Lay Back and Light Up Without Any Guilt
Naomi comes across the street to apologize for that necklace she’s wearing. JK, to give us some exposition and to project her angst onto Cook.
Naomi: When did you get so sorry for yourself, Cook?
Cook: Huh?
Naomi: We can talk about her. That’s why you’re here isn’t it? We gave that girl Sophia drugs.
Cook: I didn’t give her nothing, man.
Naomi: I had an affair with her, as well.
Cook: What?
Naomi: Now she’s dead. That’s why you’re here. You feel bad.
Cook: Fuck off. I just came around to see if you wanted that non-lezzer willywaggle, that’s all.
Naomi: Yeah right. Do you want to know how I feel? I feel fucking terrible. My girlfriend won’t look at me. I could cry every minute. I feel shit and all I can do is… feel it.
Naoms is looking for a shared moment and looks pretty doing it, but Cook can’t believe she’s still hung up over ruining her life when he is gonna go to jail for being a moron and not pleading innocent. He laughs and walks away. She yells out after him that he needs to deal with it. Unlikely. He’s a walking art installation! What’s he got to deal with? ART=LIFE.
There’s Not A Lot to Give if You’re Not Giving In
Cook shows up at Duncan the public defender’s office wanting to talk about his case. Ducan’s like, you don’t got no case fool. Cook says that’s a matter of opinion. No offense or anything but sometimes I feel like Cook might really be brain damaged, which nearly makes me want to love him and protect him. But I guess no one ever did, which is how he turned out this way.
Duncan says Cook’s got as much chance of getting off the hook as the Duncan does of getting a shag with Angelina Jolie. Cook advises him to shave off that handlebar moustache, to start. Har har.
Cook reveals his defense: stuff’s gone down in his life and that’s why he is the way he is. Duncan lights up a joint ’cause if we’re gonna talk about hard times, we need to light up.
Cook: You’re taking the fucking piss, man. Doesn’t anyone owe me anything, don’t I get a hearing?
Duncan: You put a kid in hospital, remember? What’s your excuse?”
Cook: People. People fucked me up, man.
Duncan: Well go tell that to a judge then .. mummy fucked me up.
I Feel Like This Could be a Good Will Hunting Moment
Cook snaps at the mention of his mum, then kicks his chair and leaves.
I Wish There Was a Strap-on On this List
Cook visits his mother’s gallery, and is caught out staring at a particular piece of art that documents her lovers. This is no Piss Christ I can tell you that right now.
Why Aren’t There Any Ladies on this List? Lesbian Sex is So Hot!
Mrs Byatt: What do you think?
Cook: Is it true?
Mrs Byatt: Jimmy, art is always true
Cook: Why did you leave my dad?
Mrs Byatt: Because he’s a twat, agreed? He was entertaining, good in bed… but he didn’t give a flying fuck about anyone or anything. Ultimately that just gets on your tits, it’s a bit boring.
Cook: Is that why you threw me out?
Mrs Byatt: You sold my wedding rings to buy dope. You wanted me to throw you out, didn’t you. But hey, that’s over. You’ve come to see my work, I love that. And look, I’m hot! Aren’t you proud of what I’ve done?
She says he has to see her master installation, which is going to make “Damien Hirst want to cut off his dick and pickle it.” For those of you unwares of Damien Hirst, this is another thing he pickled:
Even more disturbing than a giant pickled penis? The fact that Freddie’s penis has gotten to know Cook’s Mother’s hoo-ha. I guess “fuck your mother” is no longer a decent insult for these guys.
My Mom Doesn’t Just Get Around the House, She Gets AROUND the Houseboys
Cook’s so focussed on storming out that he doesn’t notice the power cord running from her major installation and trips on it, blowing the thing up.
I Actually Think It Looks Better This Way
His mother thinks he did it on purpose and chases him out of the gallery. Cook’s so upset that he starts throwing up outside the gallery. This is one of those moments where no matter how you feel about him you’ve gotta feel sorry for him a little. I mean life all around sucks for this dude right now, even if it partially his fault.
Goodbye Love
Cook goes to visit Shanky, the kid he beat up. After stuttering for a few moments, he apologises for beating the shit out of him. Just when we think he went and got himself a conscience, he then asks Shanky if he could tell the court that he has apologised.
Would You Put Judicial Weight On Me?
Shanky: I hope they get you in the showers and fuck you up the ass.
Well then.
Family Circus
Cook arrives to find Freddie a surprise guest in his living room, and his mother smashed on margaritas and out for his blood.
Mrs Byatt: Well look who it is, the man who has just cost me 90,000 quid. Hello you sweet little turd.
Cook asks where Paddy is, and his mom clearly has no idea. But she thinks that given Cook and Freddie are here, they should all have a party. And what’s a party these days without Rock Band and “The Boys are Back in Town”?
This Can’t Possibly be Product Placement, Right?
His Mom rocks out, tries to smash her tits in Freddie’s face, and then passes out on the ground. I got worried she was dead but I guess they’ve already OD’ed on death this season.
Freddie’s a good friend, only good friends would stick around and pretend like there is nothing wrong with this picture. Freddie and Cook leave mum in the living room and go upstairs to talk about feelings, namely those involving the sex that happened at Cook’s 15th birthday party.
Cook: So you fucked my mum?
Freddie: It wasn’t like that?
Cook: Well tell me then Freds, what the fuck was it like? Hang on, no, don’t answer that shit.
Freddie: It was just a blowjob
Cook: Oh I’m well relieved mate, thank goodness.
Freddie: I’ll make it up to you
Cook: What are you going to do now Freddie? I let you take the one fucking girl I’ve ever loved man. Freddie is there anyone else that I care about that you want to slip one to mate?
Freddie: I’m sorry. .. I’m sorry.
Cook: It’s fine. It’s sorted. Everything’s cool.
Freddie: Cook, Effy loves me. How can I-
Cook: Stop talking about it!
Freddie: You smashed JJ, Cook.
Cook: Nah. I didn’t.
Freddie: He loves you Cook. But that’s all.
I Love You, Man
Freddie has tears in his eyes, it’s a sweet moment. You can tell that they are serious pros with lots of love.
As he walks out the door he says: “And I love you too. Whatever you’re doing, you can stop. All you’ve gotta do is stop.”
The love is too much for Cook, so he rips his shirt off and aggressively starts pacing and I think he’s also crying.
Little Monster
His moment is interrupted when he hears the police dropping little Paddy off, who has been skipping school and causing trouble because he’s “not a pussy.” Cook’s drunk Mom wants the attention back on her self-destruction so she responds by starting to smash shit up with the guitar from Rock Band.
Mrs Byatt: Everything’s gone wrong since you’ve come back. You’re like an infection.
I guess she’d know, I imagine she’s suffered a few “infections” in her day.
You’ve Got a Fast Car, I’ve Got a Plan to Get Us Out of Here
Cook doesn’t want to stick around and so he steals his mum’s car and his brother and jets, even though it’s past 7pm and his ankle bracelet is alarming the police. Things just get more clever when he smashes up the car and encourages Paddy to help.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Once the car is wrecked, they sit back on to the hood to share a moment and also a joint, which would be fine if his brother wasn’t prepubescent.
Cook: I love you. It’s just you and me mate, no-one else understands.
Paddy: Yeah fuck everybody, fuck mum, fuck everybody, everybody else is a fucking tosser, a fucking tosser, I hate them all.
Paddy is kicking on the hood as he cusses and Cook looks shocked at his anger and probably wonders what sort of monster he’s created.
Repeat, Repeat The Words I Know We Both Said
Emily is asleep in Naomi’s bed while Naomi sits against the wall, watching her and thinking about ahow they are so filled with regret.
Cook’s waiting outside because he needs to speak to her. They put Paddy to sleep on Naomi’s couch and go outside to the park, where they drink in silence til Naomi breaks it. It’s a meeting of the self-destructive, semi-confused souls.
Naomi: We didn’t kill her, you know. She killed herself. It doesn’t help though, I still spend every day feeling like I want to puke.
[Cook nods, he already has puked so at this point it would just be stomach acid]
Cook: How’s Emily?
Naomi: Angry. So lonely. … It all means so much to you doesn’t it.
Cook: What?
Naomi: Life. You just live a bit harder than everyone else does. You splash about, you wallow in it. Like you can’t lose a moment.
Cook: Yeah, I’m well odd.
Naomi leans over and kisses him, first on the cheek and then on the lips. It’s so much more harmless than the preview implicated, which might be why it doesn’t piss me off. I guess you just want to feel something other than what you are feeling, even if that something is “stupid.”
I Just Wanna Feel Something Other Than This
But then Cook pulls away. They have to grow up now and take responsibility for themselves so they won’t lose the people they love!
Cook: The thing is Naomi, when you splash about other people get wet.
Naomi has tears in her eyes. Cook says it’s not like he gives a fuck (assume he’s talking about the kiss could threaten Naomi and Emily’s relationship) but well… this whole jail thing is waking him up to the idea that there are consequences to actions, consequences you can’t change with words later. And maybe it’s not so bad for Naomi to think about that too.
She puts his head on the shoulder an they look onward into the horizon. O Pioneers!
Something About How Pretty the Sunset Is
Cook: For fucks sake I’m never going to get to bone you, am I.
Naomi: No. I love someone.
Cook: You and me both, girl. You and me both.
That means she’s gonna fight to get her girl back. [huge sigh of relief]
Popped Collar? CHECK.
Cook continues his crime spree by breaking into his public defender’s office. Duncan took Cook’s advice and shaved off the mo, maybe he’ll get to bang Angelina after all.
Duncan: You should get another lawyer, cos I’m pretty bloody shit all round, you know?
Cook: Yeah you’re shit. But you’re my shit.
Duncan: I’m the only lawyer I know with a 100% conviction rate.
Duncan the defender wants to know what Cook’s rebelling about, and Cook says everything. Duncan thinks that it’s easy to put all of your problems on someone else, and that he should tell him something he’s done by himself.
Cook: Last year, I stole my best friends boyfriend, just because I could. And I fucked her mate – best mate – multiple times. Just because I could.
Duncan: What is this, Oprah? Tell me something fucking worthwhile. Come on you dick!
It’s More Like Dr.Phil Actually
Cook: I’m trying to not fucking crack someone. Freddie… I couldn’t stand the way she was fucking looking at him. And I was thinking, why does everyone get to piss on me? Everybody always fucking pisses on me. My fucking mum. My dad is a fucking tosser. And no-one gives a shit. Everyone’s just out for them fucking selves.
Duncan: Grow up. So. Fucking. What.
At this point Cook is distraught, crying… bull/china shop sitch.
This is Defo Not Gonna be Good Will Hunting
Cook: I bashed the shit out of that kid. I fucking kicked the shit out of him and I fucking enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, okay?
Duncan: That’s pretty good.
Cook: Duncan..
Duncan: Yeah kid?
Cook: There’s something else…
Do the Right Thing
Cook is at the police station, giving his confession. It’s time to turn it all around and be someone worth something! Make it easier for Naomi & Emily to get back together!
Cook: That kid was pestering me, she kept on asking me for MDMA.
Lady Cop: Sophia?
Cook: Yeah. So eventually I gave her some, just to shut her up. And then I didn’t see her again until she fell off the balcony.
Lady Cop: Do you want your lawyer here James?
Cook: No it’s fine. He knows what I’m telling you.
Lady Cop: And no-one else was involved?
Cook: Nope. Nobody but me.
He takes the fall for Naomi, and it all lands him back in a cell, where this episode started.
Really Shower Gel Probs Works the Best in this Sitch
Bonus, he gets to see Effy all alone, and she’s wearing a leather jacket! She makes a shower-sex joke to break the ice, then proceeds to kick him while he’s down.
Effy: We’re coming to your trial thing tomorrow.
Cook: We?
Effy: Yeah, we. Freddie is worried sick.
Cook: I bet he is. Probably scared I’m gonna get off and steal his woman.
Effy: I love him, Cook. That’s what I came to say.
Cook: How is the love?
Effy: It’s a bit of a headfuck, to be honest. It’s not simple. I know you’d understand that. I’m giving it a go. That’s what I always loved about you, Cook, you’re brave.
Aw. Poor Cook. I just get scared for people who are empty with nothing to rely on. Where’s his little brother, he needs to come in here so we can have a musical sequence.
I’m Coming Around, Coming Around
Cook says nothing and so Effy walks away, but then Cook tells her to tell JJ about the trial.
Still a Chance for Good Will Hunting
It’s trial day! Cook looks nice, he’s all cleaned up. He’s sitting with Dear Duncan, waiting for it to start. “You care,” he teases Duncan. Duncan says he doesn’t care. Still, he probs cares more than a lot of people which I guess is enough this time.
Then, in walks JJ, Effie and Freddie as promised. Judge and Jury as you can see this man has very attractive friends. Please let him out.
Yes, Effy Has Received Several Medals of Honor From Various Wars, What’s it to You?
Then Paddy comes in, trying to fight off security guards to see Cook. Cook tells him he can’t come in, that he needs to be a big man and wait outside. He should’ve said “stay in school!” or something.
Yes, I’m Guilty of This
Cook changes his plea to guilty and gets reprimanded for wasting time. His Mom doesn’t want him and can’t control his behavior (obvi), so a “custodial charge” is unavoidable, also there may be other charges on the horizon. So he’ll be in the court’s care for several months, sentencing hearing set in two weeks.
As Cook walks back to his cell, Paddy chases him wanting to know what’s going on but Cook can’t stop. Effy looks at Cook and nods. I hope that’s a “I’ll get Paddy to school,” nod. As depressing as it is, there’s a bit of solidarity at the end here, which’s refreshing.
You can view the trailer for episode 404 here.
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Although it seems like you didn’t enjoy this episode too much, I have to say I liked it. And I think I love Cook a little bitt.. he’s pretty.
People I love a little bit/a lot:
Emily
JJ
Effy
Cook
(And by next week, probably Katie as well.)
I really like this ep and my like for Cook turned to love. Mostly because he is a pretty crier and I’m a sucker for people who are sad/hurt and need a hug and someone to understand them.
one thing that is interesting/opens me up for people to talk shit about me is that this is the first season I’ve watched, though I did help a bit with the Naomi/Emily season three recaps and watched most of those scenes. It seemed to me like cook was supposed to be the bad guy, but I felt real bad for him.
also i liked this episode too — last night at 4am when Alex made me shut it off and go to bed I was upset b/c I was like 14 minutes into it and I think it was really, really well-written and well-acted.
Yeah, it was really well written and acted, IMO. It’s a lot like (here comes my full-force nerdery) Tom Felton as Draco in Harry Potter 6. The character is supposed to be ‘the bad guy’ but the actor does such a beautiful job of making that character just a flawed human with no where left to turn that you can’t help but feel for them. They allow their surface to crack just enough/in just the right way that you are drawn in and you start to understand. And, if you are a sap like me, you just want to help.
Very well said. People are not entirely good or bad, we all have so many FEELINGS. Conflicting feelings. Sometimes, they do show a little bit between all our efforts of being tough and distant. Good job Elizabeth and Jack the lad.
Yes, see this is what I said about how much I loved Jenny Schecter. Also when someone’s entire life falls apart — like when he was outside throwing up after breaking the art exhibit — I was like, fuckin’ a. I mean even the best human loses it a bit at that point… and he went on to rise above the situation with Naomi when she initiated a self-destructive kiss. I thought that was very redemptive.
ditto. I heart cookie. Next week should bring some much needed LOLZ.
I really liked this episode, I was sick when writing my part of this and so I didn’t have the energy to say much other than what happened on screen. I still don’t, but I will say that one of things I love the most about this show is that it doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of everyone’s actions, and this ep did so brilliantly. I also really dig the relationship that has developed between Cook and Naomi, I think that scene on the grass is one of my favourite Skins moments. That doesn’t involve cute girls holding hands/making out/being adorable.
I think some of the best friendships in Skins are Cook/Naomi and Emily/JJ. I obviously like Emily/Naomi, but I think the way Naomi acts in the last series hits a bit too close to home for me to really get into her (although, I have to say, she’s played brilliantly by Lily Loveless… can we talk about that name?).
I thought i wouldn’t like this ep as much but i did! I think Jack O’Connell did amazing and that it could have so easily been a really irritating episode if he hadn’t.
Also when Cook and Naomi are sitting on the hill i think he says “I’m well hard” rather than “well odd”. The only reason i’m pointing it out is because i liked that little moment.
Yous should have recapped the Next Week On Skins bit as it was probably the best bit of the episode. “I’m Katie fucking Fitch! Who the fuck are you?!”
I stopped playing BioShock 2 to read this – that’s how excited I was. Skins recap is my favourite part of the week!
I like Cook a lot and I really just want to hug him all the time. He’s like this cast’s Chris. Hopefully he can turn it around and be awesome like Chris did. Except without the dying cause that was really sad. :(
That scene with him and Naomi was the best part of the show and not just because Lily Loveless is nice to look at it. But because it was just a really good scene and like you said, the kiss was harmless. It made me feel good instead of mad like it did when they showed the preview.
Normally I don’t like Katie, but I’m looking forward to next week’s episode a lot and it’s all because of “I’m Katie Fucking Fitch! Who the fuck are you?!” YEAH!!
I was SOOOO nervous about that kiss scene, like please no let’s not do THAT story, you know? But then the way they did it ended up working quite well into the episode and maybe a bit of redemption for Cook as well.
what’s up with the tracey emin rip-off? that was too obvious, I hate it when they do things like this in series or movies. but in favour of cook’s mum – she only needed a matress for all her cocks, good ol’ tracey needed a whole tent – and that one didn’t only have male names on it, btw.
i am a bit of a sucker for a Hot Mess Mom character. I should do a top ten; Rayanne’s Mom in My So-Called Life, Kelly’s Mom in 90210, Brenda’s Mom in Six Feet Under, Alice’s Mom in The L Word…
dips on lily van der woodsen, uh, bass! she’s so uptight, it makes me go crazy, in a good way. and with her 100 marriages and counting, she makes the hot-mess list, too, doesn’t she?
and I have a feeling that ruth emin byatt has done the dirty with a woman or two as well. ;)
I think it will take a lot to beat this episode this series (although the trailer for next week’s did look awesome). They’ve made Cook the most three-dimensional of all the characters, and really fleshed him out beyond being a typical bad boy.
Tanya Franks was ace as his wretchedly selfish mum too, but she should have had a lot of practice as she plays an almost identical character in Pulling.
I believe they’ve got the green light for skins series 5, which will refresh the cast again. How’s about they drop the average age a bit, and make the main characters the brothers Fitch and Cook, going on drug+cider-fuelled violent cross-dressing rampages across the west country!
WITH LESBIANS!
For some reason it really seems to bother me that there appear to be only 2 pictures of Sophia in existence.
Also, “I just get scared for people who are empty with nothing to rely on.” So nicely put.
number one: the sky in the “mean streets” still makes me want to move to skinsland. i thought it only rained in england. can a british girl help me out here?
number two: why does everyone have hot mums?
number three: i cannot wait for the katie fucking fitch fight. someone screamed this at me once [only with their name, obvs]. art imitates life, guys!
Ah, tis only a misconception, England has gorgeous weather, well, when its sunny….! It only ever rains when…
1.You don’t have a coat/brolly with you
2.You just step out from the hairdressers
3.Plan to go out somewhere nice for the day
4.Having a summer party/fancy eating al fresco/dust the bbq off
5.Your half way taking the dog for a walk
6.How could I forget, when Wimbledon is on too!
But apart from that, yeah its absolutely lovely!!
be still my heart. “brolly.”
I thought that too, and maybe ’cause I’d spent the day dealing with Final Cut filters I was a bit biased, but my first thought was, “omg, what filter did they use to make that sky?” rather than, “wow the sky sure is pretty over there”
I’m pretty sure they use fake skies sometimes. Like, the bit where Naomi tells Cook to deal with it – I thought it was in Spain for a second, with the square houses and the glorious blue sky. And then my friend said, “You know it’s fake, right?” And I was like, “Ah, that would make sense, we’re talking about Bristol.”
Also Skins seems to have an amazing ability to skip seasons. Christmas would not work on Skins. I wish I could skip winter and summer every year and live in eternal September.
But how amazing would it have been if they actually had said Katie fucking Fitch!
Like before Katie even said it! Lol.
I only really got into Skins in the last series (wonder why?!)and I never really took to Cook, but after this ep I’ve warmed to him more as they scratched below the surface and we got to see his vulnerable side. The scriptwriters are doing an amazing job with keeping it edgy, yet still believable.
Hope you guys feel better soon.
P.s, Hope you all having/had a great Valentines Day too.
cook kind of reminds me of alex karev from grey’s anatomy.
I might be nitpicking right here, but is Naomi’s house the same as the one featured in her episode last year?
I did not really like this episode, but I am looking forward to Katie’s episode next week.
No, she has ~her own flat now.
naomi doesn’t seem to live in the same place she lived in last year. the house looked different from when the Kieran teacher guy visited. i think panda’s house looks different also.
why is this season so much heavier than season 3? what happened to the funny lighthearted stuff?
it just seems to be the pattern with skins. First year has crazy antics/japes and the second year is the come down where SHIT GETZ REAL!
next time will be full of fun and jokes right? i hope so.
“Naomi comes across the street to apologize for that necklace she’s wearing” HA Thanks lol-makers. Poor girl has the worst line in necklaces, did you see that button abomination in series 3?! Cook was brilliant, well done Cook m’boy.
Dude, brill work on the recap. Made me laugh a lot :p
Next week should be fun, CAUSE SHE’S KATIE FUCKING FITCH. WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?! Or smt, idk
I really liked this episode. I like the relationship that Cook and Naomi have, like they’re both really destructive characters so I guess they understand each other more than the others do. If that makes sense. I also really like this recap. And I’m really looking forward to next weekkkk.
WTF is going on in that headline graphic? Are they hurdling or playing leapfrog or something? I don’t get it…
the art critic was referring to Marcel DuChamp.
this was the first episode i didnt entirely loathe cook.
I just watched the first 3 season while working midnights.It’s quite good but I think they should have made Effy the gay girl,before they made her kinda crazy she was written really edgy and cool but still messed up she would have been a great lesbian character.
one can only hope *sigh
In an interview, she lamented not getting the lesbian storyline.
Loved the recap! Spot on as usual!
>“Casey Novak wouldn’t let this shit go down. She’d be like “your honor,” and then Mariska would be like, let’s make out, etc.” …oh, really?
*this gives me a burning desire to read/write some Law&Order femmeslash*
>“bloomin’ jokey”: I think it’s actually “bloomin’ chokey” as in brit slang for prison
>“Yeah, I’m well odd.”: I think he actually said “Yeah, I’m well (h)ard” as in brit slang for..uh the opposite of emo, maybe?
I did a bit of research *cough* wikipedia *cough* and learned that “Jack the lad” is Brit slang for a cocky young man.
-Cook was genetically designed to be a F-Up. It all makes sad sense.
-Effy says four words a day, stares alot and dresses like a hooker..What is there to love?
-That tit ‘art’ looked like the pre-requisite class to photoshop 101
– Naomi and Cook had a great scene prob one of the best of the series. The kiss was sweet. Even though I wouldnt touch cook with a 10 ft pole wearing a space suit but thats just me. I hope they contiue to show there frienship.