After binge-watching all episodes of Adolescence over the weekend, Netflix viewers have been discussing the heart-wrenching show and the deeper meaning behind it.
One scene that's been the focus of many conversations was the final minutes of the series, in which Jamie's mum and dad, Manda and Eddie (played by Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco) are discussing their son after finding out he had changed his plea to guilty.
The plot of the series, which also stars Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, and Owen Cooper, follows a devoted father named Eddie, whose life is turned upside-down when his 13-year-old son Jamie (Cooper) is arrested for the violent murder of one of his classmates, Katie.
The show tackles topical subjects like misogyny, 'incels', the online 'manosphere', and toxic masculinity.
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In the final episode, Manda and Eddie are trying their best to celebrate Eddie's 50th birthday, one year on from Jamie's arrest.
Eddie gets a phone call where he finds out that Jamie has decided to plead guilty, which leads to the parents sitting down to have a heartbreaking conversation about their son, what he was like as a younger child, and what could have gone wrong.
In one scene, Eddie sits on Jamie's bed and tucks his teddy bear under the duvet, kissing the top of its head and saying: "I'm sorry son, I should have done better."
The devastating final moments of the series reveal how Jamie's crimes have impacted the entire family.
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However, the scene was intended to be a little different, with director Philip Barantini explaining that in the original script, Graham gets into Jamie's bed and pulls the covers over.
“We rehearsed it, and it was great. But I just felt like there’s something about him tucking in Jamie’s teddy,” he told Netflix's Tudum.
“This is the only thing that Eddie’s got that he can touch — that’s malleable, that Jamie’s cuddled, and Jamie’s been with. And then Stephen made it his own.”
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The final episode of the show caused some divide with viewers, with some calling it a masterpiece while others were left wanting more.
But focusing the finale on the family was hugely important, with Graham explaining he wanted to explore the ripple effect that Jamie's crime had on those closest to him.
“To be with the family again is the emotional draw of the series,” Barantini says.
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“Each individual member of the Millers is trying to hold the other one up. And in turn, they’re actually breaking each other down. It’s really heart-wrenching to watch this family falling apart.”
Meanwhile, Graham explained that it was important to portray Eddie and Manda as hardworking parents.
“I wanted to eliminate the possibility of thinking Eddie is a violent man,” said Graham.
“[He's] a hardworking father who goes to work early in the morning, comes back late at night, and puts food on the table. Eddie brings in as much love as he can. He does to the best of his ability.”
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You can watch Adolescence on Netflix now.
Topics: Netflix, Adolescence, TV And Film
Lucy Devine