Adolescencia

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.

Adolescence is a bold and ambitious miniseries that tries something different with how it's filmed. The entire show is shot in one long, continuous take, which creates a tense and immersive feeling, pulling viewers into the emotional struggles of the characters.

The standout performance comes from Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie-a 13-year-old accused of murder. His acting is powerful and emotional, bringing some much-needed depth to a character we don't learn much about. Stephen Graham also gives a strong performance, adding weight to the scenes he's in, although they both do not appear in every episode.

However, despite how impressive it looks, the show has some clear problems. The characters aren't fully developed, and the story doesn't move forward in a satisfying way. We don't get much insight into Jamie's thoughts or reasons behind his actions, which makes it hard to connect with him. Key parts of the plot, like what happens to the murder weapon or how the investigation unfolds, are left hanging.

The single-take filming style, while interesting, also leads to some scenes dragging on too long, making the pacing feel slow. The show tries to explore big issues like teenage trauma, social media pressure, and family problems-but it doesn't go deep enough, leaving its message unclear.

All in all, Adolescence is visually impressive and emotionally intense, especially for those who enjoy unique storytelling. But if you prefer a strong plot and fully developed characters, you might come away feeling let down.

Performances: 9 points, story: 7 points.

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.

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.

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.