Adolescence
Overview
Adolescence is a 2025 crime drama television series created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne for Netflix. The four-part, real-time drama follows Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old boy who is arrested for the murder of a fellow student. Each episode consists of a single, continuous shot, creating an immersive, tense, and claustrophobic viewing experience that puts the audience directly in the moment. The first episode follows the police as they arrive at Jamie's house at dawn and arrest him, showing the shock and confusion of his family as their world is turned upside down. The second episode follows the interrogation, where Jamie, initially calm and cooperative, eventually confesses to the murder under pressure from the detectives, revealing a dark side that his family never knew existed. The third episode follows Jamie's family as they cope with the aftermath of his confession, struggling to understand how their son could commit such a violent act and dealing with the judgment of their community. The fourth episode follows Jamie's trial and conviction, showing the legal proceedings, the impact on the victim's family, and the devastating consequences for Jamie's future. The series is a powerful exploration of masculinity, violence, and the failures of the system. It asks difficult questions about how a 13-year-old boy could become a killer, and whether society is failing young men. Stephen Graham delivers a devastating performance as Jamie's father, a working-class man who is torn between his love for his son and his horror at what he has done. Newcomer Owen Cooper is remarkable as the troubled teenager at the center of the story, conveying both innocence and menace. Adolescence has been a critical and commercial success, earning multiple award nominations including BAFTAs and Emmys.
