We tracked down Dakota Blue Richards, who plays Franky, and asked for her thoughts on the end of the Nick/Matty love triangle, the future of the group and series seven.
So in the episode Franky finally decides that she wants neither Matty or Nick - were you surprised by that twist?
"No, not at all. I think Franky and Matty obviously have a really strong connection and they did love each other very, very much. But sometimes having that sort of intensity within a relationship won't make it a good relationship to be in.
"Although she loves him very much, she knows that she can't be with him because it won't work. When two people with that much energy spend so much time together, it's just going to blow up.
"Nick was good for Franky because Nick's very simple, he sees everything in a straightforward way and all he wanted to do is look after her. But like she says, he can't fix her, he can't save her from herself if that's what he's trying to do. And while he was good at the time, in terms of taking her out of the bad place she was in particularly with Luke, he was never going to be a longterm thing.
"I think that's why Franky was so conflicted about entering into that relationship with Nick because she knew eventually she would hurt him and she didn't want him to get hurt because he is a nice guy."
Is there any hope for either of them to getting together with her further down the line? Or do you think that's it?
"I think the good thing about Skins is that things are left quite ambiguous. I think people are free to make up their own minds about what they think will happen, but in my opinion, no.
"At the end of the episode Franky's moved on, she's probably left Bristol - if not for good, at least for a while - and she's going to spend some time focusing on herself.
"I think she'll probably keep in contact with her friends, but Franky's got so much ahead of her. I think sticking around and staying in that situation and being caught up in all that conflict is not going to help her proceed. I think one day - I mean, I'm talking as though she's a real person - Franky will find somebody who is perfect for her, but I don't think that's going to be easy. She's a very complicated person and I think a lot of people will try and use that against her."
© Channel 4
Franky does finally come face-to-face with her mother, but she's not exactly what she was hoping for. Would you have preferred a slightly happier reunion?
"I think it is a happy ending for Franky in a lot of ways. Obviously she's opening herself up to being in a very vulnerable position. I think when you let somebody into your life who's quite destructive, it can be a very difficult thing to do and it won't necessarily work out well. But I think it's something she feels she has to do to resolve her issues and move on with her life.
"I think in that last moment of acknowledgement from her mother a lot of her insecurities are gone. There's that understanding that her mum, in whatever screwed up kind of way, did and probably still does love her very much."
How are the gang effected by the events of the finale?
"They know that the group won't still be a group, people are moving on and doing things in their lives. I think as a group they understand by the end that they have to appreciate the time that they've still got with each other, because I don't think there will be a group forever.
"There's certain individuals who will stick together. Nick and Matty will, because they're brothers, I think Mini and Alo do have potential to be a long-term couple and definitely I would like to imagine it that way, but I don't think they're going to stay in that group of friends forever and ever.
"This is the beginning of the end for the group. But I think they'll go out on a high and they'll go out appreciating the time that they had with each other and the things that they did."
What's the significance of her seeing Grace? Do you think Franky was still struggling to accept her part in her death?
"I think she forgives herself for it in a way. I personally don't think it was her fault, I know there are people who think it was, both characters and viewers, but I think at the end of the day it was an accident. And while death is a very sad thing to happen and nobody wants it to happen, you can't particularly blame anybody for it because so many things led to that situation. And with the nature of the accident, it could have been any of them."
Any teasers for series seven? Will Franky be back?
"To be honest, I don't think anybody's been confirmed for that yet. I am aware of their plan for the next series, but I wouldn't be able to say now whether I or anybody else [from generation three] will be involved in it. I think it's far too early to say at this point."
