“Adolescence” is a Netflix original series that came out on March 18, 2025. The story is centered around a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller, who is arrested and detained by the police on suspected charges of murdering one of his classmates. While Miller is overwhelmed with feelings at a holding center, his father Eddie, mother Manda and sister Lisa must pay the price at home, facing backlash from their community. Overall, the series demonstrates a realism rarely found in media today.

The series takes place in an English town where Jamie Miller, played by actor Owen Cooper, is forcefully taken out of his home by the police in the early morning and detained after one of his classmates, Kaite Leonard, was found dead at 10:30 the night before in a park. Detective Investigator (D.I.) Bascome and Detective Sergeant (D.S.) Frank lead the case against Miller and gets an idea of what motivated his actions. At Miller’s school, D.I. Bascome and D.S. Frank interview students concerning Leonard’s death, including Miller’s friend Ryan, whose hesitance to answer their questions leads to shocking discoveries.

This series involves complex themes of cyberbullying and the social dynamics of school-aged children. A survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics found that one out of every five children has reported that they have been bullied, and as “Adolescence” illustrates, bullying can happen both at school and online. In the series, Miller is motivated by hurtful online comments that fuel his actions.

While being fiction, “Adolescence” brings a level of realism that is scarcely found in media. The actors display each of their roles with accuracy and precision in a way that invites the audience into the story. One great example of this is displayed in Leonard’s best friend, Jade, played by actress Fatima Bojang. She accurately shows the grief and emotions of losing a dear friend and doesn’t hold back in expressing them in her character.

“Adolescence” is a great series that beautifully illustrates the complex social lives of teens and the effect that bullying can have on someone’s life. “Adolescence” also provides a new perspective on the very real effects of cyberbullying.