Skins Season 3

Right now you can watch Skins Season 3 on and — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ollie Barbieri is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Skins Season 3 earns its spot. Skins Season 3 does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. This series sees the introduction of a new cast; it follows the lives of sixth form students Effy Stonem, Pandora Moon, Thomas Tomone, James Cook, Freddie McClair, JJ Jones, Naomi Campbell, and twin sisters Emily and Katie Fitch. Ollie Barbieri and Merveille Lukeba lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2009. Skins Season 3 earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Skins Season 3 respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Ollie Barbieri anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.