Adolescence (2025) Review

It seems like Adolescence is the biggest thing in The UK right now and it took me longer then I would have liked but I have watched the 4 episodes of the show and here is my review. The premise of the show sees a 13 year old boy accused of murdering a girl, we see how this news affects everybody involved. 

Main Character

I feel like Stephen Graham is basically the hardest working actor around, you see him in so many things but this will be up there with his best work yet as he is incredible. You really feel a vulnerability towards him as he plays the father of the accused boy. Graham absolutely nails it and delivers a powerhouse performance that should be commended for sure. 

Supporting Characters

This show introduces Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, the boy who is accused of murder and this kid is fantastic. This is his first ever acting gig and if he wants to keep acting then he has huge potential to be a big star. You really feel the anger from him but a mix of youth that you want to care about and see him innocent. Cooper really delivers alongside these great actors and it sets him up well for the future. 

Ashley Walters plays the detective of the case and he is also really good. You can see the stress that he goes through. It was interesting seeing this experience from the polices point of view and Walters does a great job in his role. 

Erin Doherty is only in one episode but it is probably the best episode and she is fantastic as a psychiatrist. Her dynamic with Cooper is brilliant and it had me invested in the entire episode and she was a great addition. 

The rest of the cast are also fantastic, everybody understood how important it was to nail these roles and add depth to their characters and I credit everybody involved with the show. 

Story

The story is good, it really does an excellent job of showing how one major incident can affect so many people no matter their age or gender. It is a really moving piece of television and it looks at themes that are pretty tough and we just don't see this much. My only criticism, is the lack of finality and completion, it does this on purpose and I guess I just wanted to know slightly more about this whole situation but that is a minor criticism. 

Script 

The film is incredibly well written, it just feels real and that these people are just regular people that are going through a terrible thing and they are acting like regular people would. It doesn't feel over the top or Hollywood and that was absolutely necessary for this show. 

Style

One of the major things that people have been talking about is that this is a one shot show and that there are no camera cuts during the episodes and this makes everything feel alive and that we are in these closed locations that shows people go about their days. I think it did add something to this show and wasn't just here as a novelty. Its a slower paced show but the content here is so good that you won't mind. 

Overall

Overall, Adolescence is a fantastic show that seems like it is going to be really important in the short term. It can be a tough watch and I am not sure whether I will ever watch it again but I can't deny that it is a must see and I would highly recommend this show. 

Rating - 9/10