Adolescence: The Devastating Netflix Crime Drama Everyone’s Been Talking About
There’s a lot of great TV on this month, but one Netflix show in particular is creating a real buzz online. The streaming service already released the riveting British true life tale Toxic Town last month, and now it’s followed it up with Adolescence, an equally enthralling British crime drama.
The show, which stars Boiling Point and Peaky Blinders’ Stephen Graham, has received huge acclaim since it debuted a few days ago, telling the story of a young school boy accused of murder. It’s must watch TV, and if you’ve not seen it yet, here’s everything crucial to know before you do.
What is Adolescence about?
The four-part miniseries, set in a northern town and filmed in Wakefield, centres around a 13-year-old school boy named Jamie. It begins with his house being dramatically smashed into by police as they break down the door, charge into the building, and place Jamie under arrest. His family are of course shocked and appalled, especially as they are told that the boy is accused of having killed a classmate, Katie Leonard. What unfolds across the series is an examination of not just the case itself, but also the increasing prevalence of incel culture, radicalisation and other influences online that are affecting children today. Graham plays Jamie’s father, Eddie who is left reeling and trying to make sense of what has happened: he and his wife Wanda (Christine Tremarco) wonder if they can possibly rebuild their lives. Each scene is shot in one take, as the show moves from Jamie being arrested and interrogated, to being taken to a psychiatric facility, and an impending trial.
Why is it getting so much acclaim?
Much of the praise pouring in for the show comes from both the themes that it explores and the quality of acting displayed throughout. Graham co-created Adolescence (alongside Jack Thorne) having seen reports on knife crime amongst children and wanting to delve into its causes. One of the key themes is where exactly young boys are getting their influences from, it’s clear as the show progresses that it’s almost all online, where Jamie’s parents and others can’t see. Netflix’s series has gotten plenty of traction online and in the British press, with some calls for it to be screened in Parliament to encourage discussion on the issues. Exploring these themes are the actors themselves, with the performances being a particular highlight of the whole project, especially during long sequences where little is going on but talking in a room.
The young Jamie is played by newcomer Owen Cooper, whose nuanced and layered performance is getting perhaps the most praise, deservedly so. Other highlights are Graham himself, Erin Doherty (The Crown) who plays a psychiatrist, Faye Marsay (Andor), Ashely Walters (Top Boy) and Christine Tremarco (Under the Skin). All episodes of this devastating yet important drama are available to watch now on Netflix.
