Here’s why you should watch ‘Adolescence’: What to know about the Netflix series everyone is talking about

Currently the most watched Netflix series across the planet, ‘Adolescence’ has everything to become a classic: a powerful story, an incredible script, prodigious direction and a cast of actors who are all outstanding.

Added to this is a story that is grounded in current events and addresses issues such as the normalization of sexual violence, sexism, the harm caused by social media, bullying, the loss of values in society, parent-child relationships, the deterioration of education... All of this is handled with realism that hits home with the viewer and ultimately leaves more questions than answers.

The miniseries consists of 4 episodes of one hour duration, all constructed in a single sequence shot which are expertly directed by Philip Barantini of Boiling Point fame.

The first episode surrounds the murder of a girl in a small town in the north of England and is possibly the most emotionally charged of the four as we are shocked to see the 13 year-old- boy suspect arrested in his home by special forces as if he were a terrorist. The violence of the drama contrasts with the child’s innocent appearance and the fact that he is witnessing his family fall apart.

The second, three days after the crime, focuses on the police investigation at the school and is the most critical in showcasing the social situation. It presents the school world as a hostile place where teenagers, far from learning, suffer bullying and create internal rules that are foreign to adults.

The third, the most emotionally intense, is an hour-long dialogue between the suspect, confined to an institution, and the psychologist conducting his forensic assessment. It follows the same single-shot path and is mostly set around a table. Its intensity is reminiscent of the legendary conversation between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, and it gradually reveals a personality that the suspect had hidden in the previous episodes. Owen Cooper (the accused young boy) and Erin Doherty offer a memorable acting performance.

The fourth episode is set before the trial and explores the impact that such an event has on the family environment: the questioning as parents, the social ostracism, the previous conviction... The veteran British actor Stephen Graham, who is also the author of the script, delivers a moving and powerful performance.

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