Cook and Effy are in self-imposed exile from the gang, having gone to stay with Cook’s father. Effy is running away from everything she’s ever known and Cook enables her escape. Problem is, Cook is slowly falling out of lust, and in love. Back in Bristol, JJ tries to snap Freddie out of his depressed stupour, down about the loss of both his best mate, and the girl he loves. Freddie and JJ find Effy and force her to confront who she is and what she really wants. She has to make amends for the damage she’s caused. She also has to decide whether to follow her heart and decide between the 3 boys who she wants. It seems that her heart wants Freddy and Cook runs away in anger and disapointment, only to be rejected by his own father. Freddie saves Cook from being harmed by his father and the two have a conversation to settle their differences. It appears this can only be done if Freddie does not get with Effy. The 4 steal the boat and are temporarily in a calm friendly equilibrium with one another, but no real solution is reached about the Effy situation, and so the half-series ends on uncertain terms with no real cliffhanger other than what Cook and Freddie will do about Effy and their uncontrollable love for her.
Location/Lighting
Location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB6bjZfe--8
The location in this scene is representative of Cook and Effy's story thus far. They have escaped from the gang to try and find a better life. This is summed up by Cook's quote, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey." He is on a journey and this is what he needs, freedom and escapism from the problems of every day life, and with the girl he loves. The location here appears open and free, full of nature (trees, fields, a river and a beautiful sunrise), and the sounds of birds and trickling water are peaceful and relaxing. They could be anywhere, they are without a destination and are on a journey to nowhere (they are literally in the middle of nowhere) just like Cooks said. Although this appears quite nice, looking closely at the location it is easy to see that they have not escaped the problems of the grimey city in which they came from, and this can be seen in the polluted canal, littered with rubbish and waste products. They pollute the environment, and the problems and broken relationships are still at the back of the character's minds, polluting their sense of freedom, their taste of the outdoor world. We know they are uncertain by this because it is a typical grey British day - dull and wet - they have not escape their old lives yet.
The location in this scene is representative of Cook and Effy's story thus far. They have escaped from the gang to try and find a better life. This is summed up by Cook's quote, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey." He is on a journey and this is what he needs, freedom and escapism from the problems of every day life, and with the girl he loves. The location here appears open and free, full of nature (trees, fields, a river and a beautiful sunrise), and the sounds of birds and trickling water are peaceful and relaxing. They could be anywhere, they are without a destination and are on a journey to nowhere (they are literally in the middle of nowhere) just like Cooks said. Although this appears quite nice, looking closely at the location it is easy to see that they have not escaped the problems of the grimey city in which they came from, and this can be seen in the polluted canal, littered with rubbish and waste products. They pollute the environment, and the problems and broken relationships are still at the back of the character's minds, polluting their sense of freedom, their taste of the outdoor world. We know they are uncertain by this because it is a typical grey British day - dull and wet - they have not escape their old lives yet.
Lighting: Here is the first scene of the episode at the beginning of Cook and Effy's "journey", where I will be analysing a contrasting scene (after the 'previously' introduction to the episode). This is a more exciting scene signalling the beginning of their journey, so is full of energy and freedom (living for the moment). This is shown in the lighting of the light-dominating location - a nightclub.
The release of energy is shown in the strobe lighting. Everything else is dark like any other nightclub, taking away the personal identities of people and congregating everyone in one big dancing mass, with everyone escaping from their problems (what Effy and Cook try to do). The strobes are disorientating and confusing as the character's get lost in the moment and lose themselves. The lighting represents the youthful and exciting qualities buried inside the depressed problem-filled characters of the teenagers, and this comes out as they begin to dance at the nightclub, with a strong, vibrant, neon-green colour being prominent and striking lightning-bolt shaped patterns immerging, showing their sharpness. The whole thing is energy-filled, in a unique atmosphere created by this very low-key lighting. It is an extraordinary scene, one which Skins is famous for producing a lot as it appeals to teenagers. This flash of teenage-ness marks the beginning of Cook and Effy's journey as they begin to forget the recent past and do the things they enjoy doing, once again, in an attempt to get away from present life.
