A great successor forSkinsUK has found a second wave of popularity on Prime Video almost three months after it first premiered.Skinsis nearly 20 years old, and yet its legacy continues to influence the television landscape today. Very few shows have had the same kind of generational impact.
Debuting on E4 in the UK in 2007,Skinswas a fearless and confrontational explorationof teenage lives, covering difficult and controversial topics like substance abuse, mental health, sex, and adolescent relationshipsin an increasingly judgmental digital age. It produced some of Britain’s most talented performers, including Dev Patel, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Kaluuya, Jack O’Connell, and more.
In 2011, MTV commissioned a US remake ofSkins, though it was canceled after one season following an avalanche of criticism for the show’s portrayal of teenagers' lives. The Parents Television Council rallied against the series and advertisers pulled their campaigns. Now, however, more than a decade later, anotherSkinssuccessor with cult potential has come along, and it’s trending once again.
Overcompensating Hits Prime Video’s Top 10 List Months After Its Premiere
Created and written by star Benito Skinner, the semi-biographicalOvercompensatingfollows college freshman Benny as he tries everything in his power to hide his true self from his new classmates. To keep people from finding out that he’s gay, Benny embarks on an awkward hook-up-turned-friendship with Carmen (Wally Baram) while juggling a major crush on Miles (Rish Shah).
Overcompensating, which has a 93% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, first premiered on May 15. On August 1,nearly three months later, Skinner’s comedy series reached number 8 on Prime Video’s Top 10 Overall listand climbed a spot on Prime’s Top 10 TV Shows list, landing at number 6 (viaFlixPatrol). The eight-episode season has featured on Prime’s trending TV list for 33 days.
Though the raunchy, sex-comedy aspect ofOvercompensatingis more important to the show’s identity than it was inSkins, it deals with similar character arcs and complex, relatable relationship dynamics. Benny’s coming to terms with his sexuality. Carmen is still grieving the death of her brother. In fact, most of the characters are “overcompensating” for something, finding their identities in a new, rule-driven social setting fueled by alcohol and drugs.
Our Take On Overcompensating’s Continued Streaming Success
Overcompensatingwas a genuine and delightful surprise. It can be hard to get college-set comedies right. There’s always a danger of going too over the top and forgetting the importance of character development entirely.LikeSkins,Overcompensatingstrikes that balance well, however, introducing unexpected and deeply flawed friendships that win you over instantly.
This isn’t just a show about the intensity of the college experience. It’s about all the different kinds of relationships that make us who we are.Overcompensatingproves that some streaming shows need a minute to find their audience, but when they do, they can still really shine. Hopefully,Overcompensating’s continued streaming success will prove to Prime Video that it’s popular enough to warrant a second season.
Skins
Cast
Created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, Skins is a British drama series released in 2007. This teen drama offers an introspective look at a group of teens in England as they navigate sex, drugs, mental health, death, and more over seven seasons, with the final seasons seeing a shift in the cast. An American remake was released in 2011 on MTV but only lasted one season.
Overcompensating
Overcompensating follows closeted ex-football player Benny as he befriends high school outsider Carmen. Navigating peer pressure, they rely on Benny’s sister and her celebrated boyfriend for guidance, encountering challenges like awkward encounters, flavored vodka, and fake IDs as they pursue acceptance. Released on August 09, 2025.
