Adolescencia

I'm surprised by all the high ratings Adolescence is getting. Don't get me wrong-it's a well-directed and beautifully shot series, and the acting is strong across the board. But in terms of plot and character development, it falls short.

The series is structured into four episodes, each from a different point of view: the police, the school, the psychiatrist, and the family. It's a clever narrative device, but we never truly get to see Jamie's point of view. For a story built around his actions, that's a major absence. We're left watching others try to explain him instead of hearing from him directly.

There are hints at trauma, neglect, and bullying, but nothing is explored in enough depth to justify what happens. His parents come off more as out-of-touch than harmful. The bullying is there, but not portrayed as relentless. Online comments and peer pressure seem to trigger Jamie's violent outburst, but it feels sudden and underdeveloped.

Then there's the subplot with the father being harassed, which also felt unclear and undeserved. Was it a misunderstanding? Was the town just lashing out? The series never explains.

I did appreciate the structure and artistic ambition, and I actually think it could've been brilliant-if there was a fifth episode from Jamie's perspective. That could've tied the story together and helped the audience understand what was going on inside his mind, even if we didn't agree with it.

As it stands, Adolescence is good, even thought-provoking-but not the masterpiece some make it out to be. It delivers atmosphere and emotion through style, but not always through substance.

Everyone is praising the acting, cinematography, and the astonishing technical achievement of filming an entire episode in a single continuous shot. And rightfully so. But in the end, what moved me the most in this real-time drama was something far more intimate-the heartbreaking realization of a father who comes to understand that he doesn't truly know his own son.

What can we really do as parents? How much control do we have over the people our children become? Are we responsible for both their virtues and their failings? These are the profound and unsettling questions at the heart of this masterfully crafted slow-burn drama. Every element-its pacing, its visual language, its raw performances-works in perfect harmony to confront us with this timeless, universal dilemma.

What an amazing performance from a newcomer. Single, continuous shots, and he hold his own for 50+ minutes an episode. Owen Cooper is a prodigy.

Owen Cooper is the breakout star of Netflix's "Adolescence," a gripping drama featuring Stephen Graham. This 15-year-old from Manchester makes his on-screen debut as Jamie Miller, a young boy accused of a shocking crime. His performance is drawing considerable attention, with many predicting a bright future for the young actor. The series delves into the intense turmoil faced by Jamie and his family, and Cooper's portrayal captures the complexities of a teenager caught in a harrowing situation. He has gone from a normal school boy, to the lead in a high profile netflix drama.

I didn't expect it to be this gutting... really great writing! Jezus especially episode 3 with the psychologist!!

Really amazing acting..

and the topic is SO important.. i am recommending this to everyone i know..

this technology has been overwhelming us.. making victims of whole generations of kids and young adults, not to mention their unsuspecting parents.. and freaking Zuckerberg and the other tech bros wanna go on like they have no responsibility.. yeah, well, watch this series to understand that ALL of us bear a responsibility AND we're SO INTERCONNECTED that we cannot possibly deny it.

Did we love him enough, or love him wrong?

Were we too strict, or not strong?

Did we push him too far, expect too much?

Or did we not push him enough?

Did he hide his pain behind a smile?

Were we blind to it all the while?

Did we listen, or just assume?

Did he feel safe in his own room?

Was it the school, the friends he had?

Was it us, were we just bad?

Did we fail him, let him down?

Did he drown while we weren't around?

Was it the screens, the world online?

Did it tell him, "You're not fine"?

Did words on a phone cut too deep?

Did they steal his right to weep?

Could we have stopped it, if we knew?

If we had held him, pulled him through?

If we had said, "We're here, just talk," Would he have stayed, taken one more walk?

Who do we blame? The world? Ourselves?

Do we lock the past on dusty shelves?

Or do we ask, do we learn, So no more Jamies fail to return?

"Adolescence" is a wound so real, A story that makes you stop and feel.

A parent's grief, a lesson told, A tale too heavy to let go cold.