Adolescence

The acting in Adolescence is superb—Stephen Graham has to be one of the best actors of his generation. Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller also stands out especially as it is his debut, actualy every performance is fantastic. The subject matter is important, as knife crime has sadly become part of the adolescent experience. Add to this the toxicity of social media, and perhaps the only clumsy element in the narrative is the portrayal of kids’ social media “codes” and parents’ lack of understanding. But overall, the entire narrative felt real and believable.

Then we come to the use of single takes and the unbelievably meticulous choreography of actors and camera movements to achieve this. Was it a way of creating an immersive experience for the audience? This technique was first really seen in 1917 with the WWI trench-based epic directed by Sam Mendes. Here, was it a gimmick or an honest attempt to create an immersive narrative? Personally, it took me a while to get used to it. The opening sequence felt a bit laboured to me, and yes, I know I’m in the business, but rather than immerse me in the action, I found myself thinking, “How did they do that?” And that broke the immersion for me—the moment we start to wonder or marvel at the techniques is, in my opinion, a distraction from the story.

Adolescence is a compelling four-part British crime drama series that premiered on Netflix on March 13, 2025. Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, the series is directed by Philip Barantini and produced by Jo Johnson.

Plot Synopsis:

Adolescence explores the harrowing aftermath of a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller, who is arrested for the murder of his classmate, Katie. The series delves into the impact of this event on Jamie’s family, particularly his parents, Eddie and Manda Miller, as they grapple with the shocking reality. Through a real-time narrative presented in single continuous takes, the show examines themes of youth violence, online radicalization, and the influence of toxic internet cultures on vulnerable adolescents. As the investigation unfolds, the series offers a poignant commentary on the complexities of modern teenage life and the unseen dangers lurking in the digital age.

Main Cast:

Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller

Notable works:

• This Is England (2006) as Andrew “Combo” Gascoigne
• Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014) as Al Capone
• The Irishman (2019) as Anthony Provenzano

Ashley Walters as DI Luke Bascombe

Notable works:

• Top Boy (2011–2023) as Dushane Hill
• Bulletproof (2018–2021) as Ronnie Pike
• Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005) as Antwan

Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston

Notable works:

• The Crown (2019–2020) as Princess Anne
• Les Misérables (2018) as Fabienne
• Chloe (2022) as Becky Green
• Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller

Notable works:

• Adolescence marks his acting debut.

Faye Marsay as DS Misha Frank

Notable works:

• Game of Thrones (2015–2016) as The Waif
• Black Mirror (2016) in the episode “Hated in the Nation” as Blue Colson
• Pride (2014) as Steph Chambers

Production Details:

• Production Companies:

Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, and Plan B Entertainment.

• Writer:

Jack Thorne

• Director:

Philip Barantini

• Producer:

Jo Johnson