There’s something about Cookie

This week we got an inside look at James Cook, better known as Cook to friends and Cookie to gangsters. Here are a few of the things we learned:

1) He’s got the thickest accent in the bunch (He'll be hogging all the subtitles on BBC America)
2) He loves booze/drugs/birthday cake
3) He’s absolutely crazy.


Number 3's a big one because that’s all we got in terms of character backstory. Unlike most of the episodes in the first two series, Cook’s episode didn’t actually take us into his home or family life (the only hint of family came when he threatened Johnny for mentioning his mother, but who wouldn’t do such a thing when their mother’s honor is at stake?). The point is, the home life of a character is almost always an indicator of why they are the way they are, but when it comes to Cook sometimes it's better to experience the crazy without being privvy to the source of it.

A lot of people have been comparing Cook to series 1 and 2's Tony and Chris and sure, his character does share some things in common with them, but Cook’s a whole different animal. Chris was a “Fuck it” pills-obsessed party animal but unlike Cook his partying ways were more lighthearted, and though extreme, all in the spirit of living life to its fullest. Cook wants to live life till it kills him.
Tony lacked a conscience and did things just to see how far they would go before someone finally stood up to him. He was twisted and conniving and for the better part of series 1 he was a psycho, clearly having no compassion for anyone or anything. While Tony pushed others to the brink of insanity Cook doesn’t push anyone but himself. He threatens men that could kill him, he sleeps with whoever he wants, and his liver must look like a full ashtray. But he's having fun.

The best and scene (with the most insight into who Cook is) comes right after everyone in the party starts fighting; Cook takes in the scene before him and cracks up. Chris and Tony could've found themselves in that position at one point but there's no way they would've reacted like that. Cook's laughter, more than anything, made him dangerous. And as if that wasn't enough the tense scene between him and Johnny upped the ante.

The rest of the episode didn't really give us anything new. We're getting closer to learning the truth about Emily. (but I'm sre we all guessed that she's gay from the first episode.)
The only other major character development came from Freddie who is proving himself to be more of a douche as the episodes go by. His choice to not look after Cook anymore would've made a lot more sense had we seen more instances of where Cook has failed him. And this might be pacing problem, because as it stands all we've seen are two episodes of him and we can't yet believe that he's this fed up with his best friend.

Some great things about the episode:

The moment shared between Cook and Effy in the tunnel. I don't know how I feel about this pairing yet and it seems Effy isn't quite sure either. She's so unreadable that it's almost frustrating but I wouldn't change that about Effy.

Pandora eating coke. Nuff said. :)

And Gareth Keenan! Mr. Mckenzie Crook was fantastic as Johnny White the gangster. (I had no idea he could pull off scary.) His Johnny came off a little like Captai Jack Sparrow but it worked. And speaking of Pirates of the Carribean, Kayleigh looked a lot like Keira Knightley. Ok, a whorish Keira Knightley, but still.

And finally, Skins really lucked out in finding Jack O'Connell. He's a great actor and really deserving of being on this show.