“Adolescence”: The One-Shot Drama Critics Are Calling ‘TV Perfection’
Netflix is about to blow your mind with its groundbreaking new crime drama, “Adolescence”. This four-part series is a real-time, one-shot thriller, following a 13-year-old boy’s arrest for murder and the devastating impact on his family. Shot in a single, continuous take with no cuts, it immerses you in the raw, unfiltered drama like never before.
Adolescence tackles the rising issue of knife crime among young people, exploring the pressures faced by today’s youth. The show doesn’t just deliver shock value—it’s a deep, honest look at adolescence, social media, peer pressure, and parenthood in the digital age.
While Jamie’s story isn’t based on a real person or event, co-creator Stephen Graham was inspired by news reports of young boys involved in knife crimes. “There was an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl,” Graham tells Tudum. “It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?’”
With an incredible cast led by Stephen Graham, the series features stunning performances from Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, and young Owen Cooper as Jamie, whose portrayal will leave you captivated. The technical achievement of the one-shot format takes you right into the heart of the action, making every moment feel urgent and real.
Directed by Philip Barantini, who previously worked on “Boiling Point”, and written by Jack Thorne, “Adolescence” is a must-watch that is already making waves in the industry for its bold storytelling and innovative production. It’s already being called “TV perfection” by critics, with Emmy buzz already heating up.
“Basically that means we press record on the camera, and we don’t press stop until the very end of the hour,” Barantini told Netflix. “But it’s much more complicated than it sounds. It takes months of preparation and weeks of rehearsals and an incredible team of people to pull it off at every stage, from the script to the locations to the production design to where exactly the camera is going to be able to shoot and from what angle.”
“Adolescence” currently holds a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89 on Metacritic—proof that this show is already a critical triumph. It’s a game-changer for television, and you won’t want to miss it. “Adolescence” is currently streaming on Netflix.
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