Stephen Graham stars in Netflix 4-parter “Adolescence”

We usually like Stephen Graham, but just couldn't get into this. Watched over 30 minutes, then gave up. But we were the same with Get Millie Black which we felt could have done with subtitles and Fear with Martin Compston. We love him normally, but didn't like the storyline.

So in the space of one week, we've binned three series with great reviews .

Next one on the list for tonight is Protection with Siobhan Finneran and Katherine Kelly - fingers crossed!

I have a 14 year old grandson so probably best to avoid it for me.

ViceVersa

I like the look of this. I do like Stephen Graham - he's very under-rated as an actor.

Under rated by who exactly. Tbh I'm sick of seeing this said about him!

Watched it all last night and thought episode 3 was excellent between the accused and the psychiatrist. However, from a school perspective I disagree with the portrayal of some of the staff and the acting was not so effective. I taught PSHCE for many years but we were too early for the effects of social media. However, I know it is on the curriculum.
My neighbours are police officers and we discussed the series. They said that officers would only have broken the door down if they suspected there were guns not for a teenager with a knife. They also said that the questioning techniques were not authentic.
I was educated about emojis and felt out of my depth by the sheer bullying of male to male, female to female etc.
My OH had never heard of Andrew Tate so he is now informed but many men do not realise he is a misogynist and how he influences adolescents.
This series would be excellent material for use in the classroom; parents need to watch it ; tech companies have to be more proactive in their auditing of material.
A worthwhile watch though!

I gave up at the scene where the police battered down the door.
Daughter tells me that there was a teacher who didn’t know what an incel was. Also, the child psychologist had to have the emoji’s explained 🤦🏼‍♀️

Lots of people wouldn't know the word incel. If you don't text a lot or use Facebook you wouldn't know any emoji. I know I don't.

I enjoyed the first 2 episodes, thought the acting was great from all the cast . Episode 3 was well done, with the long scene between the accused and the psychologist. I got bored in episode 4, felt too much like an acting showcase for Stephen Graham.

I found it very sad, depressing and bleak

I feel as if this stuff doesn't help my MH. I found an old copy of the Radio Times the other day.
How things have changed.

It was sad, depressing and bleak. But that’s what made it such an important programme. The whole point was that there are things going on in the lives of adolescents that adults don’t understand or even know about. It is our duty, if we have young people in our lives, to learn about them, so we can be of at least some help to them. If we choose to look the other way because it is too bleak for us, what is it going to be like for them, and even more importantly- who will they turn to?

This should be a required watch for every parent and i hope it is shown in every classroom in every school. As Stephen Graham said in the last episode. "We didn't know what he was doing up in his room. He would get home from school and go straight up to his room. What did we do wrong?" They did nothing wrong of course. It was so sad. The acting in the last episode was incredible and it did end positively with the now depleted family finding strength in their bond and staying strong.

Parents need to check what their children are looking at online whether it be pro-anorexia sites, incel sites, stupid Tiktok challenges, suicide sites, grooming, terrorism, being bullied etc. Mobile phones should be banned in schools end of.

So many young people are being sucked in, developing mental health issues, self harming, drawn into crime or losing their lives.

Watched this while visiting friends with Netflix over the weekend. Powerful and definitely worth watching especially if young teenagers are in your lives.

We don't have Netflix but I know my DC and DCIL with adolescent children have watched it.

Don't have Netflix but might get a month's subscription for £5.99.

I thought it was very good. I particularly liked the first episode as I thought the way it showed what happened in the police station was very authentic. I worked in police admin for some years in a busy station, prepared files for court which involved inputting all the statements and interviews and I thought it was refreshing to see how the police officers were portrayed as doing their job which can be tough particularly with kids.

One thing I'd change would be I'd give him a brother, I thought son gone bad versus the perfectly delightful daughter was just playing into a common theme i.e. boys are trouble. As the mother of 4 I'd say I had very few issues with the boys but my DD was bullied mercilessly by some very vile girls at school. The boys in her class were supportive so I would have liked to get away from that idea although I suppose we did see the angry friend of the victim but of course her anger would be understandable.

Dramatic licence led to some of the characters being ill informed about incels and emojis.
A brilliant production.
The way the impact on the family of the child murderer was shown was excellent

I think the opposite viceversa, hes just received an accolade for his acting career. Every film, or drama, he touches, is pure magic.

Iam64

Dramatic licence led to some of the characters being ill informed about incels and emojis.
A brilliant production.
The way the impact on the family of the child murderer was shown was excellent

I pride myself with keeping up with the times and use emojis often but I had never come across 'incel'.

Etoile2701

I have a 14 year old grandson so probably best to avoid it for me.

Absolutely not.
We need to know how a situation, like the one shown in Adolescence, can happen. The father there thought his son was doing fine, spending so much time in his bedroom. He and his wife knew where their son was so weren't worried. In truth they needed to be very worried. The world has changed since our days. Social media and the toxic influencers are taking impressionable young boys minds into a very scary place. As parents and grandparent we need to be alert and not stick our head in the sand and pretend it isn't happening.

dragonfly46, the criticism I referred to was where people said the police inspector would/should have been more aware. In real life I’m sure he would have been

My son and DiL watched it with their twin children aged nearly 15 . They were all in bits at the end and were able to have a long conversation about it afterwards. I hope that many teenage families will watch it together.

SusieB50 - great to hear about your family’s response to this moving and thought provoking drama
I was pleased Starmer mentions at PMQs thst his family were watching together

I started watching this last night but I am struggling with the dialogue.
Would the police really bash down the door of a 13 year old ? Surely they would just turn up, speak to the parents and then ask the child to leave with them.

harrigran - up thread a post confirms only break in if guns feared.
What’s the dialogue issue?

We have watched u to episode 3 and will watch the last one this evening.
Not easy viewing but as others have said it should be seen by all parents.
The main character looks so like one of our Grandsons ( although he is younger.) . Very emotional.

Etoile2701

I have a 14 year old grandson so probably best to avoid it for me.

All the more reason to watch it, get educated so you know what he's likely to be experiencing at his age.