We need to talk aboutĀ AdolescenceĀ on Netflix
This is easily one of the best shows Iāve watched in a long time. Netflix consistently delivers when it comes to miniseries, and this was no exception. But what makesĀ AdolescenceĀ truly remarkable is that it tells a story thatĀ neededĀ to be told.
We see the online radicalization of young men and boys every day. And because of the work I do on this topic, I can tell you that whatās visible - the parts we see on Instagram or Twitter - is just the tip of the iceberg. The real, insidious radicalization happens in the shadows: in private group chats on WhatsApp, Discord servers, and locked Reddit threads. Itās a thousand times worse than most people realize. So when the showĀ actuallyĀ name-dropped the word "manosphere," I was stunned. No one ever talks about it, despite how much it impacts young people - especially boys.
Beyond the subject matter,Ā AdolescenceĀ was incredibly well-written. The way it handled the school environment, the interactions between parents, and the way adults often fail to grasp the coded language and social hierarchies of online spaces, it was all so nuanced, so painfully real.
This is the kind of content weĀ needĀ more of. I am begging Netflix to stop churning out serial killer shows that glorify their subjects. Instead, we need more stories like this.
And beyond the writing, the acting and directing were on another level. Stephen Graham wasĀ phenomenal. Every time he was on screen, I was in tears. And when I found out this was Owen Cooperās first acting role? No experience at all? Just some random kid? He blew me away, especially in Episode 3. The entire cast delivered such raw, powerful performances.
Also, the fact that every episode was filmed in a single continuous shot...wow. I didnāt even notice at first, but once I realized it, it became clear how much it added to the story. It intensifies the realism, the claustrophobia, and the sense of inescapable momentum.
Iāve seen people say that parents of young boys should watch this. IĀ disagree. The manosphere and the rise of online misogyny isnāt just about young boys. Itās aboutĀ allĀ of us. We contribute to it when we ignore it, when we allow it to continue unchecked, when we donāt talk about it. This isnāt just a show for parents.Ā EveryoneĀ needs to watch this and understand the devastating real-world consequences of the misogyny that festers online.
