Spoilers for “Adolescence” 2025 ahead.
“Adolescence” (2025) has been watched nearly 100 million times in the three weeks since it was released on Netflix. The show unabashedly showcases the modern experience of young boys and critiques the rise of the “manosphere” in an elegant and riveting four-episode series.
“Adolescence” follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller who has been accused of murdering his classmate. Over four episodes, the audience follows alongside the characters affected by Jamie’s actions, including the detectives on his case, his psychologist and his family.
But the camera never follows Jamie himself. Instead, the audience is forced to watch the young boy's experience through the eyes of others and witness the fallout of his actions through those most impacted. Filmed in one continuous take, each episode allowed viewers to literally watch over the shoulders of characters and walk alongside their experiences.
Critics have praised the show for its storytelling ability and acting performances, highlighting Owen Cooper’s portrayal of Jamie. Cooper was only 14 at the time of filming, and “Adolescence” was his first acting gig ever. He had only decided to begin acting a few years prior.
Throughout the series, it becomes clear that Jamie has become radicalized by the manosphere, a real-world online community that promotes masculinity and misogyny. Manosphere content is pushed by controversial influencers such as Andrew Tate, who pervade social media sites and influence young boys to oppose feminism.
Jamie was driven by this ideological extremism, which resulted in his violent behavior toward women — indicated by behavioral reports in school and interactions with his psychologist. Reasons for his behavior is underscored by cyber bullying from Katie, the murder victim, who frequently commented “incel” under his posts. It is suggested that these comments were Jamie’s motive for the murder.
Despite original suggestions, it is established that Jamie was raised by loving parents and in an attentive home. He is also frequently referred to as “smart” and “bright,” features that don’t exactly fit the stereotype of someone easily influenced.
However, social media flips the usual narratives upside down. During a difficult conversation between Jamie’s parents, following his decision to plead guilty to the case, his father says: “He was in his room, we thought he was safe.”
Unbeknownst to his parents, Jamie’s quiet fanaticism with the manosphere took over his life. The uncharted territory, unfamiliar to older generations, has captured the minds of millions worldwide.
“Adolescence” is praised for its portrayal of the British criminal justice system’s unfair treatment of young offenders. Despite not being entirely accurate, elements of Jamie’s arrest showcase the questionably harsh nature of the legal system.
Jamie’s arrest is “a deeply humiliating and terrifying experience,” Megan Smith-Dobric, a Ph.D. candidate in law at the University of Oxford, wrote. He is subject to a strip-search by two officers — a real, and frequent, aspect of the justice system.
Throughout the series, similar moments call on the audience to reflect on their own ethics. It reminds the viewer that Jamie is not an adult, but a child manipulated by online echo chambers who is subjected to the consequences of his actions.
The unashamed look from “Adolescence” into the power of online influence has not gone unseen.
On Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sat down with writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson of “Adolescence” to discuss the show.
“We made this show to provoke a conversation,” Thorne said. “We wanted to pose the question — how do we help stop this growing crisis. So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations. We hope it’ll lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is it’ll lead to students talking amongst themselves.”
Starmer supports Netflix’s initiative to “stream the drama series for free to secondary schools across the country, so that as many teens as possible can watch it,” according to AP News.
The U.K. crime drama was released March 13 on Netflix. The show has already achieved the No. 9 spot of most watched English TV shows on the platform, surpassing Season 3 of “Stranger Things.”
“Adolescence” may be the first step in a universal recall against the rise of toxic masculinity and the manosphere. If anything, it is a reflection of the world that we are rapidly approaching, if not already met.
