The Reel Review
When a 13-year-old boy is arrested and charged with killing a female school classmate in central England, his devastated family, a court-appointed psychologist and the detective in charge of the investigation are all left asking what really happened and why. Stephen Graham and young Owen Cooper, in his acting debut, star in this Netflix miniseries co-created by Graham and in which each one-hour episode is filmed in a single take.
First, kudos to the team behind the incredibly intricate, single-take format, which required meticulous attention to detail to pull off. The impressive single-take technique makes the crime series exponentially more immersive and authentic. The theme of the four episodes is masculinity, men’s roles in society in particular and the online radicalization of young incels (involuntary celibates) into women-hating bullies.
Performance-wise, Graham (Boardwalk Empire, The Irishman) is outstanding as the emotionally devastated father, as is Cooper as the accused killer and Erin Doherty (The Crown) as the psychologist gradually uncovering the young boy’s true nature. Episode 3 is a stunner. At a time when young boys and men seem to be more susceptible to online radicalization, Adolescence is an important cautionary tale that all families with young sons should see.
REEL FACTS
• Owen Cooper will next appear as the young Heathcliff in 2026’s Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
• Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne was also executive producer and writer for 2025’s critically-acclaimed miniseries Toxic Town.
• Erin Doherty portrayed Princess Anne in Seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown.
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