Skins Creator Revives Multi-Strand Style

Twenty years after the success of "Skins," co-creator Bryan Elsley is reintroducing the "multi-strand" narrative style with the BBC and ZDF series "Counsels." This approach, which follows numerous storylines within a single episode, has become uncommon in television today.

"Counsels" centers on a diverse group of trainee lawyers, aiming to capture the energy of American legal dramas while reflecting the atmosphere of the legal profession in Elsley's hometown of Glasgow. The show distinguishes itself by focusing on everyday cases, such as shoplifting and petty theft, rather than the more traditional courtroom dramas featuring wealthy individuals.

The series originated from a BBC invitation for pitches for a new show set in Scotland. Elsley and co-creator Gillian McCormack developed the concept for "Counsels," which was subsequently greenlit by the BBC and co-produced with ZDF.

While "Counsels" does not have a specific German focus, commissioning editor Katharina Kremling highlighted ZDF's co-production strategy. She noted that securing the core of a show is paramount, allowing audiences a unique perspective into different worlds, a strategy that has also led to collaborations on other projects like "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder."