(Image courtesy of Netflix. “‘Adolescence’ draws from toxic masculinity and criminal drama to tell a gripping story.”)

Celia Hoffman
Connector Contributor

Netflix’s new limited series, “Adolescence,” is a gripping telling of the danger which follows the “incel” and “red pill” wave that has grabbed a generation of young men and boys.

Premiered on March 13, the series starts with the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, when he is accused of murdering his female classmate. This crime drama follows Jamie and his family through this life-altering experience in a raw display of emotion due to the unique events they face.

The show does a more than adequate job of shedding light on some young men’s appreciation for “red pill” ideology, taken from the famous film “The Matrix,” in which the objective is to reach truth. There has also been a significant rise in the incel—involuntary celibate—community, in which men believe they are unable to attract women and therefore are frequently hostile towards women and men who commonly attract women. These labels are frequently tossed around in the online “manosphere” communities, which adopt men’s rights and anti-feminism.

“Adolescence” gives space for a conversation about what this ideology could lead to for young men. The show hopes to aid in dismantling it by advocating for closer monitoring of social media by parents. It also illuminates the subsequent loss of innocence the younger generations face, that can often occur from over-consumption on social media.

Owen Cooper, who plays accused teenager Jamie, gives the audience an outstanding performance with his portrayal of a victim of this new niche culture. Stephen Graham, who plays Jamie’s father, Eddie Miller, makes the series all the more raw. Graham’s portrayal of a father to a potential criminal is fascinating to watch, and his own struggle with masculinity throughout the series gives Jamie’s feelings on boyhood far deeper layers.

Each episode is filmed in a single take, which can make it hard for actors to deliver hour-long episodes with no mistakes. The “Adolescence” cast does not seem to falter under this pressure, as each actor delivers a memorable performance. Graham stands out especially, as he weaves through many emotionally charged scenes with the camera.

Erin Doherty, who plays Jamie’s court-ordered psychiatrist, also brings an authentic performance to the show. Doherty’s solo conversation with Cooper’s Jamie is a chilling scene to watch, due to the unease and tension they create with their chemistry.

Filming each episode within the bounds of one or two locations is a phenomenal use of the single-take direction. The second episode in the series, “Episode 2,” follows the detectives on Jamie’s case as they visit his high school. The camera does a great job of breaking away from the detectives in some moments and focusing on the behavior of Jamie’s classmates and peers.

The camera displays a shocking loss of innocence in his generation, which builds up throughout the entire episode. Viewers have to sit in the high school with the detectives as they try to investigate a side of social media and social pressures they know almost nothing about.

The soundtrack helps to create the eeriness of the series as well. Melancholic melodies open and close each episode, as well as following the characters in suspenseful moments. The final episode features a children’s choir cover of Sting’s “Fragile,” which leaves viewers with uncanny feelings about Jamie and his family’s fate.

While making a startling social commentary, “Adolescence” leaves its viewers wanting more. Director Philip Barantini delivers an intense amount of tension, thrill, and drama in only four episodes, making it one of Netflix’s best limited series.