Writing episode 6 - JJ

Lucy Kirkwood – Writer Episode 6.

Having written a pretty dark, horror-like episode last year for Effy, I decided very early on that I wanted to write a funny romantic comedy episode this year. I’ve always wanted to write for JJ and I especially liked the idea of him having this type of story - I felt he deserved a happy ending of sorts – a reward for being such a nice young man, if you like. I also was very keen to re-examine a stereotypical TV teenager. The cardboard cut-out of who Lara is has become so demonized by the media, but I felt she, or Lara as she became, could become a really strong female character in our show. It also spoke really strongly to JJ’s general journey, particularly at this point in our series – by episode 6, we’re reaching the point where it’s time to grow up and prepare for the real world…but that doesn’t have to be a deadening, draining thing. In fact for JJ, meeting Lara and entering her world allows him to transcend the boxes he’s been forced into his entire life…and become a man. In his own, very special way, of course.

A lot of the story, and feeling of the episode, sprung from the last look that Celia, JJ’s mum gives him at the end of JJ’s series 3 episode. I thought it was so beautiful, and in a way wanted my whole episode to have that feel about it - a really yearning sense of lives lived and not lived, and the responsibilities and joys we owe and receive from people we love. JJ’s clearly had a very close, even dependent relationship with his Mum, and I found it fascinating to think about where his Dad fitted into that, and the way your family inevitably affects your approach to your own personal relationships. For many people, their parents are the first model they have of monogamy or romantic relationships (even if the romance is long gone). So it’s not surprising when you get a view on JJ’s home-life that he’s somewhat at sixes and sevens in this department, even leaving his medical condition aside.

With regards to Lara, she took a lot of working out. I wanted her to be smart and strong without being aggressive or, that horrible rom com word ‘feisty’. And tonally that was hard to get right. When you throw in her relationship with Liam and the complexities that rings to the story, it becomes even harder – at no point is she messing JJ around or leading him on, but on the other hand, she does have an existing relationship with another man who will always be in her life. I do think she’s still a good contrast to our gang, and a reminder of alternative teenage lives - compared to our kids, she’s already done an awful lot of accelerated growing up and that shows in her behaviour. And as we leave series 4 I think she’s a bright beacon of what it is to grow up – it doesn’t have to be a deadening, boring process where you leave behind everything fun and carefree. And while life will throw you difficulties, it will also uncover joys in the most unexpected places. Which is a nice note to go out on, I think.

Labels: 4x06 jj , JJ , Skins , skins season 4 , writer