Whether the average Netflix viewer will admit it or not, we're obsessed with the macabre. There's a reason that fictional dramas like Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Mindhunter, and The Sinner keep us gripped.
2025 might've only just begun, but already, some Netflix subscribers claim they've found the year's 'best' show. That should take some of the sting out of those price hikes.
Adolescence is a crime drama that reunites Stephen Graham with Boiling Point director Philip Barantini. Being described as Happy Valley meets The Crown, Adolescence stars Graham as a father whose life is upturned when his 13-year-old son, Jamie (Owen Cooper), is arrested following the murder of a girl at his school.
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Top Boy's Ashley Walters plays Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe, while The Crown's Erin Doherty portrays Briony Ariston, the clinical psychologist who is assigned to Jamie’s case.
The unique hook here is that each of the four episodes is filmed as a one-shot, meaning it's one continuous scene. If you've ever seen 2014's Birdman, you'll know what we mean.
Graham is the easy pull here, and after growing his profile in everything from Line of Duty to Peaky Blinders, he also co-writes Adolescence and is reunited with This Is England's Jack Thorne. Graham notably played Combo in the This Is England franchise.
As for Berantini, he cast Graham as the lead in 2021's Boiling Point, which was an expansion of a 2019 short film and dabbled in the one-shot idea but took on the very different premise of being set in an upmarket London restaurant. Boiling Point was such a hit, that it was spun out into a four-part continuation on the BBC.
Netflix has hyped Adolescence, saying: "The gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters — from the central family to the detectives investigating the crime — search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy. Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented?”
When Netflix first gave fans a look at Adolescence, it was clear that it could be a big hit for the streaming giant in an already packed 2025. As Tom's Guide says, it could be one of the year's best shows in general.
One fan cheered: "Stephen Graham, One Shot, Boiling Point.... Yeah, I'll be watching this!"
Another added: "I love Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham. Really good actors. British crime shows are so good.."
Someone else concluded: "Jesus Christ. Graham, Thorne and Barantini? With each episode as one shot? I'm expecting this to be absolutely incredible. I think Graham is one of the greatest living actors and Jack Thorne writes some fantastic stuff (shout out to The Virtues). I've only seen the Boiling Point film from Barantini but thought it was quality."
For those who are already sold Adolescence is coming to Netflix on March 13, 2025.