Winter Warmer Watchlist - Adolescence - Season One

Adolescence is one of those water cooler Netflix series. One of those ones that come along from time to time, that everyone is talking about. Department Q recently was another one, Baby Reindeer last year and the list goes on.

The British have done well for Netflix, with this series earning loads of praise, while receiving thirteen nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards

Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini. It centres on a 13-year-old schoolboy, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who's arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. Each of its episodes was shot in one continuous take.

So this came mid-March, so there may be no spoilers here as you all, probably watched this one already. It's part of my winter watchlist raid.

One month later, Deadline reported that Netflix and Plan B Entertainment were in talks about a second season of the series. It does feel like a miniseries however I could see now how a second series would go.

So what's the plot for this exceptional drama?

In an unspecific English town, armed police raid a family home and arrest Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy, on suspicion of the murder of his classmate Katie Leonard, whom the viewers later learn had rejected his advances and then mocked him online. 

Jamie is processed and held at a police station for questioning and then remanded in custody at a secure training centre. Investigations at Jamie's school and interviews by a forensic psychologist uncover Jamie's views towards women associated with the manosphere and mockery he has received on social media. 

At home, Jamie's family deals with the community's backlash against them as they work together to cope with Jamie's arrest and subsequent detention.

After three brutal episodes, the finale focuses on Jamie's families life on his dad's birthday.

Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller & Amélie Pease as Lisa Miller all play brilliant roles. Obviously Owen Cooper completely shines as Jamie. However this episode does so well at focusing on life for the family.

A year after the murder, the Millers have made attempts to return to normality as Jamie awaits trial. On Eddie's 50th birthday, his van is spray-painted by teenagers that attend Jamie's school. Eddie plans to take Manda and Lisa to the cinema later that day to lighten the mood, but they first go to a hardware store to buy something to remove the paint from the van. 

There, Eddie is further distressed by an employee recognising him and awkwardly expressing support for Jamie. Eddie buys some paint to recoat the van. Outside, he spots the teens who tagged the van and angrily threatens them before throwing the contents of the can of paint on his van out of anger. 

On the drive home, Jamie calls and announces his plan to plead guilty. At the house, Eddie and Manda come to terms with Jamie's predicament, blaming themselves for not paying attention to his online radicalisation. Lisa joins them, expressing support for Eddie's decision not to move the family, knowing their connection to Jamie would eventually catch up with them. 

They decide instead to rent a film to turn the day around, with Manda and Lisa leaving to prepare breakfast. Alone, Eddie breaks down on Jamie's bed. He tucks in a teddy bear, kisses its head, and apologises to Jamie for not doing better before joining his family.

This was so well acted, such an important topic for the creators to tackle. It was shocking, raw and real. I highly recommend this. The hype was real.