The show accurately depicts the impact of toxic masculinity and social media on children’s minds.
Police arrive at the home of Stephen, a resident of an English town, to arrest his teenage son Jamie (Owen Cooper). Both parents – father Eddie (Stephen Graham) and mother Manda (Christine Tremarco) – are left shocked. Their son is accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl by stabbing her seven times.
No cuts, No jumps – A real-time investigation unfolds.
“Son, tell me the truth… you didn’t do this, right? I know you didn’t… right?”
“No, I didn’t do it, Dad…”
That innocence hiding a tragic truth — unspeakable, unbearable. Father and son embrace and weep.
Adolescence is not just a crime drama — It is a mirror to our times
Adolescence, reflects a world where children are lost in the maze of the digital world. This four-episode British mini-series, streaming on Netflix, has left not only Indian but global audiences speechless. As of April 2025, over 6.6 million people have watched and experienced this show, and its fanbase continues to grow.
The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer himself watched this series with his children and described it as “difficult but necessary.” He has announced that the series will be shown in schools across the UK to help children understand the dangers of the “Toxic Manosphere” (an online space of male-dominant, destructive ideology) and harmful online content.
The show accurately depicts the impact of toxic masculinity and social media on children’s minds.
In Adolescence, a 13-year-old boy Jamie (Owen Cooper) murders his classmate Katie Leonard (Emilia Holliday). The investigating detective initially assumes they were friends based on their Instagram messages.
But the detective’s own teenage son explains that the emojis used in those messages weren’t normal — they were codes for mockery and bullying. What adults perceive as friendly emojis are, in reality, signals of bullying.
This clearly illustrates how adults often fail to grasp the language and mindset of today’s teens.
Chasm between generations.
The story highlights the chasm between generations. The show also portrays how social media influencers like ‘Andrew Tate’ can dangerously sway young minds.
In Adolescence, every scene is meticulously crafted, and its silence speaks volumes — revealing thoughts and emotions we often overlook.
Technical Brilliance:
Without a single cut, the emotional intensity crushes you.
Each episode has been shot in a single take. The theatrical style ensures that once the camera rolls, characters, situations, and locations all change live — keeping actors on their toes and their inner struggles vivid and palpable.
Jamie, the accused boy, lives under the blinding belief of his parents — Eddie (Stephen Graham) and Manda (Christine Tremarco) — that their son could never commit such a crime.
Yet, the detective’s dialogues, the lawyers, CCTV footage, Instagram posts — all point in one direction. Still, the truth keeps slipping like a shadow. The question remains: is Jamie truly a murderer? It becomes a puzzle for everyone involved.
Social Media & Psychological Depth
The series boldly and sensitively visualizes the adolescent psyche. Whether it’s the school, the youth detention center, or the expressions of a skilled psychologist, one question keeps surfacing:
“Can an ordinary-looking boy living an ordinary life suddenly turn so abnormal?”
The school environment reveals how students today are lost in fake personas and digital caves of emojis.
The third episode touches on Jamie’s counseling, his mental state at the detention center, and the possible psychological conditions behind the crime — elevating the series to an emotional peak.
The final episode bursts with raw emotion from all characters. On Eddie’s birthday, a mix of grief and rejection leaves everyone emotionally numb — underscoring how society rarely gives people a second chance.
Adolescence is not just entertainment. It is a mirror — for children, parents, teachers, and society as a whole.
Are we truly prepared to understand the problems of teenagers?
According to a FirstPost report, in the UK, 80% of 16–17-year-olds consume misogynistic content from influencers like Andrew Tate, while only 60% know the name of their own Prime Minister. The result? A rise in cyberbullying, deepfake pornography, and sexual violence in schools.
Strengths:
- Technical Mastery – Entire Episodes in One Take:
Director Philip Barantini’s bold choice to film each episode in a single continuous shot delivers a cinematically powerful experience. - Acting & Emotional Consistency:
Newcomer Owen Cooper (Jamie) maintains intense realism throughout. His silent eyes and body language effectively convey internal struggle and emotional turmoil. Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco excel as parents of a criminally accused child. - Authentic Emotion & Persistent Tension:
The series sustains an uncomfortable tension that forces the audience to think deeply.
Weaknesses:
- Lack of Narrative Depth:
Despite the intense premise of a murder committed by a teenager, the show sometimes feels emotionally neutral. This may be an intentional narrative choice, but the psychological depth could have been explored further. - Over-Controlled Execution:
Given the single-take technique, one expects natural unpredictability in performances. However, everything feels overly rehearsed and mechanical, including performances and technical. - Repetitive Dialogues:
Some police interrogation scenes feel repetitive, with the same questions and cues being recycled.
Adolescence is a technically sound, high-caliber production. If you appreciate real-time, slow-burn dramas and cinematic craftsmanship — this one’s for you. It offers less information but prompts deeper introspection.
Signature:
The dissonance between the characters’ intensity and the creators’ minimalist expression defines Adolescence — a show that may not say much, but leaves you speechless.
