can he ever trust his head again?

#16 - Mini

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/20/2012

Mini's mother has hooked up with a pervy new live-in boyfriend who Mini really dislikes. To make matters worse, Alo has broken the rules of their 'no strings attached' relationship and admitted that he is in love with her. Mini decides that she needs to get away and ends up seeking refuge in the arms of her father.

#17 - Chris

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/10/2008

Chris’ college career has been a long road full of tribulations; drugs, petty theft, non attendance and resounding failure. So when the CCTV cameras catch him shagging Buck Tooth in the Science corridor, the College Director calls time. Chris is out. And out of his college accommodation as well. Homeless, family-less, Chris is going down hill fast, until Jal steps in with a challenge. She’ll try to unwind a little so long as he gets his act together and gets some focus. So Chris gets a job, several jobs, in fact every time he’s fired he gets another one, and he moves into the smallest bed-sit in Bristol. So Jal’s got to chill out, and wow when she does she’s pretty gorgeous, and talented, and cool, and...Could Chris have had his eyes opened wider than any drug could do?

#18 - Effy

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/24/2008

What is it about Effy? The mysterious one had a lot to deal with. The Stonem family home is in disarray, while Dad Jim is working abroad, Mum Anthea is also away, with the fairies; and Tony is moping after Michelle. On top of this, Effy has her GCSE art coursework deadline looming. So solving all her family’s problems, planning her academic future, as well as sorting out the ‘Tony and Michelle’, ‘Sid and Cassie’ dilemma is all she needs right now. And then on top of this, whilst also trying to maintain her reputation for being the wildest kid on the block, she’s lumbered with the new girl, spoddy Pandora. So how weird when suddenly Pandora turns out to be best friend material. Maybe the future’s bright after all, Effy and Pandora’s future at least.

#19 - Effy

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/12/2009

Effy (Kaya Scodelario) is at the lowest point, but this time there’s no older brother at home to notice; and home life has deteriorated so much that it’s even harder than ever for her to communicate. Katie (Megan Prescott), having usurped Effy as Queen Bee, takes every opportunity to rub in her superiority and highlight the fact that Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) is her man, and Effy is to keep her hands off. She invites Effy to a party in the woods, but there are stipulations - Effy has to drive, and Cook is not welcome. As they all head off, the car strains with tension - as secrets and rivalries build. Their paranoid state increases when they have a frightening run in with some poachers. Freddie manages to lighten the mood, and as they arrive at the campsite, they recover themselves and start to have fun. Effy finds some magic mushrooms, and they experiment. Katie’s jealousy of Effy returns, as Effy becomes the centre of the action. The fun and excitement intensify, that is until it becomes clear someone has been tampering with their stuff. Hearing gun shots, they realise someone is charging towards them. The atmosphere darkens and any fun they were having disappears in an instant. Later, Effy gets the opportunity to follow her heart, but a decision she makes may be difficult to ever recover from.

#20 - Rich

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/30/2012

Professor David Blood has banned Rich from visiting Grace in hospital and Rich is suffering. Alo tries to keep him out of trouble with a band practice, but Rich is committed to his love and he stands outside the hospital waiting for Grace's call. Eventually the call comes and Rich finds a way past security and breaks into Grace's room. The lovers are reunited, but they have a problem as Blood is moving Grace to another hospital in Zurich. Alo has other things on his mind and cracks begin to develop in the boys' friendship. It falls to Liv to bring the fractured group back together again.

#21 - Fire (2)

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/8/2013

#22 - Michelle

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/3/2008

So Michelle’s Mum Anna has gone and done it again. Married another new husband. And worse, Michelle has to move in with them into their new house. But even worse, this time Michelle has to contend with a new big-titted, emotionally-manipulative step sister called Scarlett. Before she knows what’s happening, Scarlett is invading her life, co-opting her friends and offering unwanted advice about what to do about her still incapacitated ex-boyfriend Tony. So when Scarlett inveigles herself onto Michelle’s birthday camping trip to the Gower and starts to move in on the emotionally fragile Sid, Michelle’s got to do something. Sid needs Michelle, he’s her friend, so she does the only thing she knows. But who’s that arriving back from Scotland and full of hope for Sid? Now that is bad timing.step in. Sid needs a friend, Michelle. But Sid has always had a thing for her so she does the only thing she knows. Now they have to live with the consequences. Are they going to tell Tony? And who's that arriving back from Scotland and full of hope for Sid? Now that is bad timing.

#23 - Chris

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/15/2007

Pill-popping Chris wakes up to discover his mother has left home, but given him £1,000 to cover bills - so he blows all the money on drugs and partying, before facing up to the fact that she may never return.

#24 - Effy

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/15/2007

Things get dark this week as Tony's silent little sister, Effy, goes missing. Desperate to find Effy, can Tony rely on any of his old mates, or have they all shunned him forever?

#25 - Freddie

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/19/2009

Freddie’s the black sheep of his family, and seen as a waste of space. His big sister Karen (Klariza Clayton) has ambitions - she’s reached the final of a TV talent show to find a new member of girl group Da Sexxbombz. Freddie despises her lust for celebrity but is emotionally blackmailed into sticking to the story she and their Dad, Leo (Simon Day), are spinning about their dead mother, all to look good in front of the cameras, and thereby increase her chances of success. He cringes at the whole thing. If this wasn’t bad enough, living in the shadow of the increasingly reckless Cook is becoming too much to bear. When Effy turns up at his shed, Freddie doesn’t know what to do with himself. There’s a connection between them, there always has been, but this is shattered when Cook and JJ arrive. He feels torn between his family,his friends, and his heart, and the isolation is overwhelming. Will Freddie start to put himself first, or will he retreat to his shed, and beloved skateboard, as he always has before? Featuring a special guest performance from DJ Scott Mills.