Michelle (Skins series one)

"Michelle"
Skins episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 7
Directed by	Minkie Spiro
Written by	Bryan Elsley
Original air date	8 March 2007
Guest stars
Arabella Weir as Anna Richardson Danny Dyer as Malcolm Georgina Moffat as Abigail Stock Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Josh Stock Daniel Kaluuya as Posh Kenneth Peter Capaldi as Mark Jenkins Siwan Morris as Angie
Episode chronology
← Previous "Maxxie and Anwar" Next → "Effy"
List of Skins episodes

Michelle is the seventh episode of the first series of British television programme Skins. It was written by Bryan Elsley and directed by Minkie Spiro ^[1]. It aired on E4 on the 8th March 2007 ^[2]. It is told from the point of view of main character Michelle Richardson.

Plot Synopsis

Michelle begrudgingly watches Tony and Maxxie messing around on the Green, thinking of the events of the previous episode. She storms up to Tony, betrayed that he still has not confessed to cheating on her with Maxxie and she breaks up with him. Jal chases after her, to try to talk to her, but an upset Michelle snaps at her friend. Michelle doesn't want to talk to Maxxie, and Maxxie shows signs of guilt and remorse, while Tony is overconfident and feels Michelle will come back to him. Michelle finds out from Jal that Tony slept with Abigail Stock (and goes on a long list of Tony's conquests during their relationship), and she confronts Abigail in front of all her public school friends and her brother, Josh. Her insults drive Abigail into a psychotic rage, and Josh manages to hold her back, introducing himself to Michelle. Later that day, Angie, who is avoiding Chris, embarrassed that she slept with him in Russia, stumbles upon Michelle, drunk on vodka in the broom cupboard, while taking a phone call from him, and immediately tries to console her. Michelle vomits on Angie and then herself, and Angie provides her with a hockey uniform as replacement. The two then have some hot coffee in Angie's classroom, and Michelle confides to her about her woes. Chris arrives and Angie gives the two teenagers a lift home. After Michelle leaves, Angie tries to break up with Chris, but the two end up having sex again in her car. At home, Michelle gets a lack of sympathy, or even empathy from her mother over her breakup with Tony, and is instead told off for her regular criticisms of her step-dad, Malcolm.

In college the next day, Tony reads out an essay he made in Psychology class about The Role of Sex in Power Relationships, prompting Michelle to storm out of the classroom. Angie, knowing what has upset her, angrily berates Tony for his cruelty, and Maxxie confesses to the group what happened on the Russia trip. Michelle, needing someone to help her through her rebound, goes to Sid, whom she knows has had a crush on her for so many years. She attempts to persuade him to have sex with her, but he is unable to get aroused, and admits his feelings are now for Cassie, but he consoles her nonetheless. At that moment, his father walks in on them and, seeing the two in a compromising situation, immediately telephones his wife, Liz, and excitedly informs her that "It's conclusive - he's not gay!" Michelle takes Sid to see Cassie at the psychiatric hospital, but Sid is distraught to learn that Cassie has a new boyfriend and is now celibate. Michelle has better luck, though, when she runs into Josh. He tells her that his mum owns the hospital and he arranges a date with Michelle. Michelle is thrilled. At home, she argues with Malcolm over his filling the house with crates containing porcelain animals he wishes to sell. Michelle's mum, Anna and Malcolm row about it, but Anna gives in and makes Michelle apologise to Malcolm. At Michelle and Josh's date, Michelle has a great time and he tells her personal information about himself-that he is unstable and on mood stabilisers. The two have sex and arrange another date for the next day. After this, Michelle discovers Malcolm is leaving her mother. She notes that this is the shortest of all of Anna's marriages, and sees him off. Tony, realising Michelle has moved on and his chances of getting her back are slipping away, meets up with Abigail and takes pictures of her naked. He then has a friend of his steal Josh's mobile, uploads the nude photos onto it and then, from Josh's phone, sends the pictures to his entire address book, including Michelle. Michelle is horrified, believing that Josh is as crazy as he said he was, and tearfully calls Jal. She returns home to discover Anna is sobbing over Malcolm's desertion. Despite Anna's lack of sympathy over Michelle's breakup with Tony, Michelle consoles her mother, before heading to a bar with Jal. Michelle bumps into Malcolm, who is having second-thoughts about his abandonment and reveals he is contemplating returning to Anna. Michelle encourages him to do so and offers him some advice.

At her house, Michelle bumps into Tony, who tells her he is sorry and that he loves her. He begs her to take him back and tells her that he'll change. Though she forgives him, she firmly refuses to take him back, saying she'll see him around.

Acting

Main Cast

• April Pearson as Michelle Richardson
• Nicholas Hoult as Tony Stonem
• Larissa Wilson as Jal Fazer
• Mitch Hewer as Maxxie Oliver
• Joe Dempsie as Chris Miles
• Mike Bailey as Sid Jenkins
• Hannah Murray as Cassie Ainsworth
• Dev Patel as Anwar Kharral

Arc significance and continuity

The episode reveals some facts about Michelle's home life. Michelle and Malcolm do not get on well. She is irritated by his childish mannerisms, such as slurping milk from his breakfast cereal. He and Anna bicker often and he slags her off about her "big arse". Michelle's mother, Anna is often too busy to listen to Michelle; their relationship seems relatively good, but they argue over Anna's choice in husbands. Michelle's series two feature will focus more significantly on her relationship with her father, who is unseen in this episode.

Tony and Michelle break up in this episode, which leads to the group isolating Tony in favour of Michelle in the next episode. A number of revelations also change the series' dynamics to set up for the finale.

• Sid realises he is in love with Cassie, and not Michelle.
• Angie and Chris are now in a relationship, which Angie wishes to keep secret, but Chris wishes to be honest about it.
• The group learn about Tony's attempt at seducing Maxxie in Russia.

When Tony recites Romeo and Juilet to Michelle's window is later portrated in a series 5 episode of "Grace", episode 7 when Rich serenades to grace using the line "It is the east and Juliet is the sun." which Tony uses but this time Rich climbs up to Grace's room reciting different parts of the scene in the play.

Soundtrack

• Kapsburger by Clogs
• Red Hot Mama by Parliament
• Tender to the Blues by James Yorkston
• The One You Really Love by The Magnetic Fields
• Dart for my Sweetheart by Archie Bronson Outfit
• The First Day of my Life by Bright Eyes
• Black Swan by Thom Yorke
• May You Never by John Martyn

References

1. ^ [1] Michelle at e4.com/skins
2. ^ [2] skins at imdb

External links

• Watch "Michelle" on 4od
• Michelle at e4.com/skins
• Skins on Internet Movie DataBase