If you are looking for something to watch this weekend, try the suspenseful British crime drama Adolescence on Netflix. Even though it’s only four episodes, it is still attracting a lot of attention from word of mouth recommendations and on social media. It’s consistently ranked number one for most watched show on the streaming service.
The plot involves a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller, who is the main suspect for the murder of a girl who goes to his school. It starts off with him immediately being arrested, then it goes into his booking process. While investigating more information about the case, like the reasons why he did it or if he actually committed the crime, the main focus remains on the why.
The series is considered remarkable for its realism, mostly from its’ one-take recording approach, which is a challenge in filmmaking because it includes shooting an entire movie or show in few to no cuts. This can be a challenge for actors because it requires them to stay in character for a long time as well as have numerous lines rehearsed.
It has a significant sense of realism and immersion, pulling the viewers into the moment and making them feel like they are entering the character’s mind. For example, in the third episode a scene is brought up when Miller is at a youth detention facility being interviewed by a psychologist about his current situation and his behavior. The interview takes a turn when Miller has an emotional outbreak, attempting to frighten and belittle his psychologist, demonstrating an example of his ability to be manipulative. These are the first signs that he’s already had serious self esteem issues.
The show demonstrates the terrifying reality of today’s age with the masses of young children becoming more prone to being exposed and involved in brutal crimes, such as murder. It reinforces the damage social media causes and shows it can be a main loss of innocence. It is a dark display of a young man’s negative feelings against women, online bullying and internal male rage. The challenges and pressures that young men face from their friends and social media is also shown.
Teens will find it also has a deeper message about how your words, even online, can have consequences. It shows the struggles teens and pre-teens face and how anybody can take action to solve problems before things get too far in the online world. Be warned, the series is devastatingly sad, however it is eye-opening to how bullying can really take a toll on mental health.
