The creators of Netflix’s latest hit drama Adolescence want the show to do more than just entertain — they want it to change the conversation around youth violence.
Writer Jack Thorne and co-writer Stephen Graham, who also stars in the drama, said they made the series to explore the root causes of young male rage. After seeing multiple violent incidents in the news, they felt compelled to act.
Thorne said:
“I want it shown in schools, I want it shown in Parliament. It’s crucial because this is only going to get worse. People need to be talking about this — hopefully, drama can help.”
The Story Behind Adolescence
The four-part series follows the Miller family, whose lives are torn apart when 13-year-old Jamie is arrested for killing a female classmate.
The show quickly became Netflix’s most-streamed title in both the UK and the US within its first week of release. Its gripping storyline exposes the damaging influence of social media and misogynist influencers on teenage boys.
Thorne explained:
“Jamie has been polluted by ideas he’s found online. These ideas make sense to him, offer him a twisted logic, and give him answers to his loneliness and isolation. That’s what leads him to make terrible choices.”
To understand Jamie, Thorne had to dive into some dark corners of the internet:
“This meant exploring the ‘manosphere’ and incel culture — and those places are not hard to find.”
What’s the Manosphere?
The manosphere refers to online spaces that promote misogyny and oppose feminism. Incels — short for involuntary celibates — are men who blame women for their lack of romantic success.
Thorne stressed that the show isn’t about excusing Jamie’s behaviour. Instead, it’s about understanding how easily young minds can be manipulated by harmful online content.
Why Graham Felt Compelled to Make the Show
Stephen Graham said he was inspired to create Adolescence after two disturbing real-life cases.
“I read about a boy who killed a girl, and then three weeks later, I saw a similar story on the news. It really hurt my heart. I just thought — what’s happening in society that this is becoming normal?”
Graham plays Jamie’s father in the series, while newcomer Owen Cooper delivers a powerful performance as Jamie.
‘It Takes a Village to Destroy a Child’
Adolescence marks the sixth collaboration between Graham and Thorne. The pair wanted to explore how a seemingly ordinary boy from a loving family could commit such an act.
Thorne said:
“Stephen kept saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ But what we realised is — it also takes a village to destroy one.”
The show highlights how Jamie’s actions stem from a mix of parental oversight, school failures, and the toxic content he absorbed online.
“This is an ordinary family, and this is an ordinary world. That’s what makes it so terrifying,” Thorne added.
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