Not Skins: MTV Attempt Number One

This is one of two posts about MTV shows. This one concerning the new show "Skins". 

If you don't know the story behind the show Skins - here's the gist. Skins is a show that was originally done in the UK about 5 or so years ago - it was such a big hit there, the US and MTV wanted a go at it. The reason why I picked this show over others to begin with is because I actually watched the original UK version and I had hoped that both the US and MTV were not going to ruin it.
Well they didn't exactly ruin it but I am going over the negatives first.

Negatives:
1. The cast [minus the actor who plays the character Chris] lacks fine tunning in their acting and the understanding of some of their characters.
2. While this show is adapted from the UK, I am not seeing much of a plot difference surrounding the new US version. If you cut out it being in England and essentially put the main plot of each character into a New York setting you have the US version of "Skins".
3. While I finally went with the idea of MTV showing me that they were essentially copying every major point of the UK version, I got pissed at the fact that they didn't keep all the awesome character names from the UK version. If you are going to copying the bulk of the show for a US audience, why would you change an awesome name like Jal to Daze?

now here is why I do like it while it seems the majority of critics disagree:

The positive:
It seems that the bulk of critiques for the new show are calling it too progressive - and saying that it is a bad thing. This is where I couldn't disagree more. If you haven't seen/heard of "Skins" just yet then you should know this is for an older teenage audience because it covers the topics of drug use, sexual encounters and gay/lesbian experiences. Yes critics, this is a show that has teenagers popping pills and having sex - but, while this isn't every teen in America, this is how life can be for teenagers. I have heard the words "This show will be a gateway drug for teenagers" -- this is where they are wrong. Any show that is considered a "gateway drug" to teenagers, just isn't. Teenagers have minds shockingly and something like "Skins" will not affect their actions towards drugs or sex either way. The concept of drugs and sex is already out there for teenagers as it is [at least for those already watching MTV] and teenagers have the capability to make up their own minds. Yes teenagers are effected by the peer pressure of High School but I don't believe a television show will enhance their minds to go out at take drugs or have sex like this show. If it does, those teenagers probably need to reevaluate their lives in general.
There is one thing that the majority of critic's are missing in their anger towards this show - and that is the point of it. There needs to be a show like this for teenagers. The bulk of shows on television do not show the real pain of some teenagers and what they can face everyday when their life isn't as perfect as a sitcom. This does - "Skins" shows that while facing challenges of a family not being typical, it can be okay in the end as long as you can have friends to trust in. This is where the US "Skins" finally gets a win in my book. They understand that to put something like this on television is what is needed, because no one else is willing to show the tough dilemma's teenagers truly have to face sometimes.