MTV’s Skins is the American adaptation of the hit U.K. series, and while the U.S.’s premiere episode was a shot-for-shot, line-for-line (save for the bloody British lingo) replica of the original, what’s shocking is just how toned-down it was made for the States.

In the opening scene of both versions, we meet Tony, who decides to lock his short-tempered father out of the bathroom and then sneak out the window and back into the house through the front door. In the U.K. version, Tony’s father drops countless F-bombs in just that short scene, but the U.S. version has him using much milder language. Shortly after, we meet Stanley (Sid in the U.K.), keeping his hands to himself while looking a dirty magazine. The same cannot be said for Sid as he looks at the magazine in the British version.

Despite being racier, the U.K. version has been criticized not so much for sexually exploiting the young cast but for inspiring teens to throw (or crash) the same wild parties depicted on the show.

Episode two of MTV’s version aired Monday night, looking less like an American copycat and taking on a personality of its own. There are, not surprisingly, a few questionable girl-on-girl scenes, but the tender moments between bad-girl Tea and her father and grandmother make up for her racy behavior. A drug dealer causes major trouble for Stanley, who owes him money. Stanley, along with his drug woes, is also embarrassed about still being a virgin, after his unsuccessful attempt with Cadie, even though he really loves Michelle, who is his best friend Tony’s girlfriend. Personal flaws aside, Stanley will likely be the underdog audiences will root for throughout the season.

Despite the concerns of parents and criticism of the show’s extreme storylines, Skins relates to teens living the same hard lifestyle while appealing to those who don’t. By not aiming to reflect everyone’s teenage life, it remains far more tolerable than “equal opportunity” teen dramas that try to reach every label under the sun and somehow blend them all together (a la the eye-roll-inducing storylines on Degrassi: The Next Generation) If the second episode is any indicator, Skins will raise eybrows but not without something many “racy” programs seem to be missing: a heart.

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