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My wife and me watched it and both came to same conclusion - average TV that you could easily imagine being on ITV.
Didn't really delve into social media aspect on how that would cause the outcome that it did and the boy just seemed to have anger issues (possibly not helped by dads) that could have come out for any reason at any time.
we were expecting a doom and gloom, tense affair that left us feeling sh1te after each episode cos you know, stephen graham? still had that feel after episode 1, but episodes 2 and 3 although well acted didnt really live up to the hype for me.
see how we feel after episode 4 tonight.
Where's the dividing line between 'it's my opinion and can't therefore be wrong' and 'in the light of everyone else's opinion, maybe I'm wrong'
Because I'm prepared on this one to say it's your opinion but you're wrong 😉
Brilliant TV, technically, emotionally and for the subject covered.
My wife and me watched it and both came to same conclusion - average TV that you could easily imagine being on ITV.
Yes I found it a bit meh too, but each to their own
watch it.Saw enough last night, very very compelling and watchable but I'm too spineless for anything edgy these days, kind of wandered off to do some stretches before the conclusion.
But as a parent of a seven year old boy (a parent hopelessly addicted to social media I should add) what's the best approach when child wants a smartphone?
Do I just try to slowly wean myself off the phone so he doesn't see me on it all the time, and try to spin a narrative to him about why they're not for kids?
has anything made something more appealing to children than being told it’s not for kids? Has anything made something less cool than being what your dad does?
absolutelyIs he really going to get bullied or ostracized at school for not having one?
But don’t think this is all about smartphones - it’s about a culture. A very real culture which definitely does exist in schools up and down the country. If your son is not the one holding the knife, he might be the one who got him the knife thinking he was just going to scare her, or who provides somewhere to hide or a cover story, or a friend of the girl who stands up for her or eggs her on with her posts. Parents are probably not able to stop it - but there are definitely things we can do that feed it, or turn a bling eye to.
if you’ve got the balls to send your kid to school with healthy snacks and consider not giving them a phone - you’ve got the spine to watch a drama that tackles one of the issues you are concerned about.
no - the adverts would ruin the one shot aspect!My wife and me watched it and both came to same conclusion - average TV that you could easily imagine being on ITV.
Didn't really delve into social media aspect on how that would cause the outcome that it did and the boy just seemed to have anger issues (possibly not helped by dads) that could have come out for any reason at any time.
Perhaps that was part of the message - no matter how much you dig in to the social media stuff you’ll never come up with a genuinely rational explanation. People who are looking to solve the problem by understanding the emoji’s aren’t really understanding the problem. Anyone trying to rationalise it by reference to his dads (on the scale of things relatively minor) anger issues (perhaps contributed to by his own father’s approach to discipline?) hasn’t asked the question why his dad or grandad didn’t go on to become a killer or lives in a bubble where they think this is entirely fiction and stuff like this doesn’t really happen.
I went to school before mobile phones, never mind social media. We didn’t have menosphere and Tait / Fox and other such people plying for our attention but it is entirely believable to me.
hasn’t asked the question why his dad or grandad didn’t go on to become a killer or lives in a bubble where they think this is entirely fiction and stuff like this doesn’t really happen.
Because most people don't so when one person reacts in an extreme way that others don't then you need to work out why that is.
Didn't really delve into social media aspect on how that would cause the outcome that it did and the boy just seemed to have anger issues (possibly not helped by dads) that could have come out for any reason at any time.
it did it covered how he had been influenced by social media, it also covered how his father’s behaviour had also had an effect that was pretty much the whole story arc.
Man, I need to rewatch it, then!
I was kind of expecting more of a reveal of this emoji stuff and to see what led to what happened. It kind of felt like it left out the whole story of what built up and built up to trigger such an extreme response.
IMO that was part of the point?
You're following the detective though the episode and he doesn't have a clue what's going on either with the case or with teenagers in general. And neither will the viewers. I don't think you're supposed to know every intricacy of the plot and it's devices. The Matrix reference for example gives probably the average Millennial viewer their gotcha moment where they get to feel clever and like they've solved the case, then it's snatched away again when the kid has no idea what he's talking about.
I think you were meant to go into it thinking "yea, I'm a progressive liberal, I'm down with gen-Z and understand kids still, I know who Tate is" and then the show systematically dismantles that.
it did it covered how he had been influenced by social media,
Again, not to the extent that caused the outcome. Whatever, I thought it was average and the hype around it is surprising to me.
@thisisnotaspoon has explained it well, it didn’t need to be broken down and explained in simple terms like many crime dramas do. It was covering aspects of society in a real time filming. The officer in charge son had to tell him about the social media influence.
I think you are looking for a rational explanation for irrational behaviour. To me that is kind of the point - 13yr olds are not necessarily rational. Tate and others have found a way to gain attention by playing to that. And, not touched on in the programme, as a society we stopped the normal social interactions during covid and encouraged on-line stuff, which can't have helped any teen/pre-teen form normal relationships.it did it covered how he had been influenced by social media,
Again, not to the extent that caused the outcome. Whatever, I thought it was average and the hype around it is surprising to me.
To me the clever part of the programme was not what was said - it was that they didn't eek it out and spell this stuff out to you. It was left to your own brain to go WTF.
Has Stephen Graham ever done anything that is an easy watch?
Top actor, but very edgy.
Without cheating and going to IMDB, I'm going to throw out "Matilda the Musical" as qualifying as an easy watch 🙂
I think you are looking for a rational explanation for irrational behaviour.
Nope, I just think there could have been many things that triggered that reaction from that boy. In this case it was via social media, in the case on the outburst when in detention or when with the psychologist it was something else.
Without cheating and going to IMDB, I'm going to throw out "Matilda the Musical" as qualifying as an easy watch
Psychological child abuse, bullying in the workplace.... laugh a minute!
For people wanting to explore what’s going on with young men and boys I can recommend this episode of The Today Podcast. Really interesting and thought provoking. I found it much more enlightening than the Adolescence series.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00290bg?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
I enjoyed it, perhaps enjoyed isn't the best word. It was really engaging and demanded some effort from the viewer very uncomfortable watching at times and all the better for that. Whilst I found episode 3 the best and episode 4 the least engaging the standard throughout was very high.
At the end of it, i'm a little on the meh side as well, sorry.
Technically of course it can't be faulted - i mean, absolutely extraordinary - but to my mind it has been at the expense of the telling of the story it wants to tell.
I've just watched the first episode of 'The Walk-In' as a sort of control experiment, as it has ultimately the same didactic intent.
With the constraints the narrative had put upon itself by the manner of its telling, only episode three could have been any different in this regard, and it was as good as it should have been. But most of its impact was implicit not explicit, it really didn't give us much about 'why', and by this stage we are making our own minds up. I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing.
Episode four was an hour that dealt with the consequences for those left behind, impactful but not really anything new. Nothing that really gave anything more about Jamie's motivation, only the revelation that he had probably accepted his culpability.
I'm glad that i watched it, would recommend, will probably watch again to pick up on things i missed, but i'm not convinced it is the paragon it's purported to be.
Nothing that really gave anything more about Jamie's motivation
I don't think they were trying to provide the audience with answers.
The Matrix reference for example gives probably the average Millennial viewer their gotcha moment where they get to feel clever and like they've solved the case, then it's snatched away again when the kid has no idea what he's talking about.
Yeah, I thought that bit was really interesting. As an aside, schools aren’t really like that now, are they?
As an aside, schools aren’t really like that now, are they
Why not - they were more or less like that 40+ years ago when I was there - some shit teachers who had no control (history in Adolescence) some good teachers who taught well and had discipline in the classroom ( maths teacher in Adolescence). Kids rude, setting off fire alarms, giving each other shit etc. and I went to a pretty good ex grammar school
I really enjoyed this series, but (I'm a teacher in a state secondary) that school episode was preposterous.
Ten minutes in and I would have permanently excluded 5 students, sacked two members of staff and put the whole school into special measures...
Police get a school report on the suspect before 7am after the murder at 10pm? Impossible.
Everyone watching films? Last day of term maybe.
NQT turns up late for a class? Never going to happen.
Kids all on their phones? Not anymore, almost all schools have banned them completely. Even before that, the idea they'd be getting then out to film...
If anyone is interested in the technical and acting elements of it the latest episode of the rest is entertainment is worth listening too
Great acting but otherwise incredibly tedious and lacked any point whatsoever in my view.
Watched it over the last few days. Fantastic acting and I love the way it was shot. Other than that it didn't really hit me hard. Just a solid drama with Stephen Graham once again proving he is a phenomenal actor.
As the father of an eleven year old boy and after reading up on the series, I expected it to have more of an impact on me. I must admit I have some concerns about him going to High School and him accessing the internet. He's not got a phone yet and can only use the internet under direct supervision. Doesn't have devices of any sort in his room either. Luckily he doesn't actually want a phone. He says he finds it sad that his school mates would rather look at a screen than look at the world. Can't see that viewpoint surviving the next year or so 😞
lacked any point whatsoever in my view.
No point? You don't think it's a subject that needs mainstream coverage?
could you give us some examples of drama which had more of a point?Great acting but otherwise incredibly tedious and lacked any point whatsoever in my view.
As the father of an eleven year old boy and after reading up on the series, I expected it to have more of an impact on me. I must admit I have some concerns about him going to High School and him accessing the internet.
In that case I’m surprised it didn’t. My 17yr old daughter says it should be essential viewing for everyone going to high school in the 2020s.
I really enjoyed this series, but (I'm a teacher in a state secondary) that school episode was preposterous.
Ten minutes in and I would have permanently excluded 5 students, sacked two members of staff and put the whole school into special measures...
Police get a school report on the suspect before 7am after the murder at 10pm? Impossible.
Everyone watching films? Last day of term maybe.
NQT turns up late for a class? Never going to happen.
Kids all on their phones? Not anymore, almost all schools have banned them completely. Even before that, the idea they'd be getting then out to film...
I'm glad to hear that - for me the school scenes were the most shocking part (apart from the murder, obvs.)
In that case I’m surprised it didn’t. My 17yr old daughter says it should be essential viewing for everyone going to high school in the 2020s.
Why? It is a drama series, specifically made to bring out emotion. I'm simply not impacted by drama in that way. It didn't go into enough detail surrounding the why, motivations, the child's mental state etc. Open to way too much interpretation to be essential, at least in my opinion. If it were a documentary about an actual event I would probably have a different opinion.
My son doesn't have any access to the internet as yet. When he does it'll be strictly controlled. He won't be sat in his room at 13 watching whatever he chooses at all hours. He is also surrounded by good male and female role models.
I'm glad to hear that - for me the school scenes were the most shocking part (apart from the murder, obvs.)
Made for good TV though and that's the point really. Hence why I'm not viewing it in the way some others are. We're all different though so hey ho.
My son doesn't have any access to the internet as yet. When he does it'll be strictly controlled. He won't be sat in his room at 13 watching whatever he chooses at all hours. He is also surrounded by good male and female role models.
Hey Siri - show me someone with no experience of parenting a teenager. More seriously, over-strict parenting can result in a contrary reaction. Secondly, children choose role models; they may not choose the ones you hope for.
Regarding the TV series - it was a work of fiction, not a documentary. Sometimes things work when the viewer has some space to paint their own interpretation.
Thanks for patronising me whilst knowing absolutely **** all about my experience with teenagers. I'm also not a strict parent. Thanks for the unsolicited advice though. I'm also well aware that it was a work of fiction. Some of you on here just can't help yourselves. It's a difference of opinion on a Netflix show FFS.
Overreacting much ?
Overreacting much ?
No, just fed up of condescending pricks on here. I'm not over reacting at all. Quite chilled actually. You made a bunch of assumptions and tried a funny Siri joke that didn't land. It's a TV show, that's it.
That’s odd, because swearing at people and calling them “pricks” in response to a gentle joke you say “didn’t land” certainly looks a lot like overreacting. But do crack on - it always gives me a bit of a laugh when people describe what sort of parent they’re planning to be.
Swearing is just words. Nothing more or less. I call friends much worse in an affectionate way. To be fair, you're also coming across as a bit of a prick. I've been a parent for many years already and also raised my younger brother who is now an adult. That included monitoring his internet usage and he's a fully functioning adults despite my strict parenting
Your post was condescending, simple as and you continue to prove my point. What sort of parent I'm planning to be, really? Anyway, thread derailed. I just think that people are over reacting to and placing too much onus on what is a piece of entertainment. My opinion that's it.
because it would stimulate discussion on exactly the issues it raises: Sharing nudes, social media comments, role models, gender stereotypes, incel culture (and the whole Andrew Tate 80/20 nonsense), the consequences of your actions, the consequences of giving a friend a knife, even the role of teachers. Your response seems to be its make believe not real life - someone with recent experience of the school system (in a well regarded school, frequented by mostly middle class kids) is telling you it’s remarkably realistic - your attitude seems to be “it won’t happen to my kid”. She’s telling you if he’s not the murderer he might be the accomplice, the victim, the best friend.Why? It is a drama series, specifically made to bring out emotion. I'm simply not impacted by drama in that way. It didn't go into enough detail surrounding the why, motivations, the child's mental state etc. Open to way too much interpretation to be essential, at least in my opinion. If it were a documentary about an actual event I would probably have a different opinion.
If your own experience or imagination is unable to fill in the uncertainty from the story line - perhaps you need to be talking to some older teenagers to understand.
good luck with that, even if you control what he does at home you will not stop him completely; in fact the more taboo/contraband you make it the more likely it is to be attractive. Calling people sanctimonious because their reality of parenting teenagers might not be what you think probably doesn’t give you the moral high ground.My son doesn't have any access to the internet as yet. When he does it'll be strictly controlled. He won't be sat in his room at 13 watching whatever he chooses at all hours.
but very soon he will be at a different school with a whole load of other influences vying for his attention, hormones raging. People don’t become Andrew Tate (or similar) fans because their parents recommend him, or because they couldn’t find any positive role models.He is also surrounded by good male and female role models.
It would be very tempting to read the media attention around knives and assume that it’s a gang culture / drug world problem and nice kids from good backgrounds don’t become the attackers or the victims.
however, calling a stranger on a bike forum a prick because you didn’t like his views on your parenting has a certain irony when discussing a drama where a key part of the story is how people react to online comments - wouldn’t you say?
Its not very often TV can be so gripping and powerful. I think it is the most impactful programme I have seen since Its A Sin.
Caught the first few minutes but had other stuff to do so it's on the backburner for now. It did have that sort of whiff to it, probably a bit grittier!
Where's the dividing line between 'it's my opinion and can't therefore be wrong' and 'in the light of everyone else's opinion, maybe I'm wrong'
Because I'm prepared on this one to say it's your opinion but you're wrong 😉
Brilliant TV, technically, emotionally and for the subject covered.
IKR?
This place must be special. I've never seen so many people saying they didn't think it was that good?
Like, name something better!??
Like, name something better!??
Black Snow, that was much better TV, The Wire, that was better too. Trumpton was good bitd. A kind of loving (the Joanne Whaley version) that was much better.
I'm sure I can think of plenty of TV that was better given that better is completely subjective and some people like things and some people don't. Not sure why people get so vexated about that here
As someone who hasn't watched it yet, I thought this article was interesting. I think the key thing I got was that kids need to do mixed activities from quite a young age so boys see girls as people. Our Scout leaders always say the unit dynamics change for the better when girls are in a unit, and you can see the lads who don't have sisters mature.
BBC News - 'I've not heard of incel before': Teenager dissects Adolescence with his worried parents
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93nzv49dg2o
The article is timely, I heard three different radio phone ins yesterday, all discussing this with Adolescence as the kicking off point, and unsurprisingly there wasn't a single teenager (unsurprisingly) in any of the conversations.
I didn't think it was that good. The concept is interesting, i thought the kids in particular where all excellent. The topic is pretty grim.
But I actually find Stephen Graham a bit boring. And on this occasion its all a bit "wrote the theme tune, sing the theme tune" aswell. And the final episode was straight up tedious.