Earlier this month, Netflix released streaming data for the first half of 2025, and at the top of the list of most-watched series is "Adolescence," a shocking four-episode miniseries that made waves around the world.
With an incredible 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Adolescence" is already one of the main contenders for the most important television awards in the coming months.
If you haven't seen it yet or if you want to experience it again, here's why "Adolescence" is worth watching (again):
Owen Cooper stuns in the role of Jamie Miller
This is the first TV role for teenager Owen Cooper, but it already looks like he has a long career ahead of him. He plays Jamie Miller, a boy accused of murdering his classmate, Katie Leonard (played by Emilia Holliday).
What makes Cooper's performance so powerful is his ability to effortlessly enter Jamie's complex personality. At first he seems like an ordinary guy, but as the episodes go on, the mask falls off and a dark side emerges that leaves you speechless.
In the third episode, he is both threatening and manipulative as he tries to gain the trust of psychologist Briony Ariston (brilliantly played by Erin Doherty, known from "The Crown").
Extraordinary actors and rare technical achievement
Director Philip Barantini has undertaken a rare challenge: every episode of “Adolescence” is shot in a single take, without interruption, in real time. This is a technical feat that requires absolute precision from every actor and crew member.
Stephen Graham shines as Jamie's father, Eddie Miller, a troubled father who doesn't know how to deal with the silent guilt over everything that's happened. He's also nominated for an Emmy, as is Ashley Walters, who plays Detective Luke Bascombe. However, critics think Cooper is the one who deserves the award more in this category.
Erin Doherty also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Episode 3, while Christine Tremarco, as Jamie's mother Manda Miller, delivers an equally deep and moving performance. Some see her as the most serious contender to win in this category.
“Adolescence” opens up important and necessary debates
Without revealing much of the narrative, “Adolescence” explores the circumstances that led to Katie Leonard’s murder and how Jamie ended up at that point. Although Katie made some bad choices, the series is clear in its message: nothing justifies what happened to her.
The series sensitively explores how Jamie was radicalized by the toxic influences of the so-called “manosphere,” a dark part of social media where hatred of women is rampant. This is a real and current topic, for which society has yet to find clear answers.
