Jal (Skins season one)
Encyclopedia
"Jal" is the third episode in the first season of the television program Skins
. It was written by Bryan Elsley
and directed by Adam Smith. It aired on 8 February 2007 on the E4 television channel. It is told from the point of view of main character Jalander "Jal" Fazer
. She is called into the college director's office and told she is to tell the BBC
how the college helped her due to her disadvantaged background. Jal feels this is racist
to assume she has a disadvantaged background because she is black.
At home, Jal attempts to practice the clarinet
for the finals, but is unable on account of her brother's loud grime music
. She complains to her dad that she needs to practise, but Ronny Fazer, a successful grime singer himself, is uninterested. He tells her that her brothers and their wigger
friend, Donny, need to practise also.
As she had plans to go shopping for a dress to wear to the competition with Michelle
, Jal goes to Tony's
and sits in the living room with Sid
and Tony's little sister, Effy
while Tony and Michelle have sex. Fed up of waiting for Michelle, Jal takes Sid with her instead. She tells Sid that she knows he loves Michelle, that it is obvious. Jal buys a brown dress for her competition, but seems convinced it is green. Later that night, she argues with her dad after she hears him rapping
alone in his studio.
That night, Jal and Michelle watch Jal's interview and joke over Jal's angsty lack of co-operation. As the group have plans to go to Jal's dad's club that night, Michelle helps Jal dress up as Michelle has a keen fashion sense. At the club, all of the boys, including Maxxie
are stunned by Jal's dress which shows off her impressive bust. Sid and Michelle talk at the bar, while Tony flirts with Abigail. Michelle tells Sid she loves him like a brother, but not like a Welsh brother
. Depressed by the news, Sid goes to the couch to sulk. While Michelle is distracted dancing to one of Fazer's songs, Tony snogs
Abigail. Jal witnesses Tony's act of betrayal to Michelle, and distraught, sits and broods with Sid. The two agree to go out drinking with a bloke who had been chatting Jal up. However, he turns out to be an associate of Mad's, and leads them to a narrow alleyway where Mad steals Sid's credit cards and wallet and smashes Jal's expensive clarinet.
Jal's brothers, Ace and Lynton chase after Mad, along with Donny, but Mad gets the better of them and they end up hospitalised. Enraged with what Mad did to his daughter, Ronny and his guys place a hit on Mad, and he is never seen again on the show. He also buys Jal a new clarinet identical to the one she lost. The final scene shows Jal at her competition in London.
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
. It was written by Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley is a Scottish television writer, known most notably for the co-creation of E4 teen drama Skins with his son, Jamie Brittain...
and directed by Adam Smith. It aired on 8 February 2007 on the E4 television channel. It is told from the point of view of main character Jalander "Jal" Fazer
Jal Fazer
Jalander "Jal" Fazer is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Larissa Wilson.-Characterization:Jal is described by the official Skins website as "super bright and the most talented young clarinet player in the country"...
Plot synopsis
Jal is preparing for the final of the Young Musician of the Year Competition in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She is called into the college director's office and told she is to tell the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
how the college helped her due to her disadvantaged background. Jal feels this is racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
to assume she has a disadvantaged background because she is black.
At home, Jal attempts to practice the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
for the finals, but is unable on account of her brother's loud grime music
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
. She complains to her dad that she needs to practise, but Ronny Fazer, a successful grime singer himself, is uninterested. He tells her that her brothers and their wigger
Wigger
Wigger is a pejorative slang term for a white person who emulates mannerisms, language, and fashions associated with African-American culture, particularly hip hop in the United States or the Grime/Garage scene in Britain. The term is a portmanteau of either wannabe or white and nigger...
friend, Donny, need to practise also.
As she had plans to go shopping for a dress to wear to the competition with Michelle
Michelle Richardson
Michelle 'Chelle' Richardson is a fictional character in the television series Skins played by April Pearson.-Characterisation:Michelle is portrayed initially as primarily interested in serving her boyfriend Tony Stonem's needs and in "looking shaggable" which she places as her primary function,...
, Jal goes to Tony's
Tony Stonem
Anthony "Tony" Stonem is a fictional character from the British television series Skins. Portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, the character was created by Bryan Elsley; Tony was the series' central character in its first and second series, from 2007-2008...
and sits in the living room with Sid
Sid Jenkins
Sidney "Sid" Jenkins is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Mike Bailey. In the first series, Sid is portrayed as a nice guy stereotype, an unlucky virgin who is nervous around girls, and has low self-esteem. Tony Stonem is his role model, whom he frequently looks up to...
and Tony's little sister, Effy
Effy Stonem
Elizabeth "Effy" Stonem is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Kaya Scodelario. She is the only main character to appear in more than two series. She appears in all of the first four series...
while Tony and Michelle have sex. Fed up of waiting for Michelle, Jal takes Sid with her instead. She tells Sid that she knows he loves Michelle, that it is obvious. Jal buys a brown dress for her competition, but seems convinced it is green. Later that night, she argues with her dad after she hears him rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
alone in his studio.
That night, Jal and Michelle watch Jal's interview and joke over Jal's angsty lack of co-operation. As the group have plans to go to Jal's dad's club that night, Michelle helps Jal dress up as Michelle has a keen fashion sense. At the club, all of the boys, including Maxxie
Maxxie Oliver
Maxxie Oliver is a fictional character in the British television series Skins. He is portrayed by actor Mitch Hewer.-Characterisation:Maxxie is portrayed as proficient at several styles of dance, including tap dance. He is also shown as being a brilliant artist, seductive, well-liked and...
are stunned by Jal's dress which shows off her impressive bust. Sid and Michelle talk at the bar, while Tony flirts with Abigail. Michelle tells Sid she loves him like a brother, but not like a Welsh brother
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
. Depressed by the news, Sid goes to the couch to sulk. While Michelle is distracted dancing to one of Fazer's songs, Tony snogs
French kiss
A French kiss is a kiss in which one participant's tongue touches the partner's lips or tongue and usually enters his or her mouth. A French kiss is a slow passionate kiss which is usually considered intimate, romantic, erotic or sexual...
Abigail. Jal witnesses Tony's act of betrayal to Michelle, and distraught, sits and broods with Sid. The two agree to go out drinking with a bloke who had been chatting Jal up. However, he turns out to be an associate of Mad's, and leads them to a narrow alleyway where Mad steals Sid's credit cards and wallet and smashes Jal's expensive clarinet.
Jal's brothers, Ace and Lynton chase after Mad, along with Donny, but Mad gets the better of them and they end up hospitalised. Enraged with what Mad did to his daughter, Ronny and his guys place a hit on Mad, and he is never seen again on the show. He also buys Jal a new clarinet identical to the one she lost. The final scene shows Jal at her competition in London.
Main cast
- Larissa WilsonLarissa WilsonLarissa Hope Wilson is an English television and film actress from Bristol. She is best known for her role as Jal Fazer in the first two seasons of Skins....
as Jal FazerJal FazerJalander "Jal" Fazer is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Larissa Wilson.-Characterization:Jal is described by the official Skins website as "super bright and the most talented young clarinet player in the country"... - Mike BaileyMike Bailey (actor)Michael James Bailey is an English actor and singer from Bristol, best known for playing the role of Sid Jenkins in the first two series of the British teen drama Skins.-Career:...
as Sid JenkinsSid JenkinsSidney "Sid" Jenkins is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Mike Bailey. In the first series, Sid is portrayed as a nice guy stereotype, an unlucky virgin who is nervous around girls, and has low self-esteem. Tony Stonem is his role model, whom he frequently looks up to... - April PearsonApril PearsonApril Janet Pearson is an English actress best known for her role as Michelle Richardson in the E4 teen drama series, Skins.-Career:Pearson joined a theatre group, located in Bristol, at just three years old...
as Michelle RichardsonMichelle RichardsonMichelle 'Chelle' Richardson is a fictional character in the television series Skins played by April Pearson.-Characterisation:Michelle is portrayed initially as primarily interested in serving her boyfriend Tony Stonem's needs and in "looking shaggable" which she places as her primary function,... - Nicholas HoultNicholas HoultNicholas Caradoc Hoult is an English actor, best known for playing Marcus Brewer in the 2002 film About a Boy, Tony Stonem in the E4, BAFTA-winning television series Skins, and Beast in the X-Men prequel, X-Men: First Class.-Early life:Hoult was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, the third of four...
as Tony StonemTony StonemAnthony "Tony" Stonem is a fictional character from the British television series Skins. Portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, the character was created by Bryan Elsley; Tony was the series' central character in its first and second series, from 2007-2008... - Joe DempsieJoseph DempsieJoseph "Joe" Maxwell Dempsie is an English actor, best known for playing the role of Chris Miles in the E4 television show Skins. Dempsie's earlier acting credits include the medical dramas Doctors, Peak Practice and Sweet Medicine, as well as the films One for the Road and Heartlands...
as Chris MilesChris MilesChristopher "Chris" Miles is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Joe Dempsie.-Characterization:Chris's character was initially portrayed as being very into pills and as being something of a hedonist, but at the same time had other layers to his personality. According... - Dev PatelDev PatelDev Patel is a British actor. He is best known for playing Jamal Malik in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire , for which Patel won a number of awards, including a Critics' Choice Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award...
as Anwar KharralAnwar KharralAnwar Kharral is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Dev Patel.-Characterization:Anwar is portrayed as a young pick and choose Muslim, Pakistani boy, meaning he chooses which parts of his religion he will practice when convenient and which parts he will not when it is... - Hannah MurrayHannah MurrayHannah Murray is an English actress, best known for playing Cassie Ainsworth in the E4 teen drama Skins from 2007 to 2008.-Career:...
as Cassie AinsworthCassie AinsworthCassandra "Cassie" Ainsworth is a fictional character in the television series Skins who is portrayed by Hannah Murray.-Characterization and creation:... - Mitch HewerMitch HewerMitchell Scott "Mitch" Hewer is an English actor, who is best known for his role of Maxxie Oliver in the E4 teen drama, Skins. He has also starred in Britannia High as the all around talent Danny Miller...
as Maxxie OliverMaxxie OliverMaxxie Oliver is a fictional character in the British television series Skins. He is portrayed by actor Mitch Hewer.-Characterisation:Maxxie is portrayed as proficient at several styles of dance, including tap dance. He is also shown as being a brilliant artist, seductive, well-liked and...
Jal's home life
- Jal's dad is successful BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
-based Grime MCMaster of CeremoniesA Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
and artist, Ronny Fazer. - She has two brothers, Ace and Lynton, who together with their white friend Donny have formed a grime band.
- Jal's father often puts her brothers' needs above hers.
- Jal's mother is not in the picture. She left Ronny and neither Jal nor her brothers know why.
Series relevance
- Mad Twatter finally exacts his revenge on Sid, only to be taken out of the show, either murdered or badly beaten up and frightened by Ronny Fazer.
- Tony cheats on Michelle with Abigail.
- Doug makes his first appearance on the show.
- It is confirmed that other members of the group know about Sid's infatuation with Michelle.
- Sid continues to love Michelle despite arranging a date with Cassie.
Soundtrack
- Rhapsody in BlueRhapsody in BlueRhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects....
by George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... - Clarinet Concerto (Allegro)Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)Mozart's Clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622 was written in 1791 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler.It consists of the usual three movements, in a fast–slow–fast form:# Allegro# Adagio# Rondo: Allegro...
by MozartWolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music... - Arcane by Arc
- Soul Vibration by J-WalkJ-Walk (British band)J-Walk is Manchester-based duo consisting Martin Fisher and Martin Desai.- Discography :* The Squeeze * The Squeeze * Orion EP * Buggin' Becky * Soul Vibration * The Wasp / French Letter...
- Highest Grade Dub by Roots ManuvaRoots ManuvaRodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
- Breakthrough by Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
- I Get Lifted by George McCraeGeorge McCraeGeorge McCrae is an American soul and disco singer, most famous for his 1974 hit "Rock Your Baby".-Early life and career:...
- 90% of Me is You by Gwen McCraeGwen McCraeGwen McCrae is an American R&B singer, best known for her March, 1975 hit "Rockin' Chair".-Career:...
- Original Nuttah by UK Apache and Shy FxShy FXShy FX is the pseudonym of Andre Williams, an English DJ and Producer from London. He specializes in Drum and Bass and Jungle music.-Biography:...
- Prince Charming by Adam and the AntsAdam and the AntsAdam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...