We need to talk about Adolescence on Netflix
This is easily one of the best shows I’ve watched in a long time. Netflix consistently delivers when it comes to miniseries, and this was no exception. But what makes Adolescence truly remarkable is that it tells a story that needed 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 what’s 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. It’s a thousand times worse than most people realize. So when the show actually 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, Adolescence 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 we need 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 was phenomenal. Every time he was on screen, I was in tears. And when I found out this was Owen Cooper’s 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 didn’t 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.
I’ve seen people say that parents of young boys should watch this. I disagree. The manosphere and the rise of online misogyny isn’t just about young boys. It’s about all of us. We contribute to it when we ignore it, when we allow it to continue unchecked, when we don’t talk about it. This isn’t just a show for parents. Everyone needs to watch this and understand the devastating real-world consequences of the misogyny that festers online.
