Netflix’s 4-Part Series That Shocked The World Is Not An Easy Binge

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Despite being one of Netflix’s biggest hits, the miniseries Adolescence is a deeply moving and often difficult show to watch. By the end of this self-contained British drama, viewers are sure to be affected by its tragic story.

As a total cinema fan, I was so excited when Adolescence dropped on Netflix in March 2025 and it quickly became a huge hit! It’s created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, and directed by Philip Barantini, who did a fantastic job with Boiling Point. It reminded me a lot of other popular Netflix shows like Wednesday and Stranger Things because it centers around the life of a teenager.

Adolescence Is Not An Easy Binge

While Adolescence might seem similar to shows like Wednesday and Stranger Things, that’s where the comparison stops. This series isn’t light entertainment; despite being a quick and engaging watch with its compelling story and short episodes, Adolescence is a challenging and often difficult show to experience.

The story starts when 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested and accused of murder. As his family struggles to understand what happened, police and a child psychologist work to figure out why he would commit such a terrible act.

Why Adolescence Is So Powerful

Okay, so everyone in Adolescence is really good, but Cooper absolutely blew me away. Honestly, this show could have easily become just another sensationalized, exploitative crime story, but Cooper’s performance saved it. They managed to make Jamie feel like a real person, and brought a surprising amount of depth to what could have been a really one-dimensional character. It’s a fantastic performance, seriously.

I found Adolescence to be a really compelling watch, even if it doesn’t offer simple solutions to the problem of young men getting caught up in harmful online ideologies. What struck me most was how it’s filmed – this incredibly smooth, single-take style – combined with a genuinely thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a modern man. The show doesn’t spoon-feed you answers about why Jamie does what he does, and honestly, that’s where its strength lies. It leaves you thinking, and that ambiguity is really powerful.

Will There Be An Adolescence Season 2?

The show Adolescence leaves many questions unanswered. While it portrays the harmful effects of the aggressive masculinity Jamie admires, the police exhibit the same troubling behavior from the very beginning, using excessive force – like a SWAT team breaking down a teenager’s door – which creates a contradiction.

The show also presents Jamie’s father, Eddie, as someone we can feel for, though he’s flawed. These imperfections clearly affected Jamie and played a role in his descent into violence. What makes Adolescence so memorable – even though the story feels complete and a second season is unlikely – is its willingness to explore these complex and contradictory aspects of its characters.

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2026-02-12 20:18