Adolescence – Series Review | Netflix

ADOLESCENCE on Netflix is a British crime series made as the most intense, character-driven story. A psychological thriller drama with 4 episodes each made as a one-shot. It will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Read our full Adolescence series review here!

ADOLESCENCE is a new Netflix crime series with four episodes. Each episode is recorded in real-time as a one-shot. This makes for an insanely intense and nerve-wracking experience as you never get a break.

In other words, it’s much like any real-life situation where you’re under pressure. And everyone is under some kind of pressure in this British Netflix production. I watched all four episodes for this review and then felt like I needed a nap – and possibly some therapy.

Continue reading our Adolescence series review below. Find it on Netflix from March 13, 2025.

A murder case plays out in four episodes

Adolescence is a four-part limited series where each episode is shot in one shot and where we spend one hour at a new time during a murder case. It’s the story of how 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl from his school.

Episode 1 actually opens with the arrest, which happens in a very brutal way. Something that shocks the entire family. Not least, Jamie’s father, Eddie Miller (Stephen Graham), who Jamie asks to be his “appropriate adult” and go to the police station with him.

As the arresting officer, Detective Inspector Bascombe (Ashley Walters), we get another point-of-view to the case. They’re dealing with a murdered child as much as this murder-accused child.

Finally, the clinical psychologist, Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty), becomes part of the story as she’s charged with assessing Jamie’s mental health and state of mind. In between, we meet schoolmates, teachers, other family members, and quite a few others.

If you don’t need to hydrate and catch your breath in between episodes – yes, despite this being a crime drama more than actual action – then you’re stronger than me. Or certainly less susceptible to the intensity of the storytelling in Adolescence.

Each episode is filmed in one continuous shot

With Adolescence, the actual story of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a classmate is intriguing and intense enough. However, what works extremely well for this limited series with just four episodes is something that could be perceived as a gimmick: one-shot filming.

Once an episode starts, the camera never stops recording. This results in a real-time viewing experience as everything is filmed in one continuous shot. It makes for an intense and downright brutal kind of storytelling that makes perfect sense for the story.

The performance by each actor is beyond impressive, as is the work of the director and cinematographer. It’s like the wildest choreography, and sometimes I even caught myself thinking, “How and when did the cinematographer end up there?!”

It never ruins or abrupts the story, but it did fascinate me and left me absolutely breathless.

The same was the case with the French zombie movie MadS. For this one, there are no zombies, but the intensity of the story more than makes up for this. Also, it’s worth noting that one of the main characters is the 13-year-old boy, Jamie.

Give all the actors awards

The young newcomer, Owen Cooper, plays Jamie, and I can’t truly do his performance justice with words. You’ll have to watch it! How he can move from crying and getting angry to being a sweet and kind boy before moving through the motions again is downright terrifying.

And yes, I do mean that as a compliment.

In fact, each actor in this movie deserves an award – especially, of course, those doing the heavy lifting with constantly being on-screen. Especially Stephen Graham (Bodies), Ashley Walters (Missing You), Faye Marsay (Black Mirror), and Erin Doherty (Chloe).

Good Lord, episode 3 of Adolescence blew me away. It was all about Erin Doherty and Owen Cooper, and despite being mostly in one location, it was intense and even felt action-filled.

Of course, I don’t want to take anything away from the director, cinematographer, or anyone else working behind the camera. Clearly, this is a joint effort where everyone must hit their mark each and every moment.

Watch the Adolescence series on Netflix

This Netflix limited series reunites star and co-creator Stephen Graham with director Philip Barantini. All four episodes were directed by Philip Barantini, who also directed the BAFTA-nominated feature film Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham.

Just like the Netflix series Adolescence, that movie was one continuous shot. This series was created and written by Stephen Graham and multi-award winner Jack Thorne (The Swimmers, His Dark Materials, Help). Hopefully, these two will write more together!

If you’re a fan of crime series with a psychological and character-driven plot, then you do not want to miss out on this Netflix series. It will have you sitting on the edge of your seat as you try to understand the events along with everyone else. Heartbreaking and brutal.

Adolescence is out on Netflix on March 13, 2025.

Details

Director: Philip Barantini
Writers: Stephen Graham & Jack Thorne
Cast: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, Mark Stanley, Jo Hartley, Amélie Pease

Photos © Netflix