Netflix viewers are cancelling their weekend plans to binge what they’re calling one of the best dramas in a long time.
Starring Line of Duty’s Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in his debut onscreen role, Adolescence tells the harrowing story of a 13-year-old boy accused of the murder of a girl in his class.
Over four episodes, it follows Jamie Miller (Owen) arrested and charged with the heinous crime, with Top Boy’s Ashley Walters playing Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe assigned to Jamie’s case.
We see the impact of Jamie’s actions on his school, his family, and the shocking CCTV evidence behind the act, before one episode, starring The Crown actress Erin Doherty as a clinical psychologist, delves deeper into his mindset and the impact the ideologies from the likes of Andrew Tate are having on young men.
As if the plot wasn’t thrilling enough to have our eyes glued to the screen, each episode of Adolescence is also filmed in a continuous one-shot take, following the characters in their homes, cars, the police station and inside a cell, meaning it unfolds in real time.
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While Jamie’s story isn’t based on a specific true account, Stephen – who co-created and wrote the series alongside Jack Thorne – admitted Adolescence tells ‘an ordinary family’s worst nightmare’.
He told Netflix Tudum: ‘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?”‘
Viewers can’t stop praising the series, not only for the terrifying storyline but also the incredible acting, and are urging others to drop all their weekend plans to watch.
‘Finished #Adolescence, what an incredible show. We genuinely do not talk enough about the greatness of Stephen Graham. This final scene had me bawling,’ KongoZande said, to which Samantha commented on X: ‘Same, I’m still crying and it ended about 5 minutes ago. He is phenomenal. Just wow.’
Kellam wrote: ‘Guys Adolescence on Netflix is potentially the closest thing we have to perfect tv. Severance, Paradise and now this? How greedy. All shot in one take too? Mental.’
Tim called it ‘the most sensational piece of television I’ve seen in years’, while Jiya said it ‘is truly a brilliantly crafted show’.
Kiara added: ‘I watched Adolescence on Netflix and I’ll give it a 10/10. I think all parents need to watch it, a lot of lessons in accountability and paying attention to what your kids are consuming on the internet.’
An account called No Bystander said: ‘#adolescencenetflix being shot in one take is actually crazy, Netflix cooked with this one. What a limited series, proper cinema man. And the acting from everyone, so so good. 10/10 man.’
‘Binge watched Adolescence last night on Netflix. Absolutely phenomenal drama. Stunning performances all round especially from the teenage actors. And four single-shot episodes that only added to the tension,’ Ally added, while Nancy said: ‘Started watching this limited series on Netflix called ADOLESCENCE and not only has it ruined my evening, but most likely my weekend. Never have I watched anything so heartbreaking in a loooong time.’
It’s no surprise the series also has a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, with Brit reviewing it and saying: ‘Absolutely brilliant and heart breaking from start to finish. The cinematography and acting is incredible, honestly one of the best shows I’ve watched in years.
‘Still can’t believe every single episode is one shot – which really is captivating but also makes you fully feel the dread of all the characters as if you were there with them. Truly a must watch.
‘Don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise, because they obviously don’t understand a thing.’
William added: ‘The best and most heartbreaking series I have watched in decades! I’m speechless.. This is not normally the kind of show I would watch and prioritize my time for. But this is really something that will strike you at your core. It’s a must see!’
‘Gripping, harrowing, masterfully done. This is great television,’ Evan added.
Director Philip Barantini and writer Jack Thorne previously spoke to Metro to discuss the importance of the conversations being sparked by this drama and why the one-shot style of filming was vital to the story.
Philip, who also directed 2019 film Boiling Point in one shot, which also starred Stephen, explained why this filming technique isn’t a ‘gimmick’, but a tool to draw the audience in to an even greater degree and ‘force them to pay attention’.
When we talked about this project, and the one shot thing, we really talked about it quite seriously because I’ve done Boiling Point, and I didn’t want to be known as the guy who just does the one takes. But this particular story, what it does is it forces you to pay attention,’ he stated.
‘It’s relentless, and it puts a perspective on things that you wouldn’t necessarily have. You can’t jump forward in time, you can’t cut to another person, you can’t go to a close up.’
He added: ‘We wanted to just dip the audience in for an hour in this particular moment in time, dip them back out again, and then put them in a few months later and let them work it out themselves.
‘I think what it does is it creates an extra layer of tension and a subconscious anxiety that you wouldn’t necessarily get from a conventional drama.’
Adolescence is available to watch on Netflix.
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