Adolescence: A Gripping Crime Drama You Can Stream Now
What would you do if your teenage son was accused of murder? This intense question lies at the heart of Adolescence, a new crime drama that’s now streaming. The four-part limited series stars Stephen Graham (from Boiling Point and Bodies) and is filmed in a unique way — each episode is captured in one continuous shot. The drama unfolds in real-time, following the characters — from the family caught in the tragedy to the detectives investigating the crime — as they search for answers. Who’s responsible? Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented?
Stephen Graham shared in an interview, “One of our main goals was to explore what young men are facing today — the pressures from their friends, the internet, and social media. These pressures are just as real for kids everywhere, not just here.”
Here’s a deeper look into this thought-provoking series.
Storyline of Adolescence
Adolescence tells the story of how a family’s life changes forever when 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a girl from his school.
Stephen Graham explained, “We didn’t want to make a show about gangs or troubled kids with abusive parents. We wanted to make you think, ‘This could happen to us.’ This is the worst nightmare of an ordinary family.”
Who’s in the Cast of Adolescence?
- Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, the teenager accused of murder
- Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, Jamie’s father
- Ashley Walters (Top Boy) as Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe
- Erin Doherty (The Crown) as Briony Ariston, the clinical psychologist handling Jamie’s case
- Faye Marsay
- Christine Tremarco
- Mark Stanley (Happy Valley)
- Jo Hartley (After Life)
- Amélie Pease (newcomer)
Also read: VC Abhilash criticizes Unni Mukundan’s Marco, calling it a “regrettable phase in Indian cinema.”
Is Adolescence Based on a True Story?
Though the story of Jamie is fictional, the idea for the series came from real-life reports of young boys involved in knife crimes.
Graham explained, “There was a case where a young boy allegedly stabbed a girl. I kept thinking, ‘What’s happening in our society that leads to this?’ And then I kept hearing about it happening again and again. I wanted to understand why this was happening and bring attention to it.” (Also: Adolescence Exposes Dark Secrets of Teenage Life—You Won’t Believe What Happens Next)
Jack Thorne added, “We were drawn to explore the topic of male rage and what it means to be a man — as fathers, partners, and friends. It was an exciting and terrifying journey as writers.”
What Does “Filmed in One Continuous Shot” Mean?
Adolescence was filmed without any cuts — the camera starts recording and doesn’t stop until the episode ends. Director Philip Barantini said, “It sounds simple, but it takes months of planning, rehearsals, and an amazing team to pull it off.”
When Can I Watch Adolescence?
“You can watch Adolescence now on Netflix!”