Stephen Graham stars in Netflix 4-parter “Adolescence”

I agree about it being used as a discussion point in schools - couldn't be more to the point.

Just watched the last of the episodes. The whole story was deeply upsetting, but I found the last conversation that Jamie had with his dad the most upsetting of all. Jamie was still a child, and we are hardwired to protect our children; the dad's helplessness was so hard to watch. It didn't help me that Jamie looks so much like my (younger) grandson. I cried buckets at the last scene. The acting was superb and I'm sure it will be nominated for an award in due course. A very disturbing and thought-provoking production, which should be shown in all secondary school.

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Bloody fantastic Stephen Graham deserves an award as does the young lad …what acting ! from such a young guy They really did smash it and what a story to show the world what is going on I don’t think I ve ever seen a drama with Stephen Graham in that I didn’t enjoy He’s a wonderful actor and that young lad has a big career ahead of him
Top marks for the whole production I hope the drama gets awards it’s a story that NEEDS telling

Staggeringly good, desperately sad. The boy who played Jamie inhabited the character in every word and move he made, his performance was both innate and nuanced, the umpteen "dunnos" and "I didn't do it" utterly believable. Not the primed and polished child actor we often see, but not always convincing, the Harry Potter trio, but here was an unknown, whose performance was nothing less than extraordinary.

All performances were all so good, Stephen Graham in particular, but also Ashley Walters as the DI and Erin Doherty as the psychiatrist left literally shaking by the end of what started as a good natured interview descended into a dark place upon Jamie's, explosive outbursts, red mist descending and at the heart of it, a boy with low self esteem.

The palpable anguish Stephen Graham's character exuded was so real, particularly in the very final scene, tormented by the awful act committed by his much loved child, cracking under the strain, his nerves as taut as piano wire, precipitated by an act of vandalism to his van, his livelihood, whilst all the while trying to be the strong father and husband at the helm. Truly broken as he cries his eyes out in his son's, now vacant bedroom in the closing titles. Harrowing

I also totally understood the feelings that Ashley Walters and his female colleague felt at the end of the 2nd episode, when they exited Jamie's school after a depressing visit to interview some of his peer group, the teachers both committed and uncommitted, wrestling with gobshite kids, presenting lessons of dullness via videos.

30 years of a perfect storm of a feminised education system, I and the mothers of boys mine went to school with were well aware of that, boys continually being perceived as a nuisance, that subliminal message made some want to live that preordained role, the birth of boy children being met with a sigh from some, as if somehow the mother has missed out on the first prize, yes there have been threads over on MN on tha very subject, a lack of male teachers, I can't say I blame men not wanting to go into the profession it's a minefield, absent fathers (although not the case with Jamie) toxic male role models and of late the so called male "influencers", peddling misogyny, the objectification of girls and women, nothing new really but the availability of the most pernicious pornography so readily on tap via the smart phone, every kid has one has warped the young mind. There's so much that needs to be dealt with but the Genie is well and truly out of the bottle and has been for quite some time, how to reverse so much of what is obviously a clear and present danger to adolescents of both sexes, is only ever tinkered around the edges and talked about, I'm not sure anyone really knows how to tackle it.

Apparently each episode was shot in one take. That must have been difficult for the actors and crew.
ew.com/how-was-adolescence-shot-in-one-take-11702944

I thought it was a brilliant and timely reminder that boys need as much loving parenting as girls.Sounds obvious doesn’t it, but too often little care is taken of them and they’re left to their own devices.The series covered so many subjects, parenting, misogyny, the ease of 13 year olds to access porn and violent porn, the misery of wanting to be wanted by your peers, the utter lack of respect for authority, adult appeasement of children, the dangers of knife carrying and disconnect from the real act of murder as if it were role play only.
Great acting from all, particularly the boy who played Jamie who I understand isn’t a child actor and had never acted before.
What a star.

I didn’t see much focus on linking parenting or the dad’s anger management problems annodomini. More the focus seemed to be on an ordinary family whose child was influenced by misogyny on line.
As the drama progressed the boy told the psychologist his dad once demolished a shed in anger. The dad was shown losing it with teenagers who recognised the family. The boy’s rage towards the psychologist was frightening and her response after the interview showed its impact on her.
The sister was a stable, calm yiung woman and the mum reflected on how both children grew up with the same parenting but how different they are, pointing out Jamie always had a temper
It has certainly created debate - s good thing

I was - unexpectedly- on the verge of tears when I watched the first two episodes. Owen Cooper really made me believe in Jamie, his character. I'm relieved that my three teenage GSs are almost clear of their teens. Only one has caused me (and his parents) any anxiety and he is now a very strong (in every way) and focused young man, 'Adolescence' must be a 'hard watch' for fathers of teenage boys. It was DS1 who recommended the programme to me and I have been thinking about the two teenage boys whom I brought up without much help after my divorce, and who are now middle-aged dads (with responsible and demanding careers) who have always been involved with their sons, though, it's important to remember that the mothers - strong women - have been equal partners in the boys' upbringing. Having watched these two episodes, I wonder how much the boy's mother will reveal about her part in his development.

welbeck

10pm is not particularly late for a 13 year old.
And many families do routinely swear.
It's not all Enid Blyton out there.

I don’t see it as “all Enid Blyton” for 13 year olds to be home at 10pm (actually I thought 10.45 was mentioned in the series, but I may well be misremembering). I’d say it was pretty standard for the type of family portrayed here. There was a scene in the series where the parents themselves were saying they always thought he was safe at home in his bedroom at night, so I assumed Jamie’s being out wasn’t the norm.

As an aside, we only pay £4.99 a month for Netflix…

One thing that I would like to add, is that we definitely do have something to contribute as grandparents.

My GSs are in their twenty’s now, but I was privileged to be able to provide a listening ear - particularly going through the teenage angst - because I have the time and the fact that I was not their parents. My daughter has been and is a loving caring mother, but of course she was not always around because of work etc. during the day, and we provided a safe space to listen to our GSs when they felt the need to offload stuff, like girlfriend trouble, or pressure from exams, 1st year at university etc.

The day would start with

“Nan, can I come over?”

😊

I can connect a bit with the series, as my GSs partner is training in clinical psychology with very disturbed children, and I am aware how much it affects her emotionally as well as physically.

Our young adolescence have so much pressure on them it seems to me and their world of SM doesn’t begin to mirror our world as young adolescence. How easy we had it!!

I found it sad and depressing too. For the vast majority of us, we went home and were safe. We were being bullied inside our homes and bedrooms because of technology. All these young people being murdered is just heart breaking and too close to home

It was brilliantly acted though. The whole scene was filmed in one go>

As we all know, it's difficult being a teenager. I never confided to my parents what I got up to. They never really asked anyway. We didn't have in depth conversations. But when I was in my room they knew I was safe doing things like reading, applying make-up or listening to pop music. These days it's frightening what teenagers can do inside their own homes. Life has certainly changed for the worse. As a society we have been too soft on so many aspects of life. We should ban smartphones for under-18s for a start. And bring back some kind of conscription - not the forces necessarily but some kind of social or environmental work. Once that is done, the youngsters will have grown up a bit ready to face the world.

Just finished watching this and wished I hadn't.

yogitree

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.

Absolutely. Adolescence is rarely a time when young people want to talk to the adults in their lives about their confusing feelings (as often as not thy can't make sense of them themselves) but the more effort older people make to meet them halfway, the better. The scene where the policeman's son was explaining the emojis showed that disconnect, and how the boy's frustration almost made him give up even trying to explain.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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'.