Emmy-winning “Adolescence” is worth the hype

The show “Adolescence” is a four-episode mini-series that was shot in a one-take format. Doing a one-shot take requires a very meticulous type of perfection and choreography. It can take weeks, even months, to coordinate, teach, and practice. The sheer amount of work that goes into this is staggering, especially because there is only so much editing that can be done that will not disrupt the flow of the shot.  

Even with it only being four episodes, a lot more happened than I would have thought possible. It won an Emmy, but I was skeptical until I sat down to watch it.  

As for the characters, I think they were really well done. I liked the way they showed complex emotions and how different people act in different situations. Jamie Miller’s character was played by 15-year-old British actor Owen Cooper. Cooper did a fantastic job at portraying this kind of character. This was also his debut role, and it ended up making him the youngest male actor to win an Emmy in a supporting role.   

Episode one provided a lot of information very quickly. Between the first impact into the house and being able to show the chaos of making the arrest simultaneously, to the reactions of fear, anger, blind rage, and just genuine confusion, it’s hard to comprehend what is going on. It feels like you’re actually there watching all of this go down in real time.  

Episode two was an eye-opening experience, but mainly for how different police interviews vary from there versus how we do it here. Jamie’s character was well done. Jamie is a 13-year-old boy, and 13-year-old boys don’t do what he was accused of. The person who plays Jamie’s dad also does a fantastic job. He keeps up with the fact that he is a devoted father and loves his family. However, the small slivers of doubt that are being slipped into him by the police crack wide open very quickly.   

Episode three shows what happens when bullying goes undetected. It follows Jamie’s interview with his psychologist. What starts as a calm conversation starts to shift into Jamie lashing out in blind rage. This is a kid who was bullied, rejected by friends, and corrupted by toxicity on the internet. His hatred became so extreme that he ended up changing many people’s lives all at once.  

Episode four follows Jamie’s family trying to live their life normally and celebrating Jamie’s father’s birthday. The happy day, however, ends up turning sour, with Jamie’s dad spiraling into a panic attack.

His emotions throughout the episode show a father who clearly loves his son but is finding himself struggling with regulating his own thoughts and emotions. We are seeing someone who has vowed to do anything to protect his children struggle with his own thoughts. It makes you think about the fact that your actions are going to greatly affect not only you, but your family. 

The show followed a child getting arrested on suspicion of a crime and took the audience through the arrest, booking, and psychologist interviews. The way Jamie’s behavior changed throughout the situations and conversations builds a complex character that you could possibly feel bad for in the beginning. It keeps you focused the whole time, and I think more people should watch this thought-provoking show.