“Adolescence” took the internet by storm following its release on Netflix in March 2025. The show has garnered an impressive 142.6 million viewers since its release, narrowly edging out “Stranger Things” Season 4 to become Netflix’s second most viewed show. Having recently won eight Emmys, it’s no surprise ”Adolescence” is considered some of Netflix’s best work.
Comprised of four episodes, the show follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is accused of murdering his classmate Katie Leonard in a disturbing limited series. Directed by Phillip Barantini, each episode is filmed in one continuous shot, creating a suspenseful, yet brilliant environment.
When Jamie Miller is arrested in his own home, his parents, Eddie (Stephen Graham) and Manda (Christine Tremarco), are left distraught as they come to the subtle realization that their son may be a murderer. The one-shot film technique allows everything from Jamie’s arrest to being interrogated in the police station to happen in real-time for the audience.
Despite the show’s chilling environment, Phillip Barantini does a great job at showcasing the dangers of social media usage, especially for teenagers. Throughout the entirety of each episode, I was hooked by the storytelling and performances by the actors.
Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters) investigates the truth behind Katie Leonard’s murder, but encounters his own personal battle along the way with his son. Luke’s demanding job leads to a subplot within the series that masterfully portrays an evolving relationship between Luke and his son, Adam, after he helps his father decode cryptic and toxic language used by teenagers in the show to help unravel the case.
”Adolescence” accurately exposes the toxicity of today’s youth and how social media has influenced false expectations. Jamie doesn’t just struggle with his emotions, but rather, the complicated expectations of masculinity and emotional detachment. The show initially portrays Jamie as an innocent teenager who gets caught up in a mess, but soon, his fractured emotional state slowly turns him into an angry and, at times, abusive teenager.
The show takes the psychological aspects of social media further and explores sensitive subjects including misogyny, bullying and trauma. When a psychologist attempts to sit down with Jamie, she is often met with abuse and manipulation in what is possibly one of the best episodes of any show.
Owen Cooper’s performance as Jamie Miller is nothing short of impressive, a striking debut that features some of the best acting I’ve seen in any series. I found myself fully immersed in the story, particularly due to the continuous shot the show uses. I felt as though I was going along the same journey as Luke Bascombe or Jamie Miller, which allowed me to understand where certain characters were coming from in their actions.
“Adolescence” stands as a powerful piece that encapsulates the very real dangers of social media and how youth culture has shifted over the years to become what it is today. Although the show may not be for everyone, all can certainly still take home an important message about social standards and the emotional impact of such.
