In a sea of new releases on Netflix, Adolescence has quickly emerged as a cultural phenomenon. The four-part drama, which follows the fallout of events before and after a 13-year-old boy is accused of murder, has captivated audiences around the world, sparking widespread conversations on social media, and drawing viewers in for binge-worthy marathons. But what is it about this show that has everyone so obsessed? Below, we're unpacking why Adolescence has struck a chord with viewers in a way few shows have before.
Warning: spoilers ahead
Each episode is shot in one take
Yep, just one. The story unfolds in real time, as the characters — Jamie, and his parents Eddie (Stephen Graham) and Manad (Christine Tremaco) — search for answers around this tragic turn of events. Adding to the effect of what is already a gripping plot, each episode is filmed in one continuous shot, so the audience feels like they are finding out exactly what happened alongside the characters themselves.
Speaking to Tudum about the logistics of this method, director Philip Barantini said, “Basically that means we press record on the camera, and we don’t press stop until the very end of the hour. But it’s much more complicated than it sounds. It takes months of preparation and weeks of rehearsals and an incredible team of people to pull it off at every stage, from the script to the locations to the production design to where exactly the camera is going to be able to shoot and from what angle.”
Owen Cooper had never acted before
At the centre of the story is Jamie, the 13-year-old accused of murder, played by Owen Cooper. While Cooper delivers a performance worthy of a seasoned professional, Adolescence actually marks his first time acting professionally.
Speaking to Variety, Cooper (who was 14 at the time of filming) said, "I only really wanted to start acting a couple of years ago. It’s not been long. I grew up wanting to be a footballer. I don’t know what it was that made me want to do it, but I just wanted to do it. And then I went to lessons and enjoyed it. And then I got into a little agency thing, and then I got a self-tape request for Adolescence. And everything came from that really."
It's also not the last we're set to see of Cooper: the teenager is currently in the midst of shooting Emerald Fennell's hotly-anticipated Wuthering Heights, in which he plays a younger version of Jacob Elordi's Heathcliff.
Adolescence shines a light on toxic masculinity
While it's not actually based on a true story, Adolescence shines a light on very real issues, including toxic masculinity and incel culture. By episode three, it;s been established that Jamie did, indeed, commit the murder — but why he did it remains unclear. When psychologist Erin Doherty (Briony Ariston) endeabours to determine a motive, it becomes apparent that Jamie had tried to ask his victim, Katie, out, after a topless photo of her was circulated around the school via Snapchat as a kind of revenge porn. However, when Katie rejected Jamie, she went on to label him an "incel" in a series of text messages — an online community of involuntarily celibate men who take out their frustrations about not having sex on the female population.
It also raises questions about the real-life treatment of young offenders
Before Jamie is found guilty, Adolescence shows in detail just how children who are accused of crimes are treated by the justice system — in this case, in the UK. It's nearly impossible to look away as a group of armed policemen fiercely break down the door to Jamie's family home, causing him to wet himself in fear. It's also made clear that, when questioning gets underway, Jamie doesn't understand seemingly simple concepts surrounding his rights, like acquiring a solicitor. The show's ability to tackle such serious and relevant issues is a testament to its impact. Adolescence doesn’t just tell a story; it opens up important conversations about the darker sides of our culture that often go unspoken.
