The ambition of the Jack Throne and Stephen Graham-penned miniseries, “Adolescence” (2025) is astronomical in that they want to dredge in the muddy waters of understanding and exploring the psychology of children and teenagers susceptible to the social media generation and how that affects the actions and general behavior of these teenagers, leading not just to these kids lashing out in ways impossible to return from but also alienating them further from their parents.
An understandably touchy and rocky subject matter is aided by Philip Barantini’s signature calling card—the one-take sequence—that provides not just an added sense of tactility but also immersion in the overall experience.
Adolescence (2025) Miniseries Episode 1 Recap:
Opening with us being privy to a voice message being heard by DI Bascombe (Ashley Walters) delivered by his son for excusing from not attending school, we follow Bascombe and his partner DS Frank (Faye Marsay) as they get notified and lead an active force to a suburban area in an unnamed quiet English town. Bascombe leads a full tactical force and breaks into the house of the Millers, to the shock of patriarch Eddie (Stephen Graham), mother Manda, daughter Lisa, and their suspect—13-year-old son Jamie (Owen Cooper).
Arrested on suspicion of a murder, the kid is first instructed to change his trousers (he had wet himself) under the supervision of the officers and his father before being brought to the nearby police station. As he is processed, he tearfully expresses his innocence, while in the other room, the befuddled parents would be brought up to speed with the steps that would be taken next.
Eddie would be chosen as the “appropriate adult” by Jamie (under Bascombe’s advice, who also advised him to accept a solicitor). Eddie, under the guidance of solicitor Paul Barlow (Mark Stanley), would stand by and watch his son get strip searched, even as he tries to protest against the guards stripping down and searching a 13-year-old boy. A similar moral dilemma faces Bascombe as well, who, while having a relaxed and determined countenance in front of his partner as well as the solicitor while fending off his questions for more details, is far more hesitant and unsure of how to proceed, emotionally vulnerable due to being a father himself.
And that finally comes into play for Eddie as well when the questioning finally commences. Investigation into Jamie’s Instagram browsing, liking social media posts of models, finally leads to a connective tissue with schoolmate Katie Leonard, who had also commented on some of Jamie’s Instagram posts. This had been in sharp contrast to Jamie’s unsure answers as well as following Barlow’s advice of stating “no comments.”
That stonewalling doesn’t sit right with either of the police officers, who finally reveal their key evidence—photographic evidence of Jamie having followed Katie, while video footage captures Jamie angrily pushing Katie down and stabbing her. Eddie’s defense for his 13-year-old son becomes moot as he sees the footage. He starts to weep, the officers and the lawyer leaving them alone as Jamie tries desperately to convince his father that he hasn’t done it.
Adolescence (2025) Miniseries Episode 2 Recap:
Three days after Jamie’s arrest, DI Bascombe and DS Frank visit Jamie’s secondary school, highlighting a mostly unflattering portrayal of the kids themselves, aggressive and mostly non-cooperative. The hot topic of conversation is about the murder of Katie, while Adam Bascombe, DI Bascombe’s son, tries not to draw too much attention to himself or his connection with his father.
If Jamie had been frustrating in his stonewalling for the officers, that is nothing compared to the absolute antagonism expressed by Katie’s best friend Jade, who unequivocally refuses to answer any of their questions, instead taunting them about the self-proclaimed best officers on the force. Meanwhile, Ryan and Tommy, Jamie’s friends and most importantly witnesses and perhaps accomplices to the murder of Katie, had been trying to stay out of sight of the officers. However, in a standard drill exercise, when all the students would be brought onto the grounds to be corralled, Jade would attack Ryan in front of the whole school, accusing him of having murdered Katie.
Realizing that Ryan could have answers and can shed light on the motive of Jamie, which is still remaining unanswered, Bascombe and Frank try to question Ryan, with Bascombe attempting to break bread by recounting his old school stories and how he would attempt to look cool and woo girls. While Ryan would soften his stance, it still wouldn’t be enough for him to open up and answer Bascombe’s questions.
The real breakthrough about the motive comes from Adam, who later reveals to his father that he had to do it because he couldn’t stand to see his father blundering about, attempting to converse with students but to no avail. He points out that Jamie’s Instagram post containing Katie’s comments, while outwardly friendly, actually hinted at her apparent malice.
The emoji-laden comment implied a different story—of Jamie being accused of being an incel, following the teachings of the “manosphere.” Needless to say, while most of these revelations come out of the blue, he acknowledges that this has been helpful, and this actually leads to thawing of the ice between father and son.
Frank, already disliking the atmosphere of the school as well as the general unruliness of the entire affair, joins Bascombe in trying to question Ryan again. Ryan, panicking, jumps out of the classroom through the window and attempts to escape by rushing out of the school through the back. Bascombe chases him and finally manages to catch him.
As Ryan bravely tries to counter Bascombe’s anger, Bascombe finally puts the fear of God in the kid, leading to Ryan revealing that the knife used as the murder weapon had belonged to him. This leads to his arrest. As the episode progresses towards the end, Bascombe attempts to reconnect with his son by inviting him out to lunch, while we see Eddie Miller, Jamie’s father, leaving flowers at the site of the murder.
Adolescence (2025) Miniseries Episode 3 Recap:
Quite possibly the most important episode of the whole series and the cornerstone of the show in general, this takes place seven months after DI Bascombe finally charges Jamie Miller for the murder of Katie Leonard. In that time, Jamie would be transferred to the Standing Secure Training Centre, where he is being kept under psychiatric evaluation.
We follow Dr. Briony Ashton (Erin Doherty), behavioral therapist, as she sashays through the center in confident and aloof strides, but remarkably carrying marshmallows in her purse, which she later puts in the hot chocolate from the vending machine at the center. We realize by that action as well as the interaction between Ashton and young Jaime that there is a familiarity in this relationship.
But Briony smartly steers the conversation into uncharted waters. Previously she had tried to gauge whether Jamie knew the extent of the crime and how long he would have to be here, normal questions that even Jamie would be able to answer, and iteration of said questionnaire would also be asked by the other therapist as well. Ashton, though, is reluctant to listen to any other therapist’s questions, prudent about reaching conclusions by herself. She begins to shift the conversation towards masculinity, trying to let Jaime open up about his grandfather and, through that, his father. It becomes pretty clear that unlike the sweet, unsure yet bright boy witnessed in episode 1, there is a sea of change here. There is a palpable aggression.
While Jamie clearly loves his dad, he also acknowledges that things are somewhat tense between them, especially regarding sports. He reveals how his father acts ashamed every time he makes any mistake. What baffles Jamie and also makes him angry is Ashton’s lack of reaction to any such revelation or any reaction that could mollify Jamie.
He throws the glass containing the hot chocolate and begins shouting and swearing at her, almost getting in her space trying to intimidate her. She doesn’t back down, but when the guard enters the interview room in an attempt to pacify Jamie. She walks out of the room, going to the CCTV room adjoining that hall, and tries to understand what just happened. Ignoring the prattles and very apparent attempt at flirtation by the guard, she makes up her mind.
Her next mode of attack is to be aggressive directly. It’s almost an attempt to put Jamie’s guard down. It’s fascinating to watch how Briony slowly starts deconstructing Jamie. Changing tack from asking questions about his dad, she now begins asking him about his feelings about women and then his sexual dalliances, if he had any. As expected, he talks (out of his backside) about his experiences with girls in his school before finally admitting that none of that happened.
He does admit that Katie’s nudes had been leaked by a boy called Fidget, and he is sad about the furor caused as a result of it, not because a girl has passed away, but because Fidget and the rest, including him, wouldn’t be able to procure nudes anymore. A noticeable pall of shock flits across Ashton’s stony face, even as she tries to ask Jamie whether he could understand what death actually is.
As Ashton tries to state, this entire exercise isn’t to validate, and neither is it to mollify, but to understand and to discern whether Jamie understands. Part of the reason why Jamie is getting frustrated with Ashton is because he can’t predict her reactions. And thus he is trying to trip her up in some instances by intimidating her and belittling her for getting the social media wrong.
Ashton, not deterred, takes out the printouts of Jamie’s social media posts where Katie had commented, and while Jamie mockingly points out Ashton’s attempts to reveal any truth, he doesn’t shy away from it either. Jamie reveals that after the Fidget incident, Jamie had tried to console her and, when she was weak, attempted to ask her out—an action that he believes is quite clever, even as Ashton vehemently disagrees, though no shift in her voice is revealed. Katie would laugh back at Jamie, pointing out that she isn’t that desperate, before starting cyberbullying him that same day.
Almost understanding that the narrative power is shifting away from him, Jamie tries to convince Ashton that Katie is the aggrieved party here, and while he admits that he doesn’t believe in the incel ideology, he also reveals that he could have “touched her,” but he didn’t. Ashton tries to remind him about the severity of the murder, almost unable to believe that he had accepted his complicity in the crime.
Almost as if to free herself from listening any further, Ashton finally stops the session and reveals to Jamie that this is their last. Completely blindsided by the revelation, Jamie tries to reel the narrative back, asking whether she liked him. Her hesitancy in answering the question further unravels as he is dragged away, screaming and begging her not to tell her dad. As Ashton is left alone and packing her briefcase, she almost lets out a sob, releasing the coiled-up tension that had been within her throughout the meeting, highlighting how even for someone as experienced as her, this was completely uncharted territory.
Adolescence (2025) Miniseries Episode 4 Recap:
Taking place 13 months after Jamie’s fateful arrest, it is Eddie Miller’s 50th birthday. His plan to celebrate is mildly marred by seeing the gift card sent by his son from prison. But that day is almost ruined when he finds his van being spray-painted by a couple of kids—the word “NONCE” written in bright yellow on the side. He tries to reassure his wife and daughter that a bit of soap would wash that off, but of course to no avail. Moreover, as Eddie starts to unravel, he emphasizes to his wife that attempts to move back to Liverpool wouldn’t actually help matters. On the contrary, it would only make it worse. Yes, Jamie is going to trial in four weeks, and this is the public’s response, but hiding away would only make it worse.
Instead, the family decides that they should win the day. So they plan to go to Wainwrights, the mall, where he would locate anything that might help scrub the letters out. While on the way, the family decides to go out for a day at the movies, ending with dinner at the Chinese place. However, the plan to seize the day almost fails, because as Eddie tries to find a towel or soap or anything that might help him, one of the workers recognizes Eddie and tries to convince him that they are on their side, more interested in talking about his son’s case rather than aiding him in his search for supplies. Shutting off from everything else, as Eddie finally helps his wife and daughter buy supplies, he suddenly realizes that the kids have followed him to the mall.
Throwing caution to the wind, he rushes to the kids and catches one of them, beating him black and blue, warning them not to push him. The kid is defiant and unapologetic but runs away in terror, not even coming back to pick up his bag that Eddie throws back. Eddie, meanwhile, having had enough, angered at his situation as well as lacking funds to re-spray, fixes up the problem then and there by throwing the paint he had just bought over the body of the van. It is crude, but it does the job, and Eddie had had enough, even shouting back at the employees of Wainwrights, ordering him to clean up the mess.
Adolescence (2025) Miniseries Ending Explained:
What does Jamie decide to plead at his trial?
As the Millers drive back to their house, both mother and daughter give Eddie his space; he picks up a collect call from the prison—his son Jamie. As Jamie wishes his father a happy birthday, he apologetically reveals to his father that he has decided to plead guilty. Eddie is utterly unprepared and stays silent upon hearing that, not willing to say anything and break down over the line.
His mother takes over the call, reminding him about his food and asking about the days in the prison. His sister talks about his regular excursions at the gym. It’s all an attempt to awkwardly fill in the silence. As Eddie finally parks the van in the driveway and walks in, we see the two women break down in tears at both Eddie’s attempt to keep control of himself and also at their situation.
How do the Millers react to Jaime’s decision?
The next scene is mostly a conversation piece between Eddie and his wife Amanda. Amanda acknowledges not going to the movies as they had planned before their conversation inevitably tries to address the elephant in the room—that of Jamie’s admission of guilt. It is hard for both Eddie and Amanda to believe that their son could do something so drastic. As the show attempts, it highlights the alienation they both feel as well as the propensity to blame themselves for not having seen the signs. For Eddie, an attempt to not repeat the mistakes of his father’s methodology of upbringing would entail not interfering in Jaime’s life, but it backfires. The show through Eddie tries to make one understand Eddie’s psyche and how years of conditioning don’t automatically go away.
It’s a very vulnerable era—teenage years—and as both of them acknowledge, social media without any guardrails is harder to control. Eddie’s attempts to make his son strong by taking him to football and boxing would result in the other parents’ kids laughing at him and Eddie being unable to look at his son. It’s a telling mirror to what Jamie states to Briony at episode 3 about how much he felt ashamed at failing his father. Jaime would later be interested in drawing but would finally shut himself off once he got hold of a computer.
It’s a road untraveled if one compares it to the relationship between Bascombe and his son Adam and his attempt to mend their relationship and acknowledge a world that the elders have no idea about and also foster a space where the kids would be comfortable in sharing with them without being scared of chastisement by their parents.
Does Eddie finally accept Jamie’s confession?
The conversation is interrupted by Lisa’s entry in the room, where she shows that she has dressed up for the occasion, before emphasizing that she doesn’t want to move back. After all, Adam is theirs, and they have to live with it, however long it takes. Acceptance slowly wafts over the family, and as they plan to stay in, rent a film, and order takeout, Eddie finally goes to Jamie’s room.
As he walks into the room and sees the bed, Eddie breaks down, the final vestiges of his disbelief washing away. As his wife had stated, Jamie subconsciously wanted his father to be the “Appropriate Adult” because he knew his father would have believed him no matter what. And he had been right to an extent, because Eddie had been holding on to a slim hope of acquittal at the end of the trial. But as he kisses the teddy bear and tucks it in the bed, almost tucking in the last vestiges of Jaime’s childhood before whispering “Sorry son” and walking out of the room, we realize that Eddie has finally accepted Jaime’s decision, as well as his own failings as a father.
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