Netflix's 'Adolescence': Critics Are Freaking Out Over This 100% Rated Crime Show Should You Watch?

Netflix has been dropping some seriously good original shows lately and it looks like the streak is continuing. There's a new British crime drama called Adolescence and people are absolutely loving it. Like seriously loving it. Critics have given it a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes . Yes you read that right 100%!

'Adolescence' Earns Perfect Score: What's All the Hype About This New Netflix Series?

So what makes Adolescence so special? It is a limited series crime drama from the UK and those are often gold right from the start. The story itself is intense and hits on every parent's biggest fear. Imagine this a 13-year-old boy gets arrested for murdering a teenage girl from his school. Yep dark stuff.

The official synopsis gives you the chills:

When a thirteen-year-old is arrested for the murder of a classmate every aspect of his family’s life is thrown into turmoil as they grapple to understand what happened.

Heavy right? As one writer mentioned if you are a parent especially a parent of a son this might be a tough watch. But with a perfect score like that it's hard to ignore. It definitely sounds like something worth checking out even if it is intense.

Behind the Scenes: The Creative Team Powering 'Adolescence' to Critical Acclaim

The team behind Adolescence is packed with talent. It comes from Jack Thorne who also created Toxic Town another Netflix drama that also snagged a 100% rating recently. Talk about a hot streak! He co-created Adolescence with Stephen Graham who you might recognize from tons of shows and movies. Think Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire or his roles in The Irishman Boiling Point and the Venom movies. Graham also stars in Adolescence.

Philip Barantini is the director and he also directed Graham in the movie Boiling Point in 2021. Barantini is bringing a unique filmmaking style to Adolescence.

One-Shot Thrills: 'Adolescence' Episodes Filmed in Continuous Takes Like 'Boiling Point'

Here is something really cool and unusual about Adolescence. Just like Boiling Point each of the four episodes is filmed in one long continuous shot. Yes you heard that correctly one take for the whole episode. That is something you almost never see in TV shows. It is like bringing a theatrical play to the screen. This one-shot style really amps up the tension and immersion.

Stephen Graham described it as "the marriage of both mediums" theater and TV. He explained that they rehearsed each episode for a week like a play dissecting every moment. Then they spent another week choreographing the camera movements to make it all seamless. Graham said this process was incredibly "zen" as an actor. He felt completely immersed in the character from "action" to "cut".

Exploring Knife Crime and Toxic Masculinity: 'Adolescence' Tackles Tough Issues

Adolescence is not just a crime thriller it is also diving into some important and timely themes. Stephen Graham mentioned that the show was inspired by the " epidemic of knife crime amongst young young lads " in the UK. He and Jack Thorne wanted to explore why this is happening and what is going on in society.

The show looks at issues like toxic masculinity bullying and digital loneliness. It asks really difficult questions like what would you do if your own teenage son was accused of such a terrible crime? It seems like Adolescence is aiming to be both gripping and thought-provoking.

Meet the Cast of 'Adolescence': Stephen Graham and More

Besides Stephen Graham Adolescence has a strong cast. Here are some of the actors you will see:

• Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller the father
• Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller the 13-year-old son
• Ashley Walters as Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe
• Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston the clinical psychologist
• Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller Jamie’s mother
• Faye Marsay as (Known for Game of Thrones)
• Mark Stanley (Known for Happy Valley)
• Jo Hartley (Known for After Life)
• Amélie Pease as Lisa Miller Jamie's sister

With this cast and creative team Adolescence sounds like it has the potential to be truly special and impactful.

Is 'Adolescence' the Next 'Baby Reindeer'? Netflix Keeps Delivering Must-See Miniseries

One review even compared Adolescence to other boundary-pushing British shows on Netflix like Fleabag and Baby Reindeer. That is high praise indeed! It suggests that Netflix is still committed to making high-quality impactful miniseries that you just can't see anywhere else.

Adolescence is described as " terrifying for parents " and "Netflix’s best since Baby Reindeer". It is definitely aiming to be more than just entertainment. It wants to be art that has a global impact at awards time and on viewers who stick with its "gripping episodes".

Should You Binge 'Adolescence' This Weekend? Everything You Need to Know

So should you add Adolescence to your Netflix watchlist? If you are looking for an intense gripping and critically acclaimed crime drama then absolutely yes. It drops on Netflix on Thursday March 13. Be prepared for a tough watch emotionally but also for some incredible performances and filmmaking.

Here's a quick rundown:

• Show: Adolescence
• Streaming Service: Netflix
• Release Date: Thursday March 13
• Critic Score: 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
• Genre: British Crime Drama
• Episodes: 4 (Limited Series)
• Unique Feature: Each episode filmed in one continuous shot
• Themes: Knife crime toxic masculinity parenting fears
• Creators: Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham
• Director: Philip Barantini
• Stars: Stephen Graham Owen Cooper Ashley Walters Erin Doherty and more

Get ready to be hooked and maybe a little terrified. Adolescence sounds like it is going to be one of the must-see shows of the year.