Ep 2. Sketch

Sketch is the second episode of the second season of Skins, a British teen drama television series that follows a group of teenagers as they navigate through adolescence in Bristol, England. The episode focuses on Sketch, a socially awkward and introverted girl who has an unrequited crush on her classmate, Maxxie.

Sketch is a loner who spends most of her time drawing in her sketchbook, and her obsessive infatuation with Maxxie is rooted in her art. She idolizes him as a muse, and her drawings are mostly caricatures of him in various scenarios and outfits. She watches him from afar, follows him around school, and even steals some of his belongings to use as drawing inspiration.

The episode begins with Sketch inviting Maxxie to her art exhibition, hoping it will be a chance for him to notice her and appreciate her work. Maxxie politely accepts the invitation, but Sketch's hopes are crushed when she finds out that Maxxie is bringing his girlfriend along. Determined to win Maxxie's affection, Sketch starts making a more elaborate plan to make him fall for her.

Sketch's obsession with Maxxie takes a dark turn as she takes things too far. She starts to manipulate people around her to get closer to him, and her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and disturbing. She lies to her friend Anwar, telling him that Maxxie is interested in him, and sets up a fake date between them in the hope of making Maxxie jealous. She also befriends Maxxie's girlfriend, Sian, under false pretenses, and tries to sabotage their relationship by making Sian feel insecure and jealous.

As Sketch's plan unravels, she becomes more and more isolated, both socially and emotionally. She goes to extreme lengths to get Maxxie's attention, even going as far as to stage a fake suicide attempt in front of him. Her obsession with Maxxie becomes all-consuming, and it becomes evident that she has become fixated on him to the point of being delusional.

Despite her manipulative and borderline psychotic behavior, there are moments when Sketch becomes a sympathetic character. Her desperation for acceptance and recognition is palpable, and viewers can sense the loneliness and isolation that drives her obsession. The portrayal of Sketch's mental state is both nuanced and empathetic, providing a window into the psyche of an individual struggling with mental illness and unrequited love.

In typical Skins fashion, the episode tackles heavy themes such as mental illness, obsession, and unrequited love, while also highlighting the complexities of teenage life. It's a poignant and thought-provoking episode that showcases the show's ability to depict realistic and human characters. The acting, direction, and writing are all top-notch, making Sketch a standout episode in the Skins canon.