Throughout his career, Stephen Graham has given many powerful performances; however, the deep emotional intensity he portrays at the end of Adolescence might be his most outstanding work yet – and it offers a unique perspective on storylines that usually depict such severe crimes.
The Netflix drama, jointly penned by him and Jack Thorne (known for works such as Toxic Town, Help, and Best Interests), starts off with a police raid on the residence of the character Eddie, but it turns out that he is not their target.
They seek his son, and upon entering his room, it becomes apparent that Adolescence deviates from the ordinary in the realm of crime dramas.
13-year-old Jamie stands accused of taking a life from his schoolmate, an allegation he consistently refutes. One can’t help but ponder whether justice has been misapplied in this case. However, by the close of the initial episode, there’s undeniable proof to suggest otherwise.
A chilling CCTV video catches Jamie fatally stabbing Katie, acting without a second thought, as he repeatedly raised and lowered the knife seven times.
In a chilling turn of events, I stumbled upon the grim discovery of a body in a parking lot, bearing gruesome wounds on the neck, chest, arms, and thighs, mere steps away from a lively playground and only a stone’s throw from my alma mater.
In a different take on typical crime dramas, Adolescence does not shy away from presenting a chilling depiction of how the destructive influence of online “incel” culture affects young males. The series highlights the tragic outcomes, often lethal, this phenomenon has on females and women.
Although Katie is undeniably the primary victim, tragically robbed of her life under horrific circumstances, extending my sympathies to her loved ones who must now navigate life without her and grapple with the knowledge of her brutal demise – Jamie and his family are also victims, though in a distinct manner.
This discussion isn’t about undermining the impact on Katie or comparing her tragic death to Jamie’s potential freedom. While it’s possible for Jamie to regain his liberty and rebuild his life in the future, such an opportunity doesn’t exist for Katie.
However, as Jamie gets deeply involved in an online environment that seems more and more mysterious and beyond his control – a brutal, hostile space filled with misogyny, where the mistreatment of women and girls is accepted and encouraged, a place that inspires young males to commit acts of violence against women – his youthful purity has been taken away from him prematurely, even before he reaches adulthood.
Instead of keeping it nurtured and shielded from harm for as extended a period as feasible, that particular aspect of him has been thoroughly snuffed out. Consequently, a source of illumination has been extinguished, and the sorrow over its disappearance mirrors the grief accompanying a demise.
In the third episode, seven months after the murder he perpetrated, we delve deeper into the specific actions that were taken against Jamie as a result of the harmful material he was exposed to, all while he resides in a secure rehabilitation facility.
He struggles with managing his emotions as he lacks self-awareness about them. He often finds himself in a state of uncertainty and apprehension over minor actions, fearing they might reveal something unflattering about him or contradict the traditional and limiting notions of masculinity that he has absorbed from online platforms and social media.
In the course of his sessions with the clinical psychologist, Jamie’s perception of masculinity has been significantly distorted. A crucial point he wants to convey is that he is not gay. This matter holds significant importance for him. However, he falsely claims to have had intimate relationships with women. Football doesn’t appeal to him; he recalls an awkward encounter with his father related to this, which seems deeply embarrassing for him and appears to be a source of great guilt. He frequently refers to himself as “unattractive”.
Most evidently, Jamie seems to lack self-confidence profoundly. His anxiety is overwhelming, largely due to his constant comparison of himself to the dominant male stereotype. In the shadowy corners of the internet he frequents, where his thoughts grow increasingly toxic day by day, being a man is portrayed as only achievable through unwavering control and dominance, no matter the cost or consequences.
In other words, when she dismissed him so openly and carelessly, it triggered his fear, causing an intense burst of anger.
At a troublingly early stage, we’re witnessing an expression of vulnerability that is typically associated with men, and it’s having a detrimental impact on women and girls.
As a cinema enthusiast, I must admit that the issue of toxic masculinity isn’t just harmful to women and girls; it’s a dangerous trap for men as well. This distorted notion of manhood not only puts us at risk but also jeopardizes our mental and physical health. It fuels male-on-male violence and is a significant factor behind the alarming rate of male suicide, which sadly takes more lives of men under 50 in the UK than any other cause.
In simpler terms, when such attitudes dominate, nobody truly triumphs. Sadly, Katie and Jamie have both suffered significant losses.
For now, he’s effectively given up his personal liberty, and there’s a blemish on his record. However, there might come a time when he can adopt a new identity and live incognito for the rest of his life.
As a movie buff, I can’t help but feel a deep connection with Jamie’s story. He was unwittingly drawn into a labyrinth of emotions – one he didn’t fully understand and the destination of which remained unclear to him. And even now, it seems, he hasn’t emerged from that maze yet. This is evident in the intense bursts of anger he directs towards his psychologist.
After the last curtain falls, I’m unsure if I can shake off this insidious mentality that’s latched onto me like a viral infection.
Regardless of any redemption he may seek, I firmly believe that Jamie’s violent actions will leave an indelible mark on him. His life will be irrevocably altered, and he’ll bear the weight of his past deeds forever. This burden, unfortunately, will not only rest on him but also on his family, who will carry it with them throughout their lives.
Immediately following the incident, graffiti was found on Eddie’s vehicle. In a nearby hardware store, there were tense conversations and disputes. Neighbors couldn’t help but stare, whispering amongst themselves; this intense observation is likely to carry on.
“Everyone causes me trouble,” admits Lisa.
They will be tabloid fodder for the rest of their lives.
Eddie warns against moving back to Liverpool for fear of what will happen.
However distressing, humiliating, and potentially dangerous as it may be, it pales in significance to the agony they endure due to their shared loss of something irreplaceable – a feeling that becomes strikingly clear when Eddie steps into his son’s room during the last scene mentioned.
While perched on the edge of Jamie’s bed, a torrent of emotions inside him becomes uncontainable, causing a flood of tears to stream down his face. His sorrow is exposed in this raw moment, as he tightly hugs himself, trying to find comfort within himself.
His heart seems to be audibly breaking, as he cries into Jamie’s pillow and then places his teddy bear under the blankets – a gesture that once felt natural for him as a parent, but now likely evokes memories of a past life that feels like someone else’s entirely, as he sobs bitterly.
In most crime-based TV shows, it’s unusual to encounter a scene depicting the aftermath involving the family of the perpetrator. When we do, their portrayal is seldom positive and never suggests empathy or remorse. More often than not, an unstable, difficult, or violent home environment is linked to the crime. However, in this instance, it’s different.
In this scenario, we witness a family mourning not only for the actions of their child but also for the son they’ve sadly parted with.
A bicycle stored inside a toolhouse; starfield-themed wall decorations; a tiny LEGO figure resting by the nightstand. These are all traces left behind by the child who is now gone.
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2025-03-19 18:06