The newest Netflix phenomenon, “Adolescence,” released March 13 and drew in viewers immediately with a haunting and heartbreaking story, based on events that have taken place in the United Kingdom.
The four-episode mini-series was created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, directed by Philip Barantini and stars new actors Owen Cooper and Graham. The show follows the story of a family and school system after a tragic murder occurs and the young son Jamie, played by Cooper, is detained by police.
Inspiration for the show came from Graham reading articles and seeing stories on the news of young boys murdering young girls. The impact of social media and the upbringing of children can impact them in ways that could be undetected by those closest to them.
This is a heavy show that has been viewed all over the globe by over 90 million people and has already claimed its place on Netflix’s All Time Most Popular list. The dark storyline has drawn in viewers and sparked necessary conversations about the impact that social media has had on young children.
Cooper made his acting debut with the lead role of Jamie Miller and has proved himself as an acting powerhouse at the age of 15. He was able to portray a young boy who was trying to grow up and mature in school while being bullied and pushed to his limits. The switch from innocent to guilty is shown simply in the way Cooper is able to contort his face and chill viewers to the bone. There is a constant conflict on how you feel about him through each episode. When you are starting to feel bad for him you almost need to remind yourself of what he has done and what he is capable of. It is truly disturbing to see the constant change in tone and emotion he is showing to those around him.
While Cooper is getting attention for this groundbreaking debut, Graham has proven himself yet again in the acting field. Portraying the father, Eddie Miller, you are able to see the dynamic emotions and relationship between a father and a young son. The disconnect between the two is hidden between the lies that they keep telling one another. There is a constant question of how far does the love between a family stretch when they find out that someone they love is capable of something so horrific.
Yet, Graham plays this perfectly. The frustration and loss that a father feels when he finds out that his own son isn’t who he believes he raised. The impact on the Miller family is portrayed so seamlessly as they all are dealing with the same trauma in completely different ways.
The production of the series was beautiful. The setting and soundtrack paired beautifully as they went through this story of such heartache and trauma. This series has changed the genre forever for the better.
After such raving reviews, viewers have already started begging for another season of the show for answers to some of the questions left after the final episode. While another season would be entertaining and a great addition to entertainment, the way that these episodes conclude has an amazing way of making each viewer feel satisfied by the ending even with all of the unanswered questions.
The series has made waves and rightfully so. The message is important while the visuals are gripping and the acting will continue to make you feel every possible emotion, marking this show as one of the greatest of this year.
