TV Review: Adolescence
This is the Netflix miniseries that has got everyone talking
For us, it's the best TV series in years.
The story begins with police storming into 14-year-old Jamie Miller’s home, arresting him on suspicion of murdering his classmate Katie the previous night.
The first two episodes take us deep into the police station, focusing on procedural details and the detectives’ efforts to build a case against Jamie (Owen Cooper), despite his insistence that he had no involvement.
Jamie chooses his father, Eddie (Stephen Graham), as his appropriate adult. Over the course of 13 months, we witness Eddie’s initial disbelief transform into an unbearable grief. It’s no spoiler to reveal that Jamie killed Katie, the evidence is presented early and is indisputable.
The real question the drama explores is why. It pulls us into a teenage world that exists largely online, beyond the full comprehension or control of adults, no matter how much they believe otherwise.
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DI Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters, outstanding in his portrayal of a man weighed down by the grim reality of his work) only starts to grasp the possible motive when his own teenage son deciphers the emojis in Katie’s comments under Jamie’s Instagram posts.
The most remarkable episode in this gripping four-part series is the penultimate one, which unfolds almost entirely through a session between Jamie and child psychologist Briony (Erin Doherty). She has been tasked with making the independent assessment required before the trial.
While the final episode, which focuses on the family’s desperate struggle to hold themselves together, may feel slightly weaker, that’s only in comparison to the brilliance of what precedes it.
The drama’s refusal to provide easy explanations (no abusive parents, no hidden family traumas). This makes it feel raw and authentic. There are no simple answers as to why one boy commits murder while others do not, and that is what makes it so powerful.
In summary: Every single family across the world needs to sit with their children and watch this
Adolescence is one of the most powerful shows that we've ever watched. Dealing with such an important topic was a brave decision from those involved in its creation.
For families and parents reading this. You need to sit down and watch with any young people from the age of 10. Some of the language is inappropriate bit it's an important watch.
We're giving it 10 out of 10.
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