With its sweep at the 2025 Emmy Awards, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham’s Adolescence has become a sensation. Winning eight out of fourteen of its nominations, the series has proven itself one of the most innovative and thought-provoking pieces of our generation. Owen Cooper, who plays the main character, Jamie, became the youngest recipient of the Emmy for “Supporting Actor in a Limited Series” at only fifteen. 

The story is centered around Jamie, who has been arrested for murder. As the police and his father try to figure out why he would commit this heinous act, the audience is right there along with them. The uncommonly used “one-shot” completely immerses the audience in the tense atmosphere. The writing accurately depicts the gap between parent and child, making the show relatable. It fully captures the realities of both being and raising a teen in the modern era. Adolescence portrays a realness on screen that makes the audience question the current societal norms of being a teen.

I was initially intrigued by the “one-shot” style of the show. I had never seen this style used in television and thought it would be an interesting watch. I was surprised by how invested I became. This is because the style puts the audience directly into the story. In one scene we follow the lead detective through the police hallway until Jamie’s lawyer crosses his path and we switch to follow him. This leads the audience to not know what to believe. We are given only one frame of vision. The lack of cuts gives the audience no breaks to breathe and they are forced to watch every single moment. They show the in-between moments that may seem boring, but make it feel even more realistic.

My dad and I watched the show together; it was a valuable experience. I got to hear my fifty year old father’s perspective as well as my own. I was surprised by how much I could relate to the story. Despite the plot being about an unusual murder case, the story felt close to my own life. 

When the police first bring Jamie in for questioning, they show him screenshots of previous Instagram comments. He tries to explain the meaning of emojis and acronyms, but they wildly misunderstand them. My own father was also confused by them. I had to explain “incel culture” to him, but he couldn’t quite get it. The show so accurately reflects reality. I related to Jamie and his classmates as we tried to explain social media’s impact to adults. This is the biggest strength of Adolescence. The story feels real. It seems as though it could occur in real life.

One of the show’s standout performances takes place during Jamie’s final meeting with his psychiatrist, Briony. It is hard to believe that this is Cooper’s first role, because his portrayal is harrowing. Jamie controls the room: one second he is joking around with Briony, the next he is yelling at her. The audience is put into the perspective of Briony and it feels like he is yelling directly at us. Then the scene shifts again, and he calmly says, “Did it scare you when I shouted? I mean, I’m only thirteen. I don’t think I look that scary.” This line stuck out to me because it perfectly encapsulates the entire premise of the show. How did this young boy become a manipulative and cold killer? This is answered when Jamie begins to beg Briony, asking if she likes him. Social media and pressure from his classmates has made him crave validation. Thus, when Katie rejects him, he takes his anger out on her.

Adolescence is a true representation of the societal pressure on teens. The toxicity of social media is hard to communicate to adults, and the series shows that disconnect. The technical direction, writing, and performances of the actors contribute to how real it seems. As the audience watches the events unfold on screen, they begin to think about the expectations of being an adolescent today. Filmmakers and writers will come back to this series as a compelling example of keeping a story rooted in reality.