A chilling new television drama, Adolescence, has swept across screens worldwide, seizing the spotlight as Netflix’s most-watched show over the weekend. Co-written by and starring Stephen Graham, a native of Kirkby, Merseyside, the four-part series plunges into the wreckage of a family torn apart when their teenage son is arrested for murdering a female classmate. Released last week, it casts a stark, unflinching gaze on the venomous influence of social media and misogynist online figures poisoning the minds of young boys.
The story’s potency lies in its raw urgency. Jack Thorne, who crafted the series alongside Graham, envisioned it as more than entertainment—a catalyst for upheaval. “I want it to be shown in schools, I want it to be shown in Parliament,” Thorne declared, his voice ringing with conviction. He sees a crisis spiraling out of control, warning, “This is only going to get worse.” Speaking on BBC’s Newsnight, he peeled back the allure of incel culture, a dark web ensnaring vulnerable boys with promises of belonging and power.
In Parliament, Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley amplified the call, noting the series’ roots in her constituency—both Graham and co-star Christine Tremarco hail from its streets. She hailed Adolescence for exposing “online male radicalization and violence against girls,” urging screenings to spark a broader movement against corrosive misogyny. The drama, she argued, could reshape culture, offering young men role models worthy of emulation.
The government has begun to respond, rolling out specialist police teams to confront sexual violence head-on. Yet, the deeper battle, as highlighted by the show, is cultural—a creeping rot that demands more than policy. “It’s abhorrent,” one voice in Westminster remarked, condemning the brutality festering in digital shadows. The stakes feel personal for many; households across the country, including those with teenagers, are riveted by the series’ unflinching lens.
Beyond the screen, echoes of this alarm resound. Gareth Southgate, former England football manager, recently decried the “manosphere” in the BBC’s Richard Dimbleby Lecture. He painted a grim picture of young men lost to gaming, gambling, and pornography, adrift without anchors. Adolescence has ignited a firestorm of discussion, a mirror held to society’s fractures. As Thorne hoped, it’s a drama poised to do more than entertain—it’s a clarion call to confront a growing darkness before it consumes another generation.
The Netflix drama Adolescence, which has gripped global audiences since its release, has recently come under fire for its casting decisions, particularly the choice of a young white actor to play the troubled teenage son at the heart of the story. Critics argue that selecting a white boy for the role, in a narrative tackling universal themes like online radicalization and toxic masculinity, overlooks the opportunity to feature an ethnic minority actor—such as one from South Asian, Black, or Middle Eastern descent—who could reflect the diverse realities of modern Britain. Social media platforms have buzzed with frustration, with many pointing out that the show’s setting in a culturally diverse urban area makes the casting feel out of touch. Advocates for inclusivity argue that a more representative choice could have deepened the show’s impact, especially given its aim to spark discussions in schools and Parliament about issues affecting all communities.
On the other hand, the production team has defended their decision, asserting that the casting was based on the actor’s ability to convey the emotional depth required for the role. They claim the chosen actor, a rising talent with a personal connection to the story’s themes, was selected after extensive auditions to ensure authenticity in portraying the character’s psychological unraveling. However, this explanation has drawn scepticism, with detractors arguing that the lack of diversity in the lead role perpetuates a narrow depiction of British youth, sidelining the experiences of ethnic minority teens who are equally affected by the issues the drama addresses. The controversy has fueled broader debates about representation in media, with calls for the creators of Adolescence—including Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne—to prioritize inclusivity in future projects, ensuring their storytelling mirrors the diverse society they aim to influence.
