Skins Recap: Season 4, Episode 5 (Freddie)

Well this was definitely one of the darkest Skins episodes for a while. And it’s all based on Freddie.

I found this odd, because he’s usually a bit dull… Okay, he’s a LOT dull. (Excuse my poor grammar.)

At the very opening, we see Freddie and Effy creating a homemade bong in the kitchen of Effy’s house. Everything seems fine and dandy and the next morning, Freddie goes home and is bombarded by sister Karen who just wants to ‘cut his fucking hair!’ (Because she’s a training beautician, not because she’s gone all psycho on him.)

Freddie proceeds to college, where Mr. Love (played by Will Young) orders that he gets his history coursework handed in by Monday or he will be expelled. Just as Cook and Thomas already have been. Are we noticing a pattern here? If you’re an American, or indeed simply not British, you won’t understand the subtle references to Will Young’s real life, but for anyone who has heard Young’s music, you will find this scene deeply entertaining.

Heading back to the love nest, Freddie finds Effy sat on her Mother’s bed cutting up newspapers of death and destruction. She keeps preaching to him that ‘the end is nigh’ and Freddie realizes he has no idea what she’s taken.

While Effy sleeps, Freddie decides to make an effort at pleasing Mr. Love and attempts to make a start on his coursework. He soons realizes that mixing cannabis and crack with coursework does not work and gives up easily.

Effy desperately explains to Freddie that she ‘can’t stand the love’ and she pushes him away.

The next day, Freddie goes to the school counsellor for advice. However, it turns out that Josie isn’t in today and in her place is Mr. Love. Oh, the joy. Freddie confides in him nonetheless, but Love explains that he doesn’t know what to suggest in this case.

In an act of desperation, Freddie runs to  the only other person he thinks can help: his Grandad. It is revealed that Freddie’s Mother committed suicide in similar circumstances to Effy and he doesn’t want to be blamed if Effy kills herself. His Grandad says, rather wisely, ‘do what you can’.

Back at Effy’s house, she’s throwing a house party. Pandora plays it hot and cold with Thomas – she slaps him, kisses him and then leaves. Katie and JJ look on in confusion and Freddie walks through the door even more confused. He goes on the hunt for Effy and finds her lying on the floor by her bed. She tells him she’s convinced that something bad is going to happen and that she doesn’t want anyone in her house anymore. Freddie reassures her that he is not going anywhere, but he will get rid of everyone else for her.

There is one person he was not betting on seeing, however. When he strolls into the kitchen, who should be there but our favourite convict Cook?  He tells Freddie that he’s escaped from prison, but when he sees Effy, he knows something’s wrong. Effy screams at him to get out of her house, so Freddie tells him to go sleep in their shed.

Freddie goes home and tells Cook that everything is fine, but Cook isn’t convinced. When he enters the house, Freddie takes it out on his Father and blames him for his Mother’s death. Ouch.

Seeing that she is in a state, Freddie lovingly gives Effy a bath. Funny, that – last series, her Mother had to bathe her. She really is a fuck up.

Nevertheless, Freddie attempts to cheer her up by taking her out for some fresh air. It’s only a matter of time before Effy begins to trip out and they have to cycle home. Before they can get in however, they see Effy’s Mum Anthea outside talking to a policewoman, so Freddie turns round in panic.

Unbeknown to him, there’s a street carnival going off nextdoor and Freddie cycles Effy right into the middle of it.

They get caught up and Freddie and Effy lose each other. Symbolism, maybe? Effy looks up and sees Katie dressed as an angel for the carnival. Seems that she is her fairy-Godmother, as Katie reunites Freffy as quickly as she can.

Not knowing what else to do, Freddie and Katie take Effy to his Grandad’s. Freddie tells him that he won’t let another person he loves kill themselves. Things take another turn for the worst when Katie runs in, claiming that Effy won’t come out of the bathroom. Freddie kicks the door down and finds a collapsed Effy on the floor: she has slit her wrists in desperation.

It turns out that Effy is okay, but they are all shaken when they see her in hospital. As Freddie sits by her bedside, she wakes up. Rather than saying thankyou for saving her, she tells him to get out. Freddie weeps and leaves as quickly as he can – he can’t take it anymore.

He goes home, ripping down the death collage that Effy created before. Starting a bonfire in the garden, Freddie burns all of the paper from the collage and begins to burn his own hand.

Fairy-Godmother number 2 comes to his rescue: Cookie. He tells Freddie that he can’t do this to himself and to stop thinking about the future. “Fuck the future” are his exact words, and he tells him that there’s only today. Freddie cries like a baby after all the crap he’s just had to endure and Cook holds him like a true friend, explaining that it’ll all be okay.

How very dramatic.

Next Week: JJ. It seems that he (finally) gets a girl! But is it too good to be true? Does she really like JJ, or is she with him for some other reason?