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?

Well this time, it’s a different story. Katie has her own episode, and boy does she have a lot to take on.

At the beginning, we get a glimpse of Katie at her best – dressed up to the nines, face caked in make up wearing her best pearls. Turns out, Katie is getting ready for work at her Mother’s bridal service ‘Let’s Get Fitched’. Geddit?

We follow the pair to work and see that we have a footballer’s wife wedding on our hands. She reminds Katie that she wants to see her at the hen party, with the ever classy theme ’sluts and studs’.

Katie goes on to visit the Doctors to see what’s wrong with her periods. The Doctor tells her that she isn’t pregnant, but rather that she is undergoing ‘premature menopause’. She fails to see the bad side of this at first, but when she is informed that she’ll never have children, Katie is clearly distraught.

She leaves the surgery, telling her boyfriend that he can ‘pretty much fuck off now’. Yep, that’s right, she dumped him. You can do better elsewhere, love.

On her return home, her Mother Jenna has discovered that Katie’s Dad has been hiding bills for months and that the Fitch family have no money whatsoever. Jenna loses it and starts a shout-fest, leaving Katie to console her little brother.

In an attempt to make her day a little bit better, Katie dresses up in her best slut-wear for the hen party. However, her plans don’t go… well, to plan. The WAGs have changed the theme to ‘footballer’s wives’ without informing Katie. Whatever, she still looks hot.

Things get even worse when she sees Effy and Freddie at the party. One of the bitches from the party humiliates Katie. Join me when I say ‘OH NO SHE DIDN’T!’ Katie storms onto the dancefloor like a true Fitch, gives the bitch a massive smack in the face and gives her a nose bleed. This obviously results in Katie getting sacked from the wedding planning job, and she leaves.

Effy spots Katie outside near the lake. The pair talk about love and Effy explains that it’s not as great as she thought it would be.

The next morning Katie goes back home, greeted only by the bailiffs – the Fitch family are homeless. Mr. Fitch holds the men off for a while so that the others can grab a few of their belongings. In true comedy style, they run for the car with their stuff, right behind the bailiffs’ backs.

So that’s it, the Fitch clan have nothing. Or do they?

In a desperate state, Katie asks Naomi if she and her family can move in for a while. Naomi is obviously a bit hesitant at first, but she caves in when she realizes that Emily is a Fitch and it is therefore her problem too.

Katie attempts at telling her Mother about her menopause, but she falls asleep. Great Mother, eh? When she wakes, Katie finds Naomi and Emily arguing in the kitchen. Apparently Emily is annoyed that Naomi didn’t even ask her before welcoming her family into her home and Emily kisses Naomi in front of her Mother just to spite her.

In the back garden, there’s a huge drug-fest of a barbecue going down. Emily kisses a random girl at the party, and Naomi looks on distraught, but feeling like she deserves it. Katie begs Emily to stop, but Emily is out of control. She pushes Naomi into the paddling pool and Naomi cries instantly, claiming that the whole situation is a ‘fucking pantomime’.

Jenna catches the whole thing and insists that someone tells her what is going on. Naomi nobly takes the complete blame, telling everyone there that she slept with the dead girl, gave her the drugs and that she has fucked Emily’s life up. Jenna gives us the famous ‘I told you so!’ Understandably, Emily lashes out, telling her Mother to stop playing ‘happy families’.

In another attempt to get some calm, Katie takes a bath. Exhausted, she falls asleep again, as Thomas goes to the toilet unaware that Katie is naked. To make things even more awkward, Thomas has locked himself in, so Katie tries to make things less weird. Thomastells her that she should always be herself, and Katie kisses him. She finally blurts out to someone that she can’t have children. He is glad she confided in him and they decide they would be better off as friends.

Katie walks around the house, making her final stop Emily’s room. She notices her sister crying on her bed and holds her. She understands.

The whole family, including Emily, go back to their old house to collect Jenna. Katie goes in on her own first and tells her straight away that she can’t have children. Katie cries to her Mum, explaining that she’s tried to tell her before but she wasn’t there for her. Jenna realizes the error of her ways and Katie forces her to begin appreciating her family more.

The rest of the family come in, and the Fitch parents make up in no time. They endure in a three minute snog as the children begin eating their boxes of pizza on the floor of the empty house. Their parents join them and they live happily ever after… right?

Next Week: It’s Freddie. Usually boring, but the teasers for next week look pretty good. Fingers crossed!

For those of you who don’t know Cook, you’re missing out.

Possibly the best character of the 2nd generation of Skins, and this episode was dedicated entirely to him.

At the start of the episode, we see him in a prison cell after attacking a randomer at the party from last week. After repeatedly being told to plead guilty, he does the complete opposite in true Cookie fashion and pleads not guilty. (Even though we all know, and the judge knows, that he did it.) As a result of his plea, he is fitted with an electronic tag, which means he has to stay home between 7pm and 7am.

Of course, Cook doesn’t have a house. So where will he stay? The policewoman says that he will be staying at his Mother’s house. After initially being annoyed by this – he and his Mother don’t have the best of relationships – he finds out that his Mother is in fact a successful artist and is pretty much minted. (This means ‘ridiculously rich’, if you’re not from the UK and were wondering.)

The next day, Cook takes his little brother Paddy to school. A private school, obviously. Paddy tells his big bro that some of the boys there are bullying him, and Cook scares them into not doing it again.

After safely seeing his brother off to school, Cook returns to Roundview, where we also see the rest of the gang. He asks all of them (except for Freddie and Effy, obviously) if they want to skip college and come out for a drink. JJ is still annoyed about the fact that Cook hit him and Pandora is on JJ’s side. Naomi and Emily obviously have troubles of their own to deal with, so they decline Cook’s offer too.

As if on cue, the poncy arsehole that is Professor Blood comes out of nowhere and explains to Cookie that he has been expelled. Spraying pepper spray in his eyes, Blood calls security to remove him from the building.

On his way out, Cook sees a small remembrance area for the dead girl, Sophia. Is that a hint of apology I see in Cook’s eyes?

Desperate to talk to someone, he visits Naomi’s house, where he meets her as she takes out her rubbish. Naomi tells Cook about the affair she had with Sophia and how shit she now feels. She also explains to Cook that they can talk about Sophia; that she killed herself and they didn’t kill her. Cook denies feeling guilty and staggers away, as Naomi shouts ‘DEAL WITH IT!’

Cook re-visits his lawyer, who basically tells him to grow up. Cook tells Duncan that he’s shit, and storms off like a child. Maybe he does need to grow up a bit…

Bored, Cook visits his Mother at her art gallery. After seeing Freddie’s name on his Mother’s artwork (which is titled: ‘ALL MY COCKS’) Cook asks her if it’s true. She replies ‘Jimmy, art is always true.’ Fair enough. On his way out, Cook trips on the cable for one of his Mum’s pieces, which destroys it and apparently loses her £90,000. She insists that he did it on purpose and Cook proceeds to leave the gallery, vomitting once he is outside. But did he vomit because of the artwork he just ruined? Or is Cookie facing the physical effects of guilt?

Panicking, Cook goes to Shanky’s house (the guy who he hit.) He tries to tell him that he is sorry for what he did, and if he could put in a good word for him in the court. Apparently this was the wrong this to say – Shanky is having none of it and tells him he hopes he gets ‘fucked up the arse in the shower’. Pleasant.

Returning home, Cook is surprised to see Freddie there. His Mother is obviously pissed, and she passes out on the floor.

The pair go upstairs, where Freddie admits that Cook’s Mum gave him a blow job on his 15th birthday. Cook admits in return that he let Freddie have the only girl he ever loved. He gets extremely angry, and Freddie can’t do anything but say sorry. Cook understands that sorry really is the hardest word sometimes. (Props to Elton John for that lyric!) Freddie tells Cook that he and JJ really do love him and all he needs to do is stop.

After Freddie leaves, Cook’s little brother returns home after being escorted by the police. Apparently, Paddy wanted nothing more than to be like his big brother and did a bunch of things that Cook would do. One of these things being that he stole bras from Marks and Spencers. Their Mother flips and Cook steals her Rolls Royce, taking his brother with him.

After teaching Paddy to drive recklessly, Cook smashes up the car and gives his brother a bit of weed. However, Cook sees that he has had an impact on his brother, which freaks him out a bit. So they head over to Naomi’s.

They let Little Cook sleep on the sofa and Cook and Naomi go outside to talk about things. After Naomi tells Cook about how much she admires him because he just lives in the moment, they kiss. Naomily fans need not panic – the kiss is short-lived. They stop kissing and Cook exclaims, cheekily “Jesus, I’m never gonna get to bone you, am I?” Naomi replies “Nope, I love someone.” At which Cook can only say “you and me both, girl.” Aww.

Cook goes back to his lawyer and begins to tell all. Duncan tells his to grow up. Again. And Cook realizes what he needs to do.

Turning over a new leaf, sort of, Cook lies to the police and tells them that he sold the MDMA to Sophia, sparing Naomi from getting the blame. Effy visits him in prison to explain that she loves Freddie. Cook takes it surprisingly well and she leaves.

The last time we see him, Cook has pleaded guilty in court. Effy, Freddie and JJ are there waiting for him. Effy catches Cook’s eye and she nods. I’m guessing this means she understands what’s been said.

Cook is in prison. Let’s hope not for long, because he’s turning out to be one of the most multi-dimensional characters out of the lot.

Next week: It’s Katie’s episode. Spoilers for next week suggest that some sexy times go down between her and Thomas and that she’s having a lot of trouble at home without Emily. Seems she gets into a couple of fights too, but how will she cope without her sister by her side?

That’s right: Skins is back. For you lot in the UK,anyway.

And from the first two episodes alone, you know you’re going to be taken on a whirlwind of emotional train-wrecks and drugs-fuelled partying.

I’ll give you a quick re-cap of where we left the gang at the end of the last series…

Freddie, Cook & Effy – The very last episode saw these 3 in a strange love triangle. But who will Effy choose? And when will we find out?

Naomi & Emily – Series 3 gave the show’s most popular couple a happy ending. But will it be all romance and giggles this time round?

Thomas & Pandora – Again, this couple had a relatively happy ending at the end of last season. But is it destined to be all doom and gloom for this couple?

Katie – By the end of episode 9 last season, Katie had come to grips with the fact that her sister was seeing another girl. But will she remain happy for them, or will she feel alone now she’s had her sister taken away from her?

JJ – JJ was a geek from start to finish last season. How will he fair this year? Will he have grown up? Or will he be the same nerdy magician as before?

So there we have it. But what about this season? Let’s re-cap, shall we?

***Do NOT read on if you don’t want to know what happens in season 4.***

Episode 1: Thomas.

Strange choice for the first episode, right?

Well I still fail to see why Thomas’ episode was the season opener, but maybe more will be revealed.

Right from the get go, there’s drama. The very first scene presents a girl, off her face on MDMA, committing suicide in the middle of a packed out club.

The rest of the gang are there too: Thomas DJs as the girl falls and runs to her side. Most of the other main characters look on in shock; most notably, Naomi and Emily.

However, it’s Thomas who is interrogated. After all, he was working at the time of death. He explains that he knows nothing about the girl or where she found the drugs and is released.

The next day, the police have moved to Roundview College – where the whole crew and the dead girl (Sophia) are educated. Each character is interrogated in turn. Cook, on the other hand, takes a detour to the bathroom before being questioned.

Being the rebel he is, Cook takes out packets of MDMA from his pockets and flushes them down the toilet. Was it Cook who sold the drugs to Sophia?

Thomas catches him in the act and a fight breaks out. Cook is saved though, when Freddie comes to collect him for his interview.

Thomas is convinced Cook caused the suicide, and looks to God for help. While he is there, he meets the lovely Andrea, who happens to be the Pastor’s daughter, and there is chemistry immediately. In a moment of chaos, Thomas goes against one of the 10 commandments: Thou shall not commit adultery.

That’s right, kind hearted Thomas cheats on his loving girlfriend Pandora. Who’d have thought?!

Honestly is the best policy, thinks Thomas, and he tells his girlfriend almost immediately of his unfaithfulness. Things are obviously awkward as JJ sits between them, so Thomas heads off to the pub for a few stiff drinks.

Whilst downing his 7th vodka, he sees Cook and Naomi chatting. Cook goes to speak to Thommo, only to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Thomas lashes out on Cook as Naomi screams in horror.

In a shock twist, Naomi blurts out that it was her who sold Sophia the MDMA. She claims she got the powder from Cook, but sold it on because she needed the money. Thomas is disgusted and Naomi begs him not to tell Emily. But should she be worried that he’ll tell someone else? I guess we’ll find out…

Thomas storms out in anger and goes to tell Andrea that he has been unfaithful to the girl he loves. Andrea is upset, but she understands.

Meanwhile, Effy tells Pandora that she shouldn’t forgive Thomas; he should have to pay for what he’s done. Pandora agrees and tells Thomas he’s ruined everything.

In a state of sadness, Thomas heads home to his family.

Depressing episode? YES. But the twists were pretty great.

Episode 2: Emily.

Now we’re talking: an interesting character to focus on.

At the beginning of the episode, the greatest couple of the series seem extremely happy: Naomi gives Emily some cute goggles for her moped and they go out together.

Unfortunately, things start to break down. After they get to school, the police as to interview the couple again, as Sophia’s Mother mentions their names.

Naomi lies about how long the pair were at the party, giving Emily questions of her own. Naomi admits that she sold Sophia the substance and Emily chooses to stick by her woman. Obviously.

Emily goes to Sophia’s house under a fake name, and her Mother lets her check out Sophia’s old room. Emily finds sketches everywhere. She also stumbles upon a university prospectus and inside is a key.

Sophia’s brother Matt enters and Emily panics, putting the prospectus along with the key inside her bag. She shows the key to Naomi, and they figure out that it is the key to Sophia’s cadets locker.

The couple venture out, finding an extremely disturbing shrine to Naomi in the locker. Naomi is freaked out and begs Emily to close the locker.

Making things worse, they’re interrupted by the cadet marching band, so they hide in a cupboard.

When Emily goes home, there’s a bust up between her and her Mother. She tries to tell her that she’s gay and to stop setting her up with boys, but her Mother goes on to explain her dislike for her daughter’s girlfriend.

Angrily, Emily threatens to move out. Her twin sister Katie tries to convince her not to, but Emily does anyway. And where does she go? Naomi’s house, clearly.

Naomi invites her in with open arms, and they proceed to having the most fun EVER, dressing up as Mexicans in the kitchen and drinking themselves silly.

They then move on to a house party, where the rest of the gang are. Cook sees Effy and Freddie kissing and lashes out (again) on a random party-goer. Naomily go home, but Emily can’t sleep. She calls Sophia’s brother to meet her in the club where she died.

When she gets there, Emily shows Matt a box she found of Sophia’s. They agree to open it together. Naomi shows up unannounced, begging Emily not to open it.

All three of them run to the rooftop, and Emily opens the box. Inside it, she finds the story of Sophia’s summer, in which she met Naomi at a Uni open day and kissed her back at her house. Emily is obviously devastated and stands on the edge of the building. But will she jump?

Thankfully, she doesn’t. But she leaves Naomi on the rooftop, crying her eyes out.

The next day, Emily goes to Naomi’s house. Naomi has lovingly left Emily a note on the door reading ‘I’ll Do Anything.’ Emily glances at the upstairs window and Naomi is looking out of it with tears in her eyes.

At the end of the episode, we see Emily walking through Naomi’s front door. But will she forgive her?

Next week: It’s Jack the lad Cook’s episode. Cook goes to prison for assaulting the guy at the party. After being let out, he’s electronically tagged and is forced to stay at his Mother’s house. Previews also show him kissing Naomi. Surely she won’t cheat again?! We’ll have to wait and see…

Photos © e4.com/skins

Okay, so the general consensus among youths these days is as follows: TV GOOD. BOOKS BAD. It seems that anything that involves actually having to concentrate isn’t really cool these days. And this is where Junk changes these views.

Children’s book ‘Junk’ by Melvin Burgess follows two teenagers Gemma and Tar who run away from home and meet a brand new family of people who lead lives of sex and drugs. Sex and drugs? Children’s book? You heard correctly.

What is so great about this book is how the author includes such racy, over-the-top themes in such a childlike manner. He speaks as a young adolescent would with his language, helping the reader to really relate to the story. (Assuming that the reader is between twelve and eighteen years old, which is probably the target audience here.)

Alongside the great storyline, Burgess intertwines the darkness and risks of a life of drugs into his book - a serious topic that is hard to get across to children effectively. The characters develop as the book goes on, making you feel as if you’re really living with the characters for a short while and the settings described through first person narrative really give your senses something to ponder over.

I wouldn’t just recommend this book to children – it is a children’s book that adults will be drawn into. A little like Harry Potter.

In short, this novel is snappy, to the point and fun all at the same time. Pick it up and you won’t put it down.

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