How Netflix’s Adolescence Turns a Crime Story Into a Cultural Wake-Up Call

By: Rose Schreir '27

 A SWAT team invades the house of a 13-year-old boy because he is a suspect for the murder of a young girl. So, he screams and cries and insists he is innocent, a claim delivered with convincing urgency. However, the police provide blatant evidence that erodes any chance the boy is innocent, and the audience is left in shock. Such is the premise of the current #1 Netflix limited series, Adolescence, which Forbes named “An All-Time Technical Masterpiece.” It’s a crime drama that doesn’t follow a typical whodunit scheme or the instant numbing gratification. Adolescence immediately identifies the murderer and provides concrete CCTV evidence. Its suspense lies in the “why?” What caused a young boy to murder his classmate?

Part of Adolescence’s brilliance is its deviation from the typical crime show. Most modern crime dramas are fast-paced, with a new plot twist every millisecond, and they are designed to keep even the most distracted person engaged. Adolescence maintains engagement, but in a different way, as each episode is filmed in one take, zeroing in on key details behind the murder rather than glossing over them. Additionally, the series shows deep and complex emotions that leave its viewers conflicted and deeply upset. Oftentimes, crime shows have a numbing effect, causing viewers to forget the humanity behind the crime. Adolescence does the opposite; it forces humanity into every character, unraveling them until the very last moments. Emotionally, the show does not offer a break.

As the series unfolds, viewers learn that the formative moments causing this murder occurred on social media, specifically in the toxic masculinity sphere. The show explores how a murderer is created with minimal adverse childhood experiences and seemingly normal parents and family dynamics. There have been few shows that touch on the detrimental effects of toxic masculinity on young boys. Therefore, the concept remains taboo and unspoken within teen and preteen conversations. However, its reality can be seen everywhere. The show was made partially in response to the rising knife violence in the UK, specifically among teen boys. Toxic masculinity also perpetuates harmful concepts such as incels, as seen in Adolescence. Incels, as defined by The Anti-Defamation League, are “heterosexual men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success.” This term isn’t often discussed amongst teenage peers, and parents are mostly unaware of the weight it holds. Thus, the TV show brings to light slang and concepts used by newer generations that often fly under the radar. Adolescence touches on these topics to show how incel culture is furthering a deep-seated hatred for women among young boys and how serious it is since incel culture was a key influence in the main character’s decision to murder a young girl. 

Adolescence demonstrates the worst-case scenario of the effects of toxic masculinity and incel culture. It also shows how big a role social media plays. This worst-case scenario is not only realistic but increasingly common, so it creates a much-needed conversation. The show forces a societal confrontation with the mess left for younger generations, especially in regards to the darker sides of social media. Shows like Adolescence offer a fly-on-the-wall view of humanity, allowing viewers to critique the actions of fictional characters, prompting reflection of one’s own character.