The best episodes of Skins

Ranked by viewer rating, highs first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.

1. 01

   S02E10 · April 14, 2008 · 1h

   Everyone9.8

   Today is exam results day and Chris's funeral. The gang are barred from attending by Chris's dad, so Tony and Sid steal the coffin so they can have their own service. After giving it back, they watch the proper service from the hill. Afterwards they open their exam results. Maxxie invites Anwar to London. Tony and Michelle say goodbye and give Sid a plane ticket to New York so he can search for Cassie.

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2. 02

   S02E05 · March 10, 2008 · 1h

   Chris9.6

   Chris is expelled from college and seeks Jal's advice. Meanwhile, Tony is determined to get back who he was before. Chris and Jal get together, with Chris even getting a job, but he cheats on her with Angie. Jal later finds out she is pregnant.

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3. 03

   S01E09 · March 22, 2007 · 1h

   Everyone9.5

   As Cassie moves to Scotland unaware that Sid loves her, Anwar tries to make up with Maxxie. Chris learns that Angie has a fiance. Tony attempts to get back with Michelle, but then something unexpected happens...

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4. 04

   S01E08 · March 15, 2007 · 1h

   Effy9.4

   Tony's sister Effy is led into trouble by a vengeful Josh. Sid tells Tony that no-one likes him anymore and goes to meet up with Cassie. They kiss, but Sid decides he must help Tony find Effy. Finding her drugged, Tony is almost forced into sex with her by Josh, but he backs down. At the hospital, Tony's parents blame him for what happened, but he and Sid make up.

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5. 05

   S02E03 · February 25, 2008 · 1h

   Sid9.3

   Sid's life is falling apart; Tony, his best friend, may never be the same again and Cassie has left him for Scotland. Just when things couldn't get worse, his dad dies in the night leaving him all alone.

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6. 06

   S01E02 · February 1, 2007 · 1h

   Cassie9.2

   Cassie has difficultly coming to terms with her eating disorder and tries to find out if Sid loves her. She leaves the clinic pretending to have recovered, but ends going back there when things don't go as planned.

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7. 07

   S02E07 · March 24, 2008 · 1h

   Effy9.2

   Sid and Michelle break up. Cassie starts sleeping around to forget Sid. In the midst of art coursework and the annoying Pandora, Effy must help them all sort things out.

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8. 08

   S01E04 · February 15, 2007 · 1h

   Chris9.1

   Chris' mother abandons him and their home, leaving only £1000 to look after him. He soon blows the money on parties and drugs and gets evicted by a squatter. Meanwhile, Sid and Cassie go on a date as Chris looks to teacher Angie for help.

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9. 09

   S02E01 · February 11, 2008 · 1h

   Tony and Maxxie9.1

   While Tony recovers from his accident, Maxxie leaves college to follow his dream of being a dancer. Auditions are held for the school musical production as Maxxie helps Tony relearn how to write his name.

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10. 10

    S01E05 · February 22, 2007 · 1h

    Sid8.9

    Sid's life begins to fall apart when he starts failing at school and gets nowhere with Michelle as she is with Tony. He even manages to upset Cassie enough for her to attempt suicide as Tony furthers his schemes.

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11. 11

    S02E08 · March 31, 2008 · 1h

    Jal8.9

    During exam revision, Maxxie gets a new boyfriend as Jal tries to come to terms with her secret pregnancy. However, Chris also has a deadly secret…

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12. 12

    S02E09 · April 7, 2008 · 1h

    Cassie8.9

    What's the matter with Cassie? She's back together with Sid, Chris is on the mend, Michelle and Tony are back with each other and A-level exams are finally over. So to celebrate, Sid has organised a dinner party where everyone can try to get along. But how can they? Jal is lying to Chris, Chris is lying to everyone, including himself. And when it finally gets too much, Cassie runs. She runs and runs and keeps on going - until she arrives at a totally magical place, where the people are friendly and she can get along. But can she be happy?

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13. 13

    S05E08 · March 17, 2011 · 1h

    Everyone8.9

    The gang are pulling together for the happy couple and putting their various differences and total messed-up situations aside for the day. But with lovely-but-shambolic Alo as best man, it's hardly a surprise that they run into trouble and become separated in the wilds of Somerset.

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14. 14

    S01E07 · March 8, 2007 · 1h

    Michelle8.7

    Michelle dumps Tony when he won't admit seducing Maxxie. Realizing he has cheated before, she turns to Sid, but he is now in love with Cassie. Michelle soon meets Abigail's brother Josh and hook up. Tony manages to break them up, but Michelle won't take him back.

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15. 15

    S03E07 · March 5, 2009 · 1h

    JJ8.7

    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.

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16. 16

    S03E05 · February 19, 2009 · 1h

    Freddie8.6

    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.

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17. 17

    S05E01 · January 27, 2011 · 1h

    Franky8.6

    Franky starts at Roundview and is determined not to be a loner and things seem to be going well until she accidentally challenges Mini's position as queen bee and when she doesn't conform to Mini's expectations, she's spat out. Franky then meets Matty who understands and empowers her giving her the strength to stand up to Mini. Grace admires Franky, and a new gang is formed with Alo, Rich and Grace. Franky has finally found friends, but in doing so has started a war with Mini.

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18. 18

    S05E07 · March 10, 2011 · 1h

    Grace8.6

    Grace believes in fairytales but she finds herself forced to face reality when Rich meets her father and he threatens to send her back to Mayberry's College for Young Ladies if her grades suffer. Grace's father ends up going back on his word, sending her to Mayberry's anyway even though her grades haven't dropped. Rich ends up asking her to marry her.

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19. 19

    S01E01 · January 25, 2007 · 1h

    Tony8.5

    The first episode of Skins introduces viewers to a gang of friends through their leader, Tony.Tony makes plans for Sid to lose his virginity at Abigail's party. However, Sid ends up buying £300 of drugs, which they must somehow pay back. At the party, Sid gets chatting to Cassie, but she soon overdoses on sleeping pills. She recovers on the way to the hospital, but the gang manage to crash Abgail's dad's car into the harbour.

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20. 20

    S02E04 · March 3, 2008 · 1h

    Michelle8.5

    Michelle takes Chris, Anwar, Maxxie, Jal, Sid and Scarlet, her new stepsister, camping for her birthday. Michelle sleeps with Sid after learning of his father's death. Tony doesn't go, but sends her a watch as a present. Anwar gets together with Sketch, upsetting Maxxie. Michelle and Sid become a couple, just as Cassie comes home.

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21. 21

    S02E06 · March 17, 2008 · 1h

    Tony8.5

    Tony goes for a college interview where he meets a girl who helps him get over his sexual inadequacy and behavioural problems.

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22. 22

    S03E04 · February 12, 2009 · 1h

    Pandora8.5

    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.

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23. 23

    S03E08 · March 12, 2009 · 1h

    Effy8.5

    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.

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24. 24

    S05E02 · February 3, 2011 · 1h

    Rich8.5

    Rich - or metal Rich to give him his proper name - uses his taste in properly extreme music to keep the world, especially girls, at bay. But when bromantic buddy Alo finds Rich's perfect woman, he is forced to harden the eff up and face his fears. To help him get there, he turns to Grace. Grace has to learn the ways of metal in order to impersonate a metal chick, but Rich doesn't make it easy, refusing to believe a lame-streamer could understand him. Will she crack his hard metal exterior?

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25. 25

    S01E03 · February 8, 2007 · 1h

    Jal8.2

    Jal practises for the Young Musician of the Year competition in the midst of dealing with a difficult father and brothers at home. Sid's drug dealer catches up to him as Michelle learns that he is love with her.

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