Adolescence

It’s been a couple days since finishing Adolescence now and it’s still etched in my mind. A piece of television that has truly left an imprint on me. It not only feels extremely important as a reflection of difficult issues facing young people in our current society, but also the disruptive and often painful reverberating shockwaves it sends to parents, siblings, teachers and the wider community. The show tackles troubling and gut wrenching themes head on, so authentically explored through the actors involved. Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in particular who are able to channel a level of sheer emotion and presence so powerful you FEEL it with every fibre of your being through the screen. Chills. For this to also be a debut performance from Owen Cooper is quite frankly unbelievable, especially given the nature of the production. I’ve long been a huge fan of the one-take filming style in dramatic fiction. When done well it can be an immersive connection to the world and material like nothing else can replicate. What the team behind this production have achieved with this one-take 4 episode application here is nothing short of SENSATIONAL. Among the most impressive uses of this technique I’ve ever seen across both the medium of TV and Film. Some of the shots, moments of performance and technical execution on display is jaw dropping. We live in a time when there’s so much quality drama releasing every year, and we can often overstate our actual level of admiration for a project. After letting it simmer for a few days however, I well and truly have no doubt in saying I think Adolescence is one of the most powerful offerings of British drama we’ve ever seen, and certainly one of the GREAT limited series of the last decade. It’s as close to perfection as could possibly be achieved in every way imaginable. A tour de force work of paramount relevance. It could seriously do some good in the world, especially for the younger generation.