“Adolescence”, a limited drama series, was released to Netflix on March 13, 2025. The four-episode series follows the events of Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old boy, after he was accused of murdering his classmate Katie Leonard.
Other than the suspense, plot twists and extremely impressive acting in the series, something that vastly sets this show apart is the fact that each episode was filmed in one continuous take. Yes, one shot. Considering the episodes last 51 to 65 minutes each, it is clear that much time and effort was put into the production of “Adolescence.”
Each episode begins with a montage of childhood pictures of the show’s characters. This presents the idea that everyone is or once was a child, identifying it as a universal premise that the show is centered around. This wasn’t a feel-good kind of show, however.
In the opening scene, Jamie’s house is raided by police officers and he is taken to the station for suspicion of murder. Jamie continuously repeats that he “didn’t do it,” and his father – who is depicted as his role model and someone he is very close to – believes him. His mother and older sister also trust Jamie’s words, as he is their innocent little boy who could do no wrong. Or is he?
Themes of misogyny, cyberbullying, mental health and violence are all seen throughout the series. Jamie is eventually revealed to be the murderer of Katie in the last episode, though this wasn’t entirely clear prior to that moment. This was perhaps intentional, and was a way of intriguing the audience. This frustrated me in a good way; I wanted to keep watching to figure out who committed this crime, and why.
The show serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of social media, especially for males, as toxic masculinity and misogyny only grow on these online platforms. Jamie experiences bullying and exposure to violent, graphic and sexual content from a young age, which molds his mind a certain way and ultimately leads him to do what he did.
Because each episode was filmed in a single take, drones and other high-tech cameras were used to create a seamless production. Filmmakers also meticulously planned out every detail from locations of actors, choreographed sequence of movements, timing and the specific camera path. Some crew members even doubled as extras in scenes to blend into filming while operating the cameras and other filming equipment.
Unlike other productions about murder, “Adolescence” focused on the killer, not the victim. I was surprised at first about this, but I eventually understood why. Highlighting the “why” of a murder exposes the effects of extremely negative mental health and why it occurs in the first place.
Overall, “Adolescence” has stuck with me. Its emotional and physiological weight is certainly not for the weak, but the deeper message it portrays is one that movies and TV shows rarely highlight.
I believe this unique filming style and creative outlook on a heavy societal issue is something that will inspire future filmmakers. Films are supposed to make an audience feel something – whether it be light-hearted and positive or something more blunt and unconventional – and “Adolescence” certainly achieved that. I rate the series 5 out of 5 stars.
Further contributing to the show’s acclaim, at the 2025 Emmy Awards, Cooper made history by becoming the youngest performer to ever win an Emmy at just 15 years old. He received the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. He spoke at the Emmy’s, describing the experience as “surreal” and that he felt like “nothing” only a few years ago. The show itself also went on to win seven more awards at the Emmys.
