Netflix’s Adolescence dives headfirst into the turbulent waters of, well, adolescence. The show follows, navigating the treacherous landscape of high school, complete with all the usual suspects: first crushes, academic pressures, identity crises, and the ever present drama of social hierarchies. At the same time its about the responsibilities that we hold as parent’s, society, even the education system.
The plot centers around Jammie, your typical brooding protagonist who’s convinced no one understands him. He’s one of the silent kid, with little friends, keeping things to himself that’s supposed to explain his angsty demeanor. We’re also introduced to a interesting cast of supporting characters: the busy working father, a cop who trying to make things work with his son at the same time solve this case, the popular girl with a secret who is the victim, you get the picture.
The story unfolds through a blend of character driven arcs and emotional moments. There’s a central mystery that ties much of the characters’ journeys together, with a few twists that keep the tension high. The characters themselves are the real heart of Adolescence. Jammie is particularly compelling, with his struggles surrounding self identity and the weight of parental expectations feeling both relatable and heartbreaking.
Visually, Adolescence is gritty yet expressive. The muted color palette mirrors the inner turmoil of the characters, while the cinematography occasionally bursts into moments of vibrance, particularly in the more emotional or climactic scenes. There are moments where the show really shines, like the scene where Jammie having conversation with the therapist. It feels like how a boy at such a young age, on some level understands it’s a “man’s world”, to be dominate, to take control.
Overall, Adolescence is a mixed bag with some highs and lows. It does a solid job of portraying the complexities of teenage life and the consequences of being caught in the digital world, bringing self doubt and anger, be it anything. If you’re looking for a show that tackles the highs and lows of growing up with raw honesty, this might be worth checking out. Creating a lot of depth about what we can do as parents and sometimes no matter how good we are, or we raise our child, if we don’t protect and teach them the right things, the external factors, in todays time will astray them for the worse.
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