Netflix is slowly becoming the perfect platform to find gripping miniseries that offer short, to-the-point stories about various topics and ideas. One of their most recent successes was the British miniseries Toxic Town, which dramatized the real-life Corby toxic waste case in Northamptonshire, England. The show was written by Jack Thorne, best known for his work on the Enola Holmes movies and His Dark Materials TV show. Now, less than a month later, he’s returned to Netflix with co-creator Stephen Graham for Adolescence, a four-episode miniseries about the aftermath of a 13-year-old boy’s murder charge.

The show begins with the arrest of the young murder suspect, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is charged with killing one of his classmates. But the show doesn’t just focus on the charge and investigation. The series showcases the long-term impacts of what happened from multiple perspectives, all centered around Jamie’s arrest. Every episode weaves an impressive tale, not only about the central boy, but also the people around him whose lives are changed forever by what he’s believed to have done.

Adolescence’s Impressive Cinematography Adds Weight To Its Tragic Story

Every Episode Is An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Ride

While Netflix’s best miniseries have plenty of memorable characters and storylines, Adolescence stands out because of its unique presentation. Every episode is filmed to look like one continuous shot, each entry showcasing one continuous hour that offers a snapshot into the larger story unfolding. This works to the show’s benefit because of the constant tension, forcing us to watch a real-time rollercoaster as new aspects of the case are unearthed. It adds weight to the story by making the events feel more real, giving its one-shot approach an important purpose.

Adolescence‘s presentation also means getting a limited view of the full situation, with character perspectives acting as pieces to a much larger puzzle surrounding the case. One of the biggest conversations the show has is about masculinity, primarily how different viewpoints on the subject are important to the murder charge. It’s tough to discuss without spoilers, but each episode digs into its ideas in nuanced ways that don’t ask the audience to take a particular stance. Instead, much like the cinematography, its themes are presented with appreciative realism, prioritizing events over messages.

Stellar Performances Are The Most Captivating Part Of Adolescence

Every Actor Makes The Situation Feel Real

Another fantastic element of the miniseries is the realistic performances of its major characters. Stephen Graham’s role as Jamie’s father, Eddie, showcases his range of fear, anger, and sadness as his son is accused of a heinous crime. Cooper’s Jamie is another standout too; a talented young actor was required to make the role believable, and Cooper surpassed expectations countless times. Even actors with less screen time, like Fatima Bojang’s Jade, a friend of the victim, stand out with phenomenal performances that make every situation feel real.

It’s a testament to the whole show’s ability to wrap presentation, performances, story, and themes into a perfectly tragic tale.

While each episode is impressive in its own right, one that sees Erin Doherty portray psychiatric evaluator Briony Ariston is the highlight of the show. Its real-time presentation is complemented by a limited premise that relies on strong performances and writing to stay engaging. Luckily, both the actors onscreen and the crew behind the show manage to make it intense and captivating, the meticulous care taken in filming the episode showcased throughout. It’s a testament to the whole show’s ability to wrap presentation, performances, story, and themes into a perfectly tragic tale.

Adolescence is a creative display of the aftermath of a teenager’s murder charge, packing emotional weight and thematic importance into every second of the story. It’s not always an easy watch, made possible by captivating performances and a unique presentation that works well for what’s being shown. But it is an important look into the consequences not only of a major criminal accusation, but the way in which social norms can, tragically, feed into such heinous actions.