Five Thoughts about Netflix's Adolescence

Everyone’s talking about Adolescence and with good reason. It packs one hell of a punch, and there’s a good chance you’ll be moved to tears. Here are five thoughts I had about Netflix’s new crime drama.

1. The quality of the script and the skill of the actors cannot be commended enough. Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty star, alongside Owen Cooper as Jamie. Each episode was filmed in one continuous shot. This show deserves an award. 

   
   

2. The family unit, each with its own trials and turmoil, is fragile at the best of times. Any single unexpected traumatic incident is enough to crack the foundations. I found myself wondering where the support was for Jamie’s family (we don’t meet the victim’s family, only her best friend). And then I found myself wondering if there are some things that only the realms of philosophy can attempt to make sense of (via questions surrounding good, evil, and free will). It is a hard thing to wrap one’s head around, that social media is having this much of an impact. 

   
   

3. The series single-handedly highlights some of the big issues facing young people. Social media is having a huge effect on our younger members of society, and it needs to be addressed. Teenagers need to be able to just be teens. Are we encouraging that? Or are teenagers increasingly ‘more grown up’ because it is demanded of them? How do we encourage them to seek time away from screens? Where are their spaces to hang out safely? Is it unreasonable for adults to expect teens to live with limited access to technology when we model constant usage? 

   
   

4. Episode 3 was chilling. It was also one of the best dramatic scenes I’ve watched in a while. This episode was filmed first, and it was also Owen Cooper’s first scene. This talented young actor will go far. 

   
   

5. The ending will leave you wanting more, perhaps another episode or two to see how the rest of the story will play out. That being said, I understand why they concluded the series the way they did — it was impactful. It was raw. But it does mean we are left desperately wanting an answer to the question why? And the series refuses to give us that, which is where it differs from a more traditional narrative. It might be frustrating as a viewer, but life doesn’t always answer such questions, so I would argue it is somehow more realistic that we are left in limbo.