Adolescence
Adolescence
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Adolescence

"A child accused. Everyone left to answer."

7.8
Yr 2025
Status Ended
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking: what really happened?

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 98 /100

Adolescence received overwhelmingly ecstatic critical acclaim upon its release, with multiple reviewers framing it as a masterpiece and one of the finest television dramas of the year. Critics praised the four-part miniseries for its harrowing, authentic narrative that examines the tragic complexities of youth, communication breakdowns, and the perils of growing up digital.

A major focal point in reviews was the technical mastery of the production, which captured each episode in a single, continuous take. Critics described this audacious real-time filmmaking style as deeply immersive, visually impressive, and intensely affecting, creating a unique viewing experience that sits somewhere between television, film, and theater.

The performances and writing also drew universal acclaim. Reviewers lauded the cast's award-worthy emotional depth alongside Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham's naturalistic script, calling the series a profound, heartbreaking, and deeply essential watch.

“the closest thing to TV perfection in decades”

“a rare feat of television excellence”

“combines brilliant performances and audacious filmmaking to tell a complex story about the world children — and parents — live in today”

“It's somewhere between TV, film, and theatre, almost a new type of viewing experience altogether”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • UK • CA
Netflix Standard with Ads
UK • CA • US
Why fans love it

Adolescence treats the collapse of a standard middle-class family as a high-stakes crime drama. By centering on a 13-year-old accused of killing a peer, the series sidesteps easy answers about guilt to examine the social structures that shape young men. It frames the toxicity of modern internet influencers and the rapid radicalization of impressionable minds within a chilling, domestic setting. The result is a quiet, grounded study of parenting under extreme pressure.

Emilia Holliday anchors a cast that refuses to lean into soap opera tactics or frantic pacing. The show is deliberately understated, preferring to let scenes of slow confrontation reveal how objectification and casual misogyny take root in daily life. This avoids aggressive moralizing in favor of a cold, analytical look at how a tragedy can expose the fractures inside a home. It is a dense, provocative piece of television that demands patience while dismantling the myths of modern patriarchy.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 38
Regulars 8
Longest run 3 eps
Show 30 more
Production Board

Crew

Line Producer
Foley Supervisor
ADR Mixer
Makeup Designer
Script Supervisor
Director of Photography
Production Design
Creator
Location Manager
Sound Mixer
Boom Operator
Costume Design
Post Production Producer
Colorist
Co-Executive Producer
Original Music Composer
Stunt Coordinator
Producer
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Adolescence overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

blunt intense foreboding england sexism violence against women patriarchy bullying murder family relationships miniseries parenting confrontation insecurity teenage boy visceral mental health misogyny british youth social media british school system social structures objectification single take teenage killer thought provoking today's youth psychological drama slut shaming andrew tate today's society
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
March 13, 2025
Status
Ended
Origin
GB, US
TMDB Votes
1,703