This article contains spoilers for AdolescenceNetflix’sAdolescencehas been a harrowing and groundbreaking look into a disturbing trend, and the show is breaking viewership records.Adolescenceis about a young boy, Jamie, who is arrested for the murder of his classmate, and the impact that this has on his family. The show is a four-part miniseries, with each episode lasting around an hour and focusing on a different aspect of the case.Adolescencehas been given rave reviews and has trodden new ground in both its subject matter and its filming style, as each episode ofAdolescencewas filmed in one continuous shot.
The cast ofAdolescenceincludes the veteran character actor Stephen Graham (who also co-wrote the show,) and a mix of experienced actors and newer faces, with one performance in particular being widely praised. Jamie Miller is played by Owen Cooper, who had never acted on a set before yet was able to portray the wide range of emotions needed for the dark subject matter.Adolescenceis not based on a true story, but it has been inspired by one that was mentioned in a news report, and while each episode is compelling, one in particular is a standout.
4Episode 2
The Police Investigate Jamie’s School & Get A Shock
The second episode ofAdolescencesees DI Luke Bascome (played by Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie’s schoolwith his partner, DS Misha Frank. The two struggle to make sense of what could have happened, and their questioning of the staff and students gets them nowhere until Luke’s son, Adam, reveals something shocking. After the initial shock of the first episode, this is whenAdolescenceintroduces incel cultureand begins to get chilling. Luke and Misha realize that everything they had assumed about the dynamic between Jamie and Katie was wrong.
Adolescence Sets Major Viewership Streaming Record After Just Two Weeks On Netflix
Netflix’s new miniseries, Adolescence, has set a major viewership record after spending just two weeks on the streaming service since March 13.
None ofAdolescence’s episodes are bad, but episode 2 feels like the weakest, as it is considerably more chaotic in both the atmosphere and the plot. The continuous camera shot showed the large-scale disruption in the school to great effect, but even with just one camera shot, there were too many plotlines introduced that were never wrapped up. Luke’s relationship with his son felt strained, though this wasn’t fully addressed, and Katie’s friend Jade was overlooked despite appearing to know all the information about what had led to Katie’s murder.
3Episode 1
Jamie Is Arrested, And The Main Characters Are Introduced
The first episode ofAdolescencethrows viewers into the center of the action, beginning outside the house as police force their way in. The episode does a great job of showing viewers thatAdolescenceis going to be very different from other crime dramas. First, it would be easy to assume that the police are after Jamie’s father, Eddie, and the first twist comes when they arrest the 13-year-old boy. Then, viewers who expected more of a “whodunit” style mystery got a shock when the show leaned away from the trope by showing that Jamie is guilty.
Adolescence Creator Addresses One Unanswered Question About The Murder Weapon: “We Couldn’t Cover All Corners”
Jack Thorne explains why Adolescence leaves Jamie’s murder weapon unresolved, using the missing knife as a powerful symbol of violence and misogyny.
The first episode, while explosive, was more focused on the police procedural aspects of arrest and the immediate stunned aftermath of the arrest. While setting up the plot was necessary, the episode was relatively simple compared to the later ones in the miniseries, which introduced more nuance, blindsiding both the characters and the audience. That said,the first episode ofAdolescencewas captivating, hinting at darker events to come.
2Episode 4
The Finale Of Adolescence Asks Some Deep Questions
Many crime dramas attempt to stick the landing by introducing a horrifying twist, and I was expecting something similar inAdolescence. The fact that Jamie appeared to be a normal boy from a loving family was perhaps the most shocking revelation of all, andthis twist was one of the best inAdolescence. The show is about a very frightening phenomenon and was written to provoke questions, so encouraging viewers to ask the same questions as Jamie’s family was a good move.
Adolescencedoes not show Katie aside from her CCTV appearance.
Adolescenceends with Jamie changing his pleato guilty, reflecting what the audience and his family already know. The episode shows them trying to rebuild their lives, one small quiet moment at a time, andthe final song, “Through the Eyes of a Child” is sung by Emilia Holliday, who plays Katie. AsAdolescencedoes not show Katie aside from her CCTV appearance, the final haunting twist gives her the voice that audiences never had the chance to hear.
1Episode 3
Jamie Reveals His True Colors In A Moment Straight Out Of A Horror Movie
Every episode ofAdolescencehas some standout moments, but the episode that defines the show is episode three, which mostly takes place in just two rooms. Jamie is interviewed by the psychiatrist Briony Ariston (played byCall The Midwife’s Erin Doherty,) who brings him a sandwich and hot chocolate before seeing a new side of him. This episode showed the skill of Owen Cooper, who transformed Jamie from a frightened child into a monster and back again several times, as he struggles with being questioned.
Owen Cooper has now been cast as Heathcliff inWuthering Heights.
Jamie begins his session with Briony shyly, trying to make her like him, butwhen she gives him responses that he doesn’t like, Jamie transforms. He smirks, avoids questions, and uses his height and proximity to try and intimidate her, proving himself the anger-driven misogynist that Katie and her friends saw. To drive the message home, Briony finds herself suffering unwanted attention from one of the staff members, who also stands too close. This episode is virtually perfect in terms of writing, acting, and illustratingAdolescence’s message.
Adolescence
Cast
InAdolescence, a four-part Netflix drama, the Miller family’s life is upended when 13-year-old Jamie is accused of murdering a classmate. Filmed in a continuous shot, the series delves into the ensuing investigation, exploring themes of family, truth, and justice.
