'Adolescence': Why Netflix's gripping crime-thriller is a must-watch
What's the story
Netflix's latest British miniseries Adolescence is making waves with its haunting depiction of teenage struggles.
Released on March 13, the four-part series has topped the streaming platform's show rankings with a mind-boggling 24.3 million views in its first four days.
The show stars Owen Cooper as 13-year-old Jamie Miller, a boy arrested for murder, in his debut acting role.
Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco also star.
Here's what makes it so watchable.
Series impact
'Adolescence' mirrors real-life teenage challenges
Adolescence is not merely a drama, it portrays the real-life challenges of teenagers. The series provides an unfiltered insight into toxic masculinity in the modern digital age.
Cooper's performance as Jamie is disturbingly real, adding heft to a story that echoes societal problems.
Graham, who not only plays Jamie's father in the series but is also a co-creator, has asked parents to acknowledge these hidden dangers molding their kids' lives.
Graham's perspective
Why parents must be careful regarding hidden influences over kids
Graham, famously known for hard-hitting roles, shared his thoughts on youth violence, considering the recent stabbings among British teenagers.
"Not only we parent our children, and not only the school educates our children... But also there's influences that we have no idea of that are having profound effects on our young culture, profound effects, positive and extremely negative."
He highlighted the necessity of knowing about those hidden influences shaping children's lives.
Series format
'Adolescence' series format and thematic exploration
Adolescence is shot in a single continuous shot per episode, similar to Boiling Point, another of Graham's acclaimed projects.
The series explores the theme of toxic online figures like Andrew Tate influencing young men's ideologies in dangerously extreme ways.
The show's story builds tension in the white space of its narrative, with one entire episode being a conversation between Jamie and a child psychologist.
You find out about the criminal in the first episode, yet the suspense remains.
Series impact
'Adolescence' series: A wake-up call for parents
Adolescence is more than just a gripping drama; it's a wake-up call for parents.
The series forces uncomfortable conversations about the hidden dangers shaping children's lives.
Graham's warning is clear: this isn't just entertainment. It's a terrifying reality that needs urgent attention.
The show has been compared to another British series Baby Reindeer, but Adolescence takes a different approach by asking viewers to bear witness to the unfolding events.
When are you taking up the challenge then?