Approximately once a year, “The Show” comes around onNetflix. The Show cannot be missed; Everyone you know is talking about The Show, and critics are raving about The Show. The Show wasTiger King,The Queen’s Gambit,Squid Game, and last year’s Show,Baby Reindeer, took home just about every mainstream award possible. Well, it looks like The Show this year isAdolescence, the new British miniseries from creators Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. Four episodes that are each shot in one continuous take,Adolescencetells the story of a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering his classmate.
It is still early to call, butAdolescenceis perhaps thebest Netflix fad to ever catch on. An unflinching examination of toxic masculinity and the impact of social media on today’s youth, it is some of the bravest, most interesting, and conversation-inspiring television to come out in ages. In a time when crime media has become commodified to the utmost extent, especially on Netflix itself, it is compelling to consider what the success and content ofAdolescencecould contribute to ongoing conversations about genres like True Crime. It does all of this while being The Show, breaking records in the UK. CouldAdolescencehave diagnosed a societal ill and done it right at the source?
The Effects of True Crime
It is sort of dystopian how chic the true crime genre has become, really. Fascination with and financial bankability for true crime has roots all the way back to the 1500s, but the ringing in of the modern era of true crime is often attributed to the success of Truman Capote’s non-fiction novelIn Cold Bloodin 1966. Nowadays, however, the average consumer is more likely to get their daily true crime dose via podcast, documentary, or film/TV based on the event. Millions tune into true crime every day.According to a 2022 poll, around 50% of Americans enjoy the true crime genre, and 13% say it’s their favorite. This fascination shows no signs of stopping, and interest in the genre has only increased since. In particular, true crime is growing more and more popular with young audiences.
There have been studies that show direct links between the popularity of true crime and mental health deficits, copycat crime, and general violence. While some argue that they find true crime educational from a safety perspective, it seems that really most people enjoy material that is shocking, and there is nothing more shocking than what is true.There is something inherently voyeuristic about all film and television, but especially in the adaptation of real tragedies for entertainment. If you strip it down to its essence, people want to be able to watch horrible things unfold without being involved.
This is not a dismissal or derision of any true crime enjoyers out there (we all do it). However, we have to acknowledge that we have undeniably gotten to the point of no return. We are experiencing a mass desensitization to violence. With streaming, there is an overabundance of movies, TV, and podcasts, and it is nearly impossible to censor anyone from anything. In the age of smartphones, it is possible to consume news, fictionalized retellings, opinion pieces, or even footage of crimes at any moment.This is most concerning when you consider the children growing up with this inundation of information as their norm, and that is exactlywhatAdolescenceso gut-wrenchingly unpacks.
The thing is, we can’tnotbe involved. We may consume true crime absent-mindedly, but children cannot. If we are not watching our children, and they have access to the entire world of violence, anything could happen.Adolescencedoes not directly place the onus on true crime, more on the common scary internet subcultures that children are exposed to in this unique digital age. In general, however, it shows that if we are negligent about what young people are being exposed to, nightmare scenarios can emerge.
Charles Manson True Crime Documentary Makes a Killing on Netflix Debut
‘CHAOS: The Manson Murders’ is yet another Netflix true crime hit.
Going Where No Netflix Show Has Gone Before
It is extremely commonplace to make anything remotely interesting into a movie or TV show. In fact, it has become part of a memorialization process in our societal history (i.e., “when are they going to make a movie about that?"). Last year, Netflix was the center of significant controversy following the release ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The crime drama, inspired by the real murder of Lyle and Erik’s parents, received backlash from the Menendez brothers and the public at large for insensitive, potentially inaccurate depictions of the brothers' characters and relationship with their father.
The prior season of Ryan Murphy’s anthologyMonsterseries, which focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, was also contentious due toemotional responses from victims' families, raising discourse over the morality of depicting real tragedies on dramatized television.Monsterwas almost The Show, and was pseudo-The Show in popularity and fodder, but was stifled by controversy.
Again, last year’s Show,Baby Reindeer, was radically successful and deeply personal to creator Richard Gadd. Also based on true events, it follows a stand-up comic as he deals with a relentless stalker and works through unspeakable trauma.Baby Reindeerwas also the center of several controversies, including a defamation lawsuit. While the situation withBaby Reindeeris certainly more nebulous considering Gadd’s personal experiences, the interesting thing about all of these Netflix controversies is thatthey all surround the gray area that emerges when you make television about real people.
The 10 Most Captivating Miniseries of 2024
The miniseries format has become the perfect antidote for our ever-shortening attention spans. Here are the best ones 2024 had to offer.
Adolescence,inspired by the real concerning trend where young men are enacting violence against young women, is not based on any real people. Rather, Stephen Graham, co-creator and star, was inspired by a recent trend in knife crimes inflicted on young women by young men. He became inspired to devise a cautionary tale inspired by this phenomenon. Thus,Adolescencedoes not have the room to romanticize or villainize any real events, but rather becomes a truecall to action for parentsand viewers at large.
In a streaming world that feels inundated with documentaries about brutalized young women,for what feels like the first time, something takes a moment to question how the abundance of that media is affecting a misunderstood generation.Adolescenceactively encourages the audience to ask what part they could be playing in shaping a daunting future.
