Author's Note: A big thank you to my very kind reviewers! I appreciate all of your feedback, and I agree with all of you. I'm especially grateful for the feedback calling me out on rushing the end of the last chapter. You have my apologies, readers … It was rushed, I admit, partially because it hurts to dwell on this Naomily that we have loved and, according to this episode, lost. I don't like it, but it doesn't make it any more real.
I was going to plug this at the end of the chapter, but this is a good time. For those of you who haven't read it, I heartily recommend Heather Hogan's Tumblr posting on this episode: heatherannehogan tumblr com / post / 55040339984 / how-skins-fire-broke-my-heart Heather Hogan's Skins recaps over on AfterEllen are what inspired my first story and these recaps, and her analysis and insight and writing are all far better than mine. (She's a professional, folks. This isn't modesty, it's just recognition.)
So, I don't like what happened, and we can all forget about it now that it's over, but I'm taking a long, hard look at it before I go.
Nighttime, in the Penthouse of Solitude. Effy is curled up in bed, with an empty bottle of champagne and an open bottle of pills beside her. The old Skins standby, booze and drugs to make the pain go away. Effy has been reminded that it's easier not to care, not to think about anyone else, and she's making it all go away again. She's woken by knocking at the door.
The knocking turns to pounding, and we see an irate, nearly insensate Dominic. Effy lets him in, and he says he's been walking around, trying not to come there. Which in fact, he won't…. Ahem. He goes to Effy's cigarettes, fumbles, and lights one. The FSA's been, and taken his computer. Effy tries to be reassuring Oh, now she finds that skill. A little late, but perhaps this situation is a little closer to home … having been caused by her, and all. but Dominic knows that he's going to prison, and he blames it on Effy. "Stop pretending like this isn't happening," he says.
And there it is - someone finally calling Effy on what she does. She's been doing this with Naomi all along, from ignoring the pain at the beginning to telling her on the roof just moments ago to stop talking about dying. She did that with her illness in Season 4, for a very long time, even lying to Freddie while they were lying on the hill. She did that at the water park, when Freddie came to find her, insisting that he not say what they both wanted him to say, She did it at Gobbler's End, holding Freddie's hand, ignoring Katie holding his other hand. She came back, after having run away with Cook, acting as though nothing had happened. And remember her silence at the end of Series 1? She was literally refusing to talk about what had happened, as if she could ignore it and have it all go away.
Cook and Jake, the bad boys, have indulged Effy and given her whatever she wanted and acted as though her image she projected was the real her. Freddy saw through her image, and loved the real Effy, but he was so intent on pleasing her that he couldn't help her. (There's some nice irony there.) Dominic, though, sees the real Effy and he calls her on it. Dominic swears at Effy and calls her names, not because she's not obliging him, but for what she has made him do for her - because he knows he has fallen victim to her spell and because he resents that. He is her only admirer to fight against her attraction.
Dominic tells us the problem, the "worst thing": "Before I met you, I was fine. Now I'm … pathetic."
He is her victim, and he knows it. He is aware of what has happened. He owns it, and he hates it,
Effy is struck dumb. And rightfully so; this is the first time a man has ever said this to her, been this honest with her. She's had some deep, open conversations with Naomi and with Katie - but she's more comfortable when it's about them, not about her. When Naomi tries to make it about Effy, Effy runs away. When the gang wanted to confront Effy about her attack on Katie, Effy ran away. Now, Effy is in her own apartment, and flight is not an option. Dominic is so angry, fighting would be useless. Effy has only one option left.
Effy seizes Dominic and kisses him. Hard. This isn't about Jake or cheating or their relationship, this is about the effect Dominic has on her. He pushes her away, surprised, and she's crying. That should be troubling, but this is what he's always wanted - he's told her that, he can't help himself - so he goes for it. They're kissing, they're disrobing, Effy's pulling him down on top of her. Dominic is on top of her, he's thrusting, Effy's sobbing ,,, and he's stopping, pulling away. They're both apologizing, Dominic is ashamed, and he's running away, leaving Effy in shock.
Again, Dominic is too self-aware for Effy. Effy knew how he felt about her, needed an escape, wanted to lose herself, to numb her pain … and Dominic knew that she didn't feel that way about him, that she was just using him. Dominic wanted to, and he knew what was happening, and he couldn't.
Effy walks in to work the next morning in blue high-rise pants and a red shirt that leaves her midriff bare. She's worn some outfits not usually seen in an office before this, but this one is definitely inappropriate. We can also see from the clock on the wall behind her that it's 10:15, and she's definitely late.
Not stopping at her desk, she walks directly into the boardroom where she sees Jake's back. She asks him, angrily, where he's been and he introduces her to the company's head of Legal. I'm trying to resist making a crude joke about what Effy didn't get last night being made up for this morning. Jake half-turned when Effy came in the room, but his back is to her again by the time he explains that the lawyer is there to talk to them about the FSA investigation.
The walls behind the lawyer are red from the ceiling down to waist height, and blue below that, in an echo of Effy's outfit. She's matched the company colour scheme before this, but she's the very image of the company today. There's a very clear sending that she belongs there. And that makes the proceeding scene all the more uncomfortable.
The lawyer calmly lays out the situation for Effy. The FSA has clear evidence of insider trading. Effy is stunned. The lawyer goes on to suggest that Effy acted alone, that she did this only to improve her own reputation. Effy denies this, but the camera has zoomed out by this time and it's Jake in focus. He listens, without reacting, as he hears Effy damned for what he's done. The lawyer asks him directly if anyone other than Effy was involved. He hesitates, for a moment, but his face remains expressionless. Finally, he denies the involvement of anyone else. Like himself. Effy is practically in tears at this, and she turns to look at him, incredulous. She can't believe he's doing this to her. The reality of her situation begins to sink in, as the lawyer recommends that she be suspended from work and turned over to the FSA. (Well, the lawyer recommends that her records be turned over to them, but it feels like the same thing.) He recommends that she find herself a lawyer Since the company obviously isn't standing behind her and departs. He takes his leave of Jake - treating him casually, as a friend, rather than the professional deference and formality he observed just a moment earlier.
As soon as they're alone, Effy asks Jake why he's doing this. On his way out the door, he apologizes, saying he has no choice, but the words don't ring true. They sound like words he's memorized, or been told to say, rather than the way he feels. "Look at me!" Effy commands him, because he hasn't yet. He stops, and his head turns halfway, and his eyes dart over further but still don't make contact. "I'm so, so sorry," he murmurs, again without sounding sincere, and leaves. Not only is he wiling to let Effy take the fall for what he's done, and mouth remorse without showing any sign of it, but he's too cowardly to face the truth, to face Effy and acknowledge what he's doing.
Effy is being escorted from the building by security. Everyone watches, Mark with folded arms and a scowl, Jane with what looks like shock.
Finally freed from the shackles of work, Effy is lying with Naomi in her hospital bed. Naomi has an IV in her hand hooked up to two different tubes, and she's having some difficulty breathing. She's clearly not doing well, and needs a distraction. Also, she's wearing the same cat shirt she was wearing in her first scene; it's definitely her comfort shirt. They're silent, and Naomi prompts her to talk, to say anything. Effy denies that there's anything to say; she's fine. Naomi curses at her and pushes her out of bed. Effy is surprised, asks what she's done, and Naomi tells her, "Nothing, you've done nothing. That's the whole point." Effy protests, and Naomi tells her that she's been hiding in a fantasy, a "lame one at that."
Naomi is more patient than Dom, but it's about time. Naomi has been suffering in silence all this time, but she has nothing to lose any more. It's time for Naomi to speak out against the injustice that her supposed friend has been subjecting her to.
Naomi explains her frustration, her loneliness, her longing for her "best friend… because seriously, Ef, what else have we got?"
And that is the summary of Skins: other than our friends, what else have we got? For six seasons, we've watch them go through life, with their friends beside them, because that's all they had. The ultimate example of this, perhaps, was Chris: kicked out of his own home, completely naked, after having been abandoned by his mum. His brother was dead, his father was gone, and he'd spent all his money. Chris had absolutely nothing, other than his friends. Or Emily, forced to leave her own home by her mother, who knew she could go to Naomi's house, that Naomi would make it their house.
Effy lies back on the bed, and asks Naomi to tell them what they're going to do. Seriously, Effy? Naomi asks you to tai, you to share, and you reflect it back on her? I'm not sure Panda was the useless one, after all… Naomi calls her on it, again. She stares at Effy, before saying angrily, "Well I'm going to die. What are you going to do?"
Effy has, ultimately, after literally months of ignoring Naomi and pretending things weren't happening, made the right decision. Emily Fitch is back in London. There are Christmas carolers singing merrily, Emily is wearing a green dress and a read sweater with hearts on it, and it's all an obscenely cheerful counterpoint to the winter in our hearts.
Unlike her last greeting of Effy, Emily is sedate. She is not smiling. She walks up to Effy, stares at her, and slaps her. Well, I guess she deserved that. Effy takes a moment to recover from that, then hurries after Emily who is already gone.
Emily ignores Effy in the cab, staring out the window the whole way. There's a solitaire ring on the index finger of Emily's left hand. It's likely not a wedding ring, or even an engagement ring, but we're not hard pressed to imagine that she and Naomi might have exchanged some sort of promise. Earlier, while smoking on the hospital roof, we could see that Naomi had a gold band on her left hand as well.
Emily looks at Effy when they get to the hospital, but still can't speak. Emily gets out of the cab, then stops Effy she she tries to do the same. Emily doesn't want Effy to come upstairs, saying Effy didn't even deserve this time she's had with Naomi, that Effy stole it from her and that she'l never forgive her for it.
Emily is, understandably, upset right now. She can't be upset with Naomi, and Effy makes a very convenient target. We don't know how much Emily knows about what has happened, and Naomi deserves at least some of the blame for Emily not knowing sooner, but Effy will have to bear the whole burden for now.
Effy requests that the driver take her to downtown. The sound of strings swell in the background, as Effy stares out at the city during the ride. She's Making a Decision.
Effy is facing Victoria over drinks. She's agreeing to turn herself in, provided that they leave Dominic out of it: "He doesn't deserve this." Victoria readily agrees, because Dominic's not the important one. Effy's not sure, so Victoria continues, saying that Jake is nice, but weak and greedy.
At this point, it's not clear if Effy is coming undone or if she's willing to let Victoria provide the story. Effy provides the minimum necessary, because Victoria is eager to do the rest. She takes a deep breath and says, "I thought it was real." Victoria jumps in, "So it was his fault. You were inexperienced and he took advantage." Effy looks down, closes her eyes, and lets one tear escape. "All right." Victoria is right there again on the uptake, "'All right', you'll make a statement? Naming Jake?" Effy agrees, and Victoria tells her that she'll still be going to prison. Effy looks more upset at this, but accepts it.
Back at the hospital, Effy is standing outside the room, watching Naomi sleep. Emily comes up, and confess that she can't go in. She needs more time, she says. Effy picks up the burden of being the one to speak the truth - she pretends it doesn't exist when she's involved, but she can always tell others what they need to know - telling Emily that there is no more time and that Naomi is dying. Emily admits that she's angry with Naomi, and finally breaks down in tears. Effy comforts her, encourages her, and sends her in.
Finally, finally, Effy is being a friend. It's only a shame that it took her this long. She may have learned something from this, but the price was much, much too high. For everyone.
Emily climbs into bed with Naomi, under the covers. She's getting as close to Naomi as she possibly can, and it's very sweet, and oh so hard to watch, especially as Emily curls on Naomi, crying. Naomi embraces Emily, surprised but happy to see her. She catches Effy's eye and thanks her, and it's a recognition and acknowledgement that Effy has, in the end, done the right thing. And it is truly the end: Effy's speech, encouraging Emily, are the final words of this episode. It is only now, at the very end, when it is much too late, that Effy has learned.
Effy turns away, crying. And we all cry with her, for the wonderful woman, the amazing couple, that never had a chance.
The camera pans over the city in winter. The sun is setting, the water of the Thames is cold, and the season is bleak as our mood. We focus on a tree, bare of leaves, devoid of hope.
Effy is with Victoria and someone else, signing a statement. Her signature is her first initial, followed by an S and a scrawl. She's not willing to sign her nickname to an official document, but never uses her real first name either. Effy is, now as she has always been, uncomfortable with herself. Unwilling to admit to it, and unwilling to reveal it.
Effy is leaving the building, accompanied by Victoria and a constable. She sees Jake, just arriving with the company lawyer. They exchange a long look. He knows what she has done. She turns away.
Effy is in the elevator, going down. It's nighttime. These are both images of finality, of closure, of the ultimate end. She's helped into the back of the police car. The strings swell, again, as Effy rides through the night,
We last saw Effy riding in a car at night, near the end of Series 3. She was running away, with Cook, and they had no idea where they were going. She's in the back of the car this time, and knows she's headed to prison, but with equally little idea about what the future holds.
Slowly, Effy smiles. Cut to credits.
Why does Effy smile? Her friend is dying, her relationship has just ended, and she's heading to prison. However, she really did make the first illegal trade for the reasons everyone guessed, that she wanted to get ahead. And she's protected her source, who she knows will do anything for her, while getting revenge on the lover who screwed her over by turning him in. Effy will probably be out soon, and she might even be able to use her documented history of mental instability in her favour.
Effy Stonem has been through the fire. Not for the first time, not for the last time. But each time, she's a little bit changed.
Author's Note: And there you have it. I won't defend it, I won't praise it, but I'll try to understand it.
For those who want something better than what we've just endured, I recommend a big dose of fluff. FitchSwitch's Tell Me A Story never fails to put a goofy grin on my face, and there's a lovely note at the end of Chapter 15 that sums up a lovely point of view.
