Adolescence: The Netflix Thriller Everyone’s Raving About!

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As a devoted viewer, I can’t help but echo the praises of fellow fans who are hailing Netflix’s Adolescence as the standout TV show of 2025 so far. What sets this gripping series apart is not just its raw and compelling narrative, but an unmistakable quality that makes it truly unique among contemporary thrillers.

In just an instant of glimpsing Stephen Graham in a preview, you’ll instantly feel hooked to the next must-watch TV series on your streaming list for this year. With the success of sordid stories and true crime shows, there’s no shortage of captivating titles like American Murder: Gabby Petito and Toxic Town that we’ve been binge-watching in 2025.

In addition to his latest Disney+ series titled “A Thousand Blows,” Graham has returned to intensify his offerings on Netflix. The series titled “Adolescence” is now streaming, and viewers are praising it as one of the top shows this year.

What makes this Netflix series unique is that, alongside exceptional acting and an astonishing plotline, it offers something that no other Netflix series has attempted before.

Netflix’s Adolescence is unique for one extraordinary reason

In all four installments of Adolescence, the scenes flow uninterrupted, with no camera cuts or pauses, giving the impression that it’s a live stage production captured on film.

If you’re finding a familiar narrative structure, it’s likely because director Philip Barantini is the mind behind both the 2021 hit Boiling Point and its subsequent television series. Notably, Boiling Point was filmed in a single, uninterrupted take, chronicling the story of Graham as Andy Jones, the high-pressure head chef of an upscale London eatery, who experiences a slow-building crisis.

In regard to the topic covered in Adolescence, it’s quite remarkable. To give you a gist (not diving deep just yet), the narrative revolves around a 13-year-old boy who finds himself under arrest for allegedly murdering one of his schoolmates.

According to Barantini, it was challenging yet enjoyable at the same time. He explained that it was thoroughly thought out.

[Tech rehearsals] served as a chance for the sound crew to position the microphones accurately. Moreover, in the first episode, we had everyone from support staff to runners and assistant directors dressed as police officers on set. In contrast, in the second episode, they were portrayed as teachers. This was done so they could be seen on camera and signaling different cues. It was a technically demanding process, but it required a great deal of collaboration.

Regardless of whether it’s usually not your cup of tea, the unique manner in which the tale unfolds makes it an engaging watch all by itself.

What to expect

The narrative delves into the events that transpire during the four hours following the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, suspected of murdering a schoolmate. We explore this situation from the viewpoints of Jamie’s family, the law enforcement officers conducting the investigation, and a professional psychologist involved in his case.

During a sneak peek event, Graham mentioned that they were tasked with crafting a continuous piece intended for a series. This prompted them to brainstorm ideas for what the storyline might be. Interestingly, he had come across an article in the newspaper about a tragic incident involving a young boy who stabbed a young girl.

The event left me with a slight chill. Approximately three to four months afterwards, I caught a news report about a teenage boy who had allegedly harmed another teenage girl. Despite being far away, these incidents involved young individuals, not adults. It was an unfortunate contrast.

He went on to say, “We might have crafted a drama centered around gangs, knife crime, or a child dealing with an alcoholic mother or abusive father. However, we chose to present a family that leaves you thinking, ‘Wow, this could be our reality!’ The events unfolding in this story are every ordinary family’s worst nightmare.

Essentially, you can anticipate a total of four hours packed with edge-of-your-seat television viewing. Since each episode is filmed as a single take, it might prove challenging to resist watching them all at once.

Fans already think it’s the best TV show of the year

For viewers who’ve watched Adolescence, it has been exceptionally well-received. Various critics acclaim it as the top TV series of the year up to this point.

Adolescence on Netflix is the best drama of 2025 (so far)

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) March 13, 2025

One person expressed, “It’s one of the most awe-inspiring and unsettling things I’ve seen in years,” with another concurring, “Adding to the praise for Stephen Graham’s new Netflix series, Adolescence, this show is the standout of 2025 thus far.”

Or simply:

One commented, “It’s one of the most impressive and disturbing things I’ve witnessed in years,” with another echoing, “Among the accolades for Stephen Graham’s new Netflix series, Adolescence, this show has been the best of 2025 so far.

A third weighed in “Each and every person in Adolescence on Netflix is acting their ass off.”

As a dedicated viewer, I can’t help but express my awe for this production that The Guardian has hailed as “TV perfection at its closest form in decades.” The Wrap adds to the praise by describing it as a “nearly unbearable limited series on Netflix.

Intrigued? I think so. FOMO begins now (so get watching).

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2025-03-13 18:19