"Adolescence" is a modern day classic that deserves all the awards

The Real Perspectives

March 18, 2025

Netflix

"Adolescence" is the gripping British psychological 4-part miniseries from Netflix, which premiered on March 13. The series is being hailed as an instant classic, receiving universal acclaim for its powerful narrative, direction, and outstanding performances by its cast, elevating the series far above its counterparts.

The series follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), accused of murdering his classmate, leaving his family, therapist, and the investigative detective in charge asking what happened. As they dig deeper into solving the mystery, they soon find out that Jamie is deeply troubled and is sent to a psychiatric facility. As the case unfolds, the truth sends shockwaves through Jamie's parents and those closest to the investigation.

Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini, each brilliant episode was filmed in one continuous shot, leaving fans in awe of its ambitious cinematography and newcomer Cooper's riveting performance. Episode 3, in particular, involves Jamie and his psychiatrist discussing the alleged murder with Cooper, giving an award-winning performance deeply layered in emotional depth that is absolutely chilling. This series could easily have been a sensationalistic "Ripped from the Headlines" with a procedural whodunnit, but here, the series takes its time cultivating the narrative of events in real-time with devastating results.

The series stars:

• Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller

• Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller

• Ashley Walters as DI Luke Bascombe

• Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston

• Faye Marsay as DS Misha Frank

• Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller

• Mark Stanley as Paul Barlow

• Kaine Davis as Ryan Kowalska

• Jo Hartley as Mrs Fenumore

• Amélie Pease as Lisa Miller

• Austin Haynes as Fredo

• Lil Charva as Moray

• Elodie Grace Walker as Georgie

Netflix

"Adolescence" articulately forces us to take a deeper look at how online and school bullying with social influencers shapes the minds of young adults while navigating the complexity of parenting. How much responsibility do parents have in policing their kids and their activities, and if they don't, are they bad parents? The series deals with misogyny and how those negative perceptions influenced by social commentary and attitudes lead young adults down a path of mental psychosis. Who's to blame when children fail to live up to the expectations expected of them by society? "Adolescence" asks the question, but there are no easy answers, and it's for this exact reason that the series is a masterpiece that deserves all the awards.

When asked what was the motivation behind the series, co creator Grahamn told Netflix's Tudum, “There was an incident where a young boy (allegedly) stabbed a girl. It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this? ”

"Adolescence" is gripping in its authenticity in a world where misogyny thrives with unrelenting comfortability, the series begs for accountability from those who wield the power - ourselves. The series serves as a brutal reminder for young adults that growing up is hard, but growing up without accountability on social media makes it even worse.

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All four episodes of this fantastic series are currently streaming on Netflix.

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