Adolescence
I binged this all in one night – a very grave mistake from which I may have taken days to recover. Please replicate inhaling this much melodrama only at your own risk.
Of course, great art leaves an impact – and by that measure (and some others) Adolescence is the first true work of art on television since the writer's strike. It’s surprising, wrenching — and most impressive of all, given the subject matter — bracingly real. This kind of thing could so easily be schlocky or exploitative. And its anything but.
One thing it is, though: a little showy. The approach to follow the action solely through oners is a double edged sword: mesmerizing at times, often unnecessary and gimmicky at others. (If there are better recent uses of the Peter Griffin "It insists upon itself" meme, I'm not sure what they are.) Beyond merely calling attention to craft, the approach is a drag on pacing. The first two episodes in particular suffer from some serious padding in their midsections.
At the same time, by the end, the languorous approach completely pays off. The third episode is built for the format. And in the final section – perhaps the best 60 minutes of television in several years – the action gathers and gathers, and then hits like a wrecking ball. It's a complete knock out. I've rarely been as broken down or stripped bare by a few hours of TV. As I said – at your own risk.