The series wastes no time, throwing us straight into the chaos. DI Luke Bascombe and DS Misha Frank are on a routine morning patrol when they receive a report. Within minutes, they’re storming into the Miller household with a squad. Their suspect? Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his classmate, Katie Leonard, with a kitchen knife.
The scene is pure chaos, officers turning the house upside down, Jamie’s family in shock, and the boy himself frozen in disbelief. But amid the turmoil, the officers handle Jamie with an unexpected gentleness. Bascombe and Frank calmly explain his rights, ensuring he understands what’s happening. Jamie, visibly distressed, barely reacts.
His parents refuse to accept the situation. Convinced it’s a mistake, they focus more on the officers damaging their home than the horrifying accusation against their son. Jamie’s choice of his father, Eddie, as his supervising adult raises eyebrows. Bascombe is particularly uneasy, recalling a past case that suggests Eddie may not be the ideal guardian.
As the investigation unfolds, Jamie’s silence becomes his defense. His court-appointed lawyer, Paul Barlow, advises him to say “no comment” whenever he’s unsure. At first, Jamie complies, but when the police present evidence, his shoe at the crime scene, and CCTV footage of him following Katie, his composure begins to crack.
The final blow is devastating. CCTV footage from the crime scene shows Katie pushing Jamie, followed by what appears to be a stabbing motion. Eddie breaks down, struggling to process what he’s seeing. Jamie, through tears, insists he didn’t do it. But at this moment, his innocence is no longer certain.
From the first frame, Adolescence grabs hold of us and doesn’t let go. The continuous one-shot technique makes the experience feel immersive, almost suffocating. There’s no escape, no time to process, just a relentless unfolding of events that feels as raw and real as possible.
Every detail feels intentional. The camera lingers on Bascombe’s concern, Jamie’s subtle nervousness, and Eddie’s shifting emotions. We find ourselves questioning everything, Is Jamie just a scared kid in the wrong place at the wrong time, or is there something darker beneath the surface?
Owen Cooper delivers a stunning performance as Jamie, portraying a mix of fear, defiance, and vulnerability. His subtle reactions make every accusation against him feel heavier. Stephen Graham’s portrayal of Eddie is equally gripping, his growing fear and desperation are almost painful to watch. He wants to believe his son, but doubt creeps in with every new revelation.
The writing is razor-sharp, blending family drama with police procedural tension. And the absence of explicit violence makes the story hit even harder, our imaginations fill in the gaps, making the horror all the more unsettling.
