Netflix recently dropped the darkly gripping miniseries Adolescence, on Friday—and early reviews are already indicating how the show is set to make waves with its reality-based tale of a British teen accused of murdering his classmate. Boasting a stellar cast of newcomer Owen Cooper in the lead role of Jamie Miller, the four-part series also stars the show creator Stephen Graham as his father.
Now, coming to the “based on reality” aspect of the show, we did some digging to find out what part of the tragic incident moved Stephen Graham to take inspiration and come up with this thriller. So, while Adolescence offers a thought-provoking and immersive experience for viewers, let’s check out the reality behind the Netflix series.
Source of inspiration behind Stephen Graham’s Adolescence
In the realm of television dramas, few series have managed to cause such ripples within a few days since its release, like Netflix’s Adolescence. This gripping four-part miniseries delves into the unsettling story of Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his classmate, Katie Leonard.
Premiered on Friday, the series has already managed to captivate fans with its intense narrative as well as its ability to resonate deeply—since it’s rooted in real-life tragedies that have plagued communities. And now, we’ve Stephen Graham, the co-creator and actor in the show to thank for bringing this informative and thrilling masterpiece to life.
But what exactly inspired Graham to transform societal evil into a Netflix drama? Well, according to the creator’s interview with Tudum, Adolescence stems from a disturbing trend he observed over the past decade. According to the creator, while the show is based on reality, it wasn’t inspired by any specific true story.
There was an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl. It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’
And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?’
After witnessing the alarming rise in knife crimes among young individuals in the UK, Stephen Graham told the outlet how the societal issue inspired him to raise awareness through his TV works. As these tragic events prompted him to question the underlying causes contributing to such incidents, Graham’s introspection became the catalyst for developing a narrative.
What was Stephen Graham’s motive behind creating Adolescence?
Now that we’re aware of the inspiration behind Stephen Graham‘s four-part crime thriller, let’s take a look at the creator’s approach to the show. During the same interview with Netflix, Graham noted how his approach to the show was not merely to depict a crime but to delve into the intricate web of influences that can lead a young person down a dark path.
Not to mention, Graham also hoped to raise awareness about how easily such terrifying things can happen to anyone. Therefore, instead of focusing on crime gangs or teams at work, the creator showed an individual (Owen Cooper’s character Jamie Miller) and his perfectly normal family.
One of our aims was to ask, ‘What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and from social media?’ And the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here as they are the world over.
We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser. Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God. This could be happening to us!’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.
So in the end, Graham’s personal connection to the subject matter and his commitment to shed light on these pressing issues turned Adolescence into a compelling watch and a source of raising awareness.
Stephen Graham reflected on increased crimes among youngsters
Considering how the surge in youth-related knife crimes around the world as well as in the UK has been a pressing concern—Stephen Graham, deeply moved by this terrifying trend, sought to explore the underlying causes. In Adolescence, he thus examines the myriad factors that contribute to such behavior among youngsters.
Speaking at the panel for Next on Netflix (via Business Insider), Graham noted how the idea for the show had occurred to him 10 years ago, but it was a sudden rise in violence that led him to put his idea into motion. That’s when he admitted to speaking with the director Phil Barantini and being overwhelmed with the possibility of exploring the underlying cause.
We’ve seen an epidemic of knife crime amongst young lads, up and down the country. And for me, there were certain instances that really stuck out where young boys—and they are young boys, you know, they’re not men—were killing young girls.
When I mentioned it to Phil [Barantini, director], it just really hit me hard. I just thought, ‘Why? What’s going on? What’s happening? Why is this the case?’
In Adolescence, the show thus highlights the role of the internet and social media in shaping young minds. The protagonist, Jamie Miller, is depicted as being influenced by the manosphere—online communities that promote misogynistic ideologies. This exposure then plays a significant role in his decision-making.
Graham told Dexerto,
One of our main aims is that beautiful saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ We didn’t want to point the blame at anyone specifically or in particular. We wanted to say we’re all accountable in many ways for this kind of thing, be that parents, teachers, government, society, community.
Therefore, shedding light on several factors that influence young minds, Stephen Graham noted how isolation, compounded by societal pressures and the lack of supportive environments, often leads to such devastating outcomes. His own portrayal of Eddie Miller, Jamie’s father, added depth to this narrative, showcasing the challenges that parents face in understanding their kids.
Writer Jack Thorne explained Adolescence ending
Coming to the conclusion of Adolescence, we as viewers are left grappling with complex emotions and lingering questions about the nature of guilt, influence, and responsibility. All thanks to writer Jack Thorne, who masterfully crafted an ending that is both thought-provoking and unsettling, prompting audiences to reflect deeply on the series’ themes.
In the final episode, Jamie Miller decides to plead guilty to the murder of Katie Leonard, despite earlier maintaining his innocence. Now, while several internal and external factors led to this decision, Thorne told Tudum—making his father proud was at the core of Jamie’s decision to take accountability for his mistakes.
In Episode 4, he’s much further along on his journey than before. Jamie now knows what he’s done and what his future might be. That allows him to put his feelings in a box and close the lid on himself in some way.
Jamie is always trying to impress his dad and make sure his dad is proud of him. But I don’t think he finds that. He’s obviously bothered about the plea, but he’s more bothered about his dad. Although he doesn’t want to let down his whole family, his dad’s at the core of his heart. Jamie doesn’t want to let Eddie down.
Adolescence stands as a brilliant and timely exploration of the challenges that are being faced by today’s youth. Through the collaborative efforts of Stephen Graham, director Phil Barantini, and writer Jack Thorne, the series delves deep into the societal, familial, and personal factors that can lead to tragic outcomes.
By drawing inspiration from real-life events and addressing pressing issues such as online radicalization and youth violence, Adolescence not only tells a compelling story but also serves as a ground for crucial conversations. It is a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of modern adolescence.
Adolescence is available on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
