Adolescence on Netflix is the best TV series I've seen in years
- Thread starter DragoonKain
- Start date
DaciaJC
Gold Member
Yes, because that is how these things work.
Not always, but sometimes, yes.
IDKFA
I am Become Bilbo Baggins
No, mate. This show was written and in production when that tragic event happened.
They were not inspired by this event.
The event you're referring to was a twisted fuck killing young girls at a Taylor Swift dance event. The story in this show is totally different.
US here but there is certainly a crisis with our teen age boys (father of a teen boy and teacher of 16-18yr olds). I'd highly recommend Prof. Scott Galloway and Richard Reeves as producers and articulators of the problem and the societal impacts of this problem. They basically argue that YES, we need to specifically enact policy and change societal attitudes on this issue but that we can also simultaneously champion women and that this isn't a zero sum game. However, they argue that if we fail to acknowledge this problem and fail to be become champions of these young men, that they will turn to far more toxic voices that will basically blame women for all their issues.
People who live in only a culture war mentality might see this mini-series in very specific ways but basically to me it is just shining a very bright light on a big and tragic problem. Even if it just gets parents to talk to their children about what they are doing for hours behind closed doors in their rooms that will be a step in the right direction. Back when I was growing up, having your child at home at night in their room was considered keeping them safe. Nowadays it just isn't.
DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
Incels are a real thing. Referring to them in a show about a murder isn't necessarily political. When you have young kids who commit those type of murders, there is a chance that is going to be a factor. It's only fair for law enforcement and/or the parents to wonder about it. I think they were just trying to create as real of a scenario as possible.
If I had a kid who sat in his room all day, didn't talk to anyone, and then went out and killed a girl, I'd absolutely question if my kid was an incel. It's only political if there's an overall political message they're trying to drive home, and any references to incels were detached from any messaging in particular. I think those gripes are ultra nitpicky. And being wired to look too closely for stuff in shows now because of the culture wars. There was no message of "Young white kids killing girls is a big problem in Britain today because of Andrew Tate." That would have been an agenda, but there was nothing like that in it. It was just a standalone story about a kid with serious emotional and anger issues and following the impacts of a crime through various points of view.
If I had a kid who sat in his room all day, didn't talk to anyone, and then went out and killed a girl, I'd absolutely question if my kid was an incel. It's only political if there's an overall political message they're trying to drive home, and any references to incels were detached from any messaging in particular. I think those gripes are ultra nitpicky. And being wired to look too closely for stuff in shows now because of the culture wars. There was no message of "Young white kids killing girls is a big problem in Britain today because of Andrew Tate." That would have been an agenda, but there was nothing like that in it. It was just a standalone story about a kid with serious emotional and anger issues and following the impacts of a crime through various points of view.
Last edited:
MilkyJoe
Member
It would plagiarise the evening news
Sonik
Member
Regarding your last paragraph, acknowledging a problem doesn't mean it's a step towards the right direction anymore when idiots are the ones shaping the narrative and making decisions. You can quote me on this in the future, these morons' "solutions" will most probably be antagonistic towards men and will make the situation even worse
AJUMP23
Parody of actual AJUMP23
That is what Law and Order does.
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
So no one is going to acknowledge they were wrong about the character being "race swapped"?
Represent.
Represent(ative) of bad opinions
Best child actor I've ever seen. They usually suck.
Episode 3 is a masterclass in acting, one take makes it truly special.
This is my fav show since Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer on Netflix.
Episode 3 is a masterclass in acting, one take makes it truly special.
This is my fav show since Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer on Netflix.
Last edited:
Tams
Member
It's very well produced and the acting is good.
But it is overtly trying to send a flawed message and has caused a moral panic in the UK. It is therefore not to be supported.
It completely ignores that the real issue is the teaching of respect and resilience, of which there has been ever less of in the UK. There are not masses on 'incels' in the UK.
But it is overtly trying to send a flawed message and has caused a moral panic in the UK. It is therefore not to be supported.
It completely ignores that the real issue is the teaching of respect and resilience, of which there has been ever less of in the UK. There are not masses on 'incels' in the UK.
Tams
Member
The director has done multiple interviews stating that is what it is about. 'Bullying' barely gets a mention in them.
John Bilbo
Member
I found the different perspectives interesting in this show. The actors and actresses did a fine job!
Even though impressive I think the show could have worked better with less use of the one shot technique as I found the pacing needlessly dragging "between" some scenes.
The show would have benefitted from losing the ham-fisted messaging, especially in the fourth episode.
Even though impressive I think the show could have worked better with less use of the one shot technique as I found the pacing needlessly dragging "between" some scenes.
The show would have benefitted from losing the ham-fisted messaging, especially in the fourth episode.
Blitzkrieg!
Member
Correct. The UK has been experiencing rising amounts of violent knife attacks, including among teens. This show attempts to scapegoat “incel culture” as the particular reason for the violence and ignores other very obvious factors that are inconvenient to the narrative it wants to present. It’s hard to read it as anything other than disguised propaganda.
That said, I found this to be boring. The one style is impressive but doesn’t do much to create a compelling story.
Last edited:
Lt Pidgeon
Neo Member
Respect and resilience are key words there. Especially when you see the school environment the kids are in with the ineffective teachers and LGBT bullshit instead of actually instilling some respect in them.
Tams
Member
And if the teachers are 'strong', it's often a middle-aged woman lecturing them or a middle-aged male trying to be 'cool'.
Both are either ineffective or actively harmful.
This drama is just going to see a load of teenage boys be lectured, likely by middle-aged women. I've already seen some of it recently. You can see the teenagers rolling their eyes and having a snigger at the teachers.
Redneckerz
Those long posts don't cover that red neck boy
Looks like this is getting popular.
So i won't watch it. Atleast not now. Watching when and if it interests me.
So i won't watch it. Atleast not now. Watching when and if it interests me.
12Goblins
Lil’ Gobbie
don't bother they just move on to the next thing they can find that will validate their beliefs. There's never a readjustment of their worldview. Rip
Sonik
Member
Knife crime in schools is still an immigration problem, UK was nothing like this 30+ years ago and the stats prove it. Even if they were just inspired by other real events, they're deliberately trying to shape the narrative in a specific way to make it all about incels and white men bad as per usual even though it has very little to do with that
Last edited:
nkarafo
Member
TrebleShot
Member
I thought this show was terrible.
The one shot thing is impressive but means they linger on things and repeat the same point over and over.
I thought the acting and writing was secondary school GCSE drama exam level. Absolutely awful.
They talk about incel culture but only go surface level and don't explore some of the more dangerous and detailed aspects they simply say it's a thing and its bad.
Once again social media hype and the lack of real quality ut there means things like this float to the top.
The one shot thing is impressive but means they linger on things and repeat the same point over and over.
I thought the acting and writing was secondary school GCSE drama exam level. Absolutely awful.
They talk about incel culture but only go surface level and don't explore some of the more dangerous and detailed aspects they simply say it's a thing and its bad.
Once again social media hype and the lack of real quality ut there means things like this float to the top.
Lt Pidgeon
Neo Member
They didn't even fully explore the extent of the bullying that the boy might have been receiving.
When was the last time there was an "incel murder" in the UK? It's not a thing, far less something that deserves a Netflix show about it. They are absolutely deflecting on the reasons for knife crime.
TrebleShot
Member
Im not sure on the deflection tactics, but I just think the quality is shite, I cant believe how bad the acting is.
Episode 3 abysmal TV
Lt Pidgeon
Neo Member
Agreed. Between the wee boy going from being a meek 13 year old to being a psychopath, and then the terrible acting of the psychologist.
TrebleShot
Member
HA yeah this episode cemented it for me that it was just another UK BBC / ITV produced show with basic writing and crappy acting.
Also look I know Graham is a good actor, not amazing, but flaring nostrils and being frustrated isn't award worthy.
BlackTron
Member
You seem like a pretty fair and reasonable dude, so this feels like a good opportunity to show your tendency to lean into a certain flavor kool-aid, without any bad intent.
It goes both ways. Yesterday, a friend reposted a Twitter screenshot that claimed the SSA loans to babies aren't loans, they're survivor benefits and he's literally stealing from orphans. I had to point out that they are SBA loans, not SSA payments. The original source of the claim on Twitter, likely, had no bad intent and was simply not smart enough to parse the difference between SBA and SSA.
I believe Musk is legitimately factually bad enough without having to claim he steals directly from orphans. We create moral equivalency by using the same disinformation tactics.
AJUMP23
Parody of actual AJUMP23
I agree sometimes the narratives on the socials are just trying to start something. I could enjoy the show even if there is race swapping.
I WILL TRY TO BE MORE UNREASONABLE!!
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
Bojji
Member
So I finished it yesterday.
Most of the actors were really good but some performances were not so great.
Series is really well done and there is some impressive cinematography on display that's for sure.
That said the most important thing - Story is super simple and not really explored. Series focuses on feelings of characters more than storyline.
I think it could be done in 2 episodes or one movie, 50% of stuff is not important and just fills screentime.
I think it's ok but clearly over hyped.
Most of the actors were really good but some performances were not so great.
Series is really well done and there is some impressive cinematography on display that's for sure.
That said the most important thing - Story is super simple and not really explored. Series focuses on feelings of characters more than storyline.
I think it could be done in 2 episodes or one movie, 50% of stuff is not important and just fills screentime.
I think it's ok but clearly over hyped.
Last edited:
kruis
Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
Good point about the moral panic about kids using social media. See this article.
Resist the social media moral panic | Joe Hackett | The Critic Magazine
We’ve been told repeatedly that Netflix’s Adolescence is a powerful reminder of how quickly anyone can be radicalised by the content we consume
12Goblins
Lil’ Gobbie
I wish we could have little flags next to our names I think its interesting to see peoples different perspectives on different issues
maybe in the UK the show is being over hyped but in US nobody is talking about it so it's a nice surprise when netflix finally produces a show that is technically well made, contains powerful subject matter, and has top notch acting
maybe in the UK the show is being over hyped but in US nobody is talking about it so it's a nice surprise when netflix finally produces a show that is technically well made, contains powerful subject matter, and has top notch acting
Episodes 1-2 were great police procedurals (reminded me of Broadchurch season 3 opening with a procedure of reporting being raped)
Episode 3 was Primal Fear-wannabe
Episode 4 was boring
Acting was great and I liked the tiny twist about emoticons and heart icon colors, but overall the story was lacking.
Why a colleague had to deliver him a kitchen knife?
Also, I thought UK had the most CCTV cameras per square meter, why would you let yourself get recorded?
Episode 3 was Primal Fear-wannabe
Episode 4 was boring
Acting was great and I liked the tiny twist about emoticons and heart icon colors, but overall the story was lacking.
Why a colleague had to deliver him a kitchen knife?
Also, I thought UK had the most CCTV cameras per square meter, why would you let yourself get recorded?
Tams
Member
diffusionx
Gold Member
crazy that people would argue this in 2025.
DaciaJC
Gold Member
Just saying it's a possibility. Didn't think that would be so controversial or even remarkable.
Most likely scenario is the Stephen Graham both runs the studio and was always going to play the lead male (dad) role and he is white. Then you fill in casting around that. I do think that is a mistake to only look at the show being only specifically about incels and knife violence. I looked at it as a tragedy of the declining mental health of men (and adolescent and young men specifically). As a teacher and dad it isn't too hard to see that young men are really struggling (tons of data and reasons on this if you want to google up richard reeves or scott galloway). Obviously Jamie had to have even more going on than that to do what he did and we could see glimpses of that demon at times throughout the show (especially ep 3).
MMaRsu
Gold Member
I mean talking with your kids about the horrid shit on the web and that it may be best to avoid that seems like a smart idea to me.Good point about the moral panic about kids using social media. See this article.
Resist the social media moral panic | Joe Hackett | The Critic Magazine
We’ve been told repeatedly that Netflix’s Adolescence is a powerful reminder of how quickly anyone can be radicalised by the content we consumethecritic.co.uk
Poppinfresh
Neo Member
Same.
The first episode was decent, but then I was bored to tears. I made it halfway through episode 3 and started to fast-forward.
S0ULZB0URNE
Member
First two episodes were ok.
Last two were terrible as was the way it ending.
Found out who it was based on compared to who they used to play the boy....
Big yikes!
Last two were terrible as was the way it ending.
Found out who it was based on compared to who they used to play the boy....
Big yikes!
This is a lie being passed around, the show was already in production when those events happened, it's has nothing to do with Southport other than it being a stabbing.
JackHanma
Neo Member
"White boys bad" the television show. Astroturfed by the UK government despite the fact its make believe... The same UK government that denied investigations into grooming gangs because that's wacist. Also, what is with the people online defending this show like it is their job? LOL show sucks.
Last edited:
S0ULZB0URNE
Member
No it isn't.
Hoddi
Member
What do you mean 'No'? The Southport murders were committed on July 29th 2024 while this show was announced in March of 2024. They had literally started filming even before those murders.
EviLore
can we get some kind of community notes things for posters who continue to push misinformation?
Tams
Member
And yet, in the greatest debating chamber in the country (that shall not be named here), the take away was young boys potentially very bad, (Andrew Tate, Andrew Tate, Andrew Tate...), and 'we need to tackle incels'.
Not the bullying or the root causes of extreme crime in young boys.
Ans of course, they haven't dared touch on the role of race and different cultures (but hey, think of all the different food).
Last edited:
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
Just binged the whole series and it was great. That last episode was just so sad… I’ve got a good friend from high school who committed murder and is serving life, and I’ve seen a small bit of that destruction first-hand.
The acting in this show was just incredible. And while the episodes certainly didn’t need to be one continuous shot, I thought it was wildly impressive that they were able to pull that off. Especially episode 2.
Anyway, definitely a great little series. Absolutely worth watching.
The acting in this show was just incredible. And while the episodes certainly didn’t need to be one continuous shot, I thought it was wildly impressive that they were able to pull that off. Especially episode 2.
Anyway, definitely a great little series. Absolutely worth watching.