Adolescence - Netflix

[onetwothreefourfive11]

Anyone seen it?

As a mum with a young DS I’m finding it hard to watch without going into a worry spiral

It’s a really small thing but the teacher who showed the police around said something like ‘I taught her (Katie) in year five.’

Now yes, it could be an all through school and it could be that the teacher used to teach primary and switched to secondary but both are really unlikely scenarios. Basic, daft error.

Me too! I enjoyed the interaction with his son - genuinely didn't know the meaning of different heart colours etc. It's made me realise how I'm a totally different generation

the teacher said during the interview with jade that she taught at the lower school. Where we are we have a three tier school system so junior, middle and upper. The years would fit into that and sometimes the schools are all through.

Dad did ask him if he’d done it prior to interview and son said he hadn’t done anything. In the interview they all saw Jamie commit the murder on video so there wasn’t really much else Dad could say.

Just started watching it and on episode three. Episode 1 was good, 2 was ok, 3 is boring but will watch until the end.

Can't believe no one asked at any point "who is dead" given he kept on denying anything until they showed the video!!

She was introduced as a teacher from the lower school who had come to sit in on the interviews/help the police out. She actually interrupted the police at the start of the interview with the friend to say she was Miss so and so and taught at the lower school.

Ah OK. Wonder what the purpose of that was; why not just have a teacher from the school?

Also, I really disliked the way Jade (was it? Katie’s friend) was portrayed. I found that very uncomfortable.

I agree @Themee. Her feelings didn't seem to count. She also accused Ryan in front of the detective, which wasn't acted upon in any way, shape or form.

I think to suggest staffing was stretched at the senior school?

I have watched the whole thing. For me it was the lack of respect the boys gave to the school staff, the swearing and the feeling that the children could do and say whatever they liked and there were no consequences.

Yes, social media has a lot to answer for but we need to come down hard on what our children are watching. We cannot just shrug our shoulders and say we cannot do anything - it’s how it is now.

Mine too as a parent. Behaviour was an issue at my DC's schools, even in some of the top sets. I would need more than two hands for the number of people who have gone into teaching and left within 5 years. Behaviour played a significant part of their decision. Teachers often don't have the tools or the support, add in teens who 'know their rights' et voila chaos and stress!

Why was everyone constantly sniffing?

I thought that it was uncomfortable viewing. Very well done. Acting was sublime. I sort of expected a different ending - a finalisation - but actually there is no finalisation of the story. The family will have to live with it for ever. My only criticism is that we never got to know Katie as a person, she was just the victim. I think that there's an additional story line that was missed - what's it like as a teenage girl having to deal with this type of boy on a regular basis?

Just finished episode four tonight. Not an easy watch, but perhaps that’s a good thing.
Acting was excellent. Very thought provoking content.
It will definitely raise awareness with parents and I can only hope that they act on this with their children.

I binged watched it yesterday and the whole thing was portrayed absolutely watered down. Such a strong subject and such a weak way to portray it. I don't mind the way they filmed it but it felt like there's a very strong disturbing subject that had no depth in it.

Just watched this, and very thought provoking. I am a parent of two teen boys and it's bloody tough. I went through a very challenging time with my eldest, who lost his way for a few years and fell in with the wrong crowd. Things led up to this event, COVID, losing his nan and fear of losing his grandad, anxiety going back to school and bullying. He spoke like them, acted like them he was a completely different person and extremely unhappy. I thought he would end up dead or in a youth detention centre. We have finally got him back now and he is doing well. But it could have gone either way. My other son is completely different, but he didn't have a Sen and he wasn't bullied and had a good friendship group. The line when the dad says about his daughter "How did we make her" and the mums response "The same way we made him" broke me. Yes, the family can play a part but so does society. Schools, police, friends, internet.

Very accurate depiction of schools both state and private tbh. Patents just don't want to believe it.
I taught at both and went to both and there was lack of respect, callous disregard for suffering and absconding students in both ( with more expensive drugs wt private schools).
I blame the parents, lack of strict dicipline at home and at school.
After years of abuse from students and staff, I finally walked from teaching after a girl bullied a teacher, i stood up for my colleague as I heard the shouting from the girl. I asked her several times to put her chocolate bar away in the lesson. She refused so I put it in the bin. Management told me off as "girl was horrid but from a good family and mummy and daddy would be angry about said chocolate bar..." I mean what can you do with that?!

I was shocked to watch how the boy was talking to psychologist. Maybe because I'm from different generation, but never ever, no matter how angry I was, I would have dreamed talking in this manner with an adult. I can't imagine this communication to be allowed and tolerated in schools. I witnessed once on the train teenage boy calling his mum stupid cow and shouting from the top of his lungs how come she didn't hurry to push through to sit next him, it was rush hour.

Hi @onetwothreefourfive11 - I found this an excellent, but disturbing watch. I think it's important that this was made and think it should be shown in all secondary schools.

There is an existing thread on the Adolescence drama, with an opportunity for Q&As with some of those involved in the production, already on MN. It's very interesting. Here it is: Adolescence: The Netflix drama that will have every parent talking - Join our watch thread plus Q&A with producer and cast | Mumsnet

I agree with everything @Piggywaspushed said too. I work in schools.
I am on episode 3 and fell asleep. I am shocked that so many people are shocked by this. Andrew Tate has been around a long time. So have smartphones, and porn. What did parents think was happening?
To me it is quite poorly researched and quite boring to be honest. It is good to raise the issues, and the acting is quite good, but I can't believe people are so surprised. I have seen the ending yet though.

I too want to know more about Katie and in particular why she was bullying Jamie (which was said in episode 2 when the detectives went to the school).

In this particular series, I dont think Katie's side was needed. We see dramas all the time of girls/women being killed by men, but this is the only one I've seen where the murder wasn't regarded as the important part - but rather "why" a normal lad did this

Yes I agree with this.

Also it made the police look pretty stupid. I played a part in bringing up a teen (step child, dad not in the picture, a lot of troubled behaviour) and a quick Google taught me what certain online 'codes' meant.

The psychologist scenes were interesting to me as a counsellor. I am not sure the reaction was realistic. I've had many situations like that and was far more stoic. I guess we're all different, maybe I'm more desensitised? But I find that hard to believe if she was meant to portray someone experienced in that type of work. Also when the kid was saying he had frightened her and how embarrassing to be afraid of a 13 year old etc.. I'd have thought she'd have asked why he was asking that, did he enjoy people being frightened etc.