Adolescence
Adolescence
A thirteen-year-old boy, Jamie Miller, is arrested for the brutal murder of a schoolgirl. To his family this all seems like a huge mistake - surely Jamie would not do something like that? To the police the evidence is clear but what motive could he possibly have?
rg9400 reviewedMarch 15, 2025
Adolescence is a harrowing watch centered around a filmmaking technique where each episode is filmed in real-time and in a single continuous take. It's hard to exactly describe what this show is without removing part of its teeth. It isn't exactly true crime or a mystery or a procedural or even a family drama. It's a scathing journey, equal parts focused on understanding the cause as well as the devastating impact of the unthinkable, offering a very timely analysis of the way we are failing the next generation, all told via this "gimmick." Gimmick or not, executing on this style is very impressive both in terms of the camerawork and the phenomenal acting. More importantly, it influences the entire show. Each episode utilizes a different style, from the methodical confines of a police station to the chaotic mess of a high school to a bottled conversation across a table to subdued family life. In each case, the single take has a different impact though it always creates an intimacy and authenticity with its characters. Episode 3 in particular will be one of the best episodes of television this year. At times, following characters as they walk around or as they go through the minutiae can feel dry, footage that would have found itself on the cutting floor in a more edited show. However, here, it lets you wallow in the emotions of the characters, being put in their shoes, the impatience blending into anxiety as fear of the unknown hangs over their heads. Because of this, the quietest moments hit the hardest, the emotions crackling through the screen. The single take isn't just a technical conceit, it seeps into the very core of what this show wants to be. This is a tough show to watch. I think you need to watch this show.