The Netflix series "Adolescence," co-created by Jack Thorne and starring Stephen Graham, has garnered significant attention for its portrayal of radicalisation and incel culture among young boys. Recently, Jack Thorne addressed criticisms regarding the show's main character and clarified that "Adolescence" is entirely fictional and not based on any real-life events.
The four-part series features Owen Cooper in his debut role as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy who faces the harrowing aftermath of being accused of murdering a female classmate. The story unfolds against a backdrop of societal issues such as knife crime and the struggles of young boys, which Thorne argues are not confined to any single race or background. Speaking on "The News Agents" podcast, he stated, "It's absurd to say that this [crime] is only committed by black boys," and emphasised, "We are making a point about masculinity. We're trying to get inside a problem."
Recently, the series has been discussed in the UK Parliament, with figures like Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recommending the show as an educational tool for young teens. Thorne’s remarks come in response to a wave of online criticism that suggested the series was attempting to overshadow real-life issues by focusing on race. He firmly rejected these allegations, asserting, "There is no part of this that's based on a true story, not one single part."
Thorne expressed his concern about the potential damage caused by adapting real-life events into narratives, explaining, "I know the harm that can come when you take elements of a real-life story and you put it on screen." He also reflected on his regret about the show’s character development, specifically wishing there had been more focus on Jade, the best friend of the victim Katie, played by Fatima Bojang. "I wish we'd spent longer with Jade... she was really angry at Katie's death," he noted, acknowledging the depth of her character.
Despite the show's success—accumulating over 24.3 million views within the first four days of its release—Thorne indicated that he and Graham have no immediate plans to continue Jamie's story. "I don't think so, and I don't think Stephen does either," he stated. Thorne hinted at the possibility of pursuing new stories with the same creative team, but confirmed that the narrative of Jamie Miller had been thoroughly explored.
With the show currently available for streaming on Netflix, it continues to provoke discussions on critical societal issues and has proved to be a polarising and impactful addition to contemporary television.
Source: Noah Wire Services