Gargantuan viewership numbersaren’t the only thing Netflix’s latest hit series are drawing in. Along with being one of the top-rated series of the year so far,Adolescencehas also caught the eye of politicians in the UK. Just days after its writer,Jack Thorne, addressed the importance of its message, the drama has been brought up byPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who placed a call to action for the country — and really, the world — to address the “emerging and growing problem” that was brought up in the production. Over four episodes, audiences watch as a community is torn apart after a 13-year-old boy kills one of his female classmates. The series dives into internet culture and misogynist influencers who are able to grab the attention of young men and mold their beliefs. Just as the rest of the world has been, it sounds like the Prime Minister has been hooked on the four-episode miniseries, as he said that he and his family have been watching the title together.
This acknowledgement is precisely what Thorne and his co-writer and series star,Stephen Graham, were hoping for when they pennedthe project. With high hopes that conversations would be sparked and real, lasting change would be made, Thorne said,
“I want it to be shown in schools, I want it to be shown in Parliament. It’s crucial because this is only going to get worse. It’s something that people need to be talking about, hopefully that’s what drama can do.”
Could ‘Adolescence’ Truly Cause Change?
There’s no doubt that families around the world are faced with tough conversations following each episode ofAdolescence. Beyond the storyline, theperformances are top-tier, forcing audiences to fully feel the waves of emotions whether they want to or not. As mentioned, one of those families is the Prime Minister’s, as he went on to say, “I’ve got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl and it’s a really good drama to watch.” Prior to screening it with his family, the Prime Minister was called on by Knowsley MPAnneliese Midgleyto do something about the ongoing case oftoxic masculinitywith the first step being taking in the very serious message shown inAdolescence. She asked the leader to use the show as a way “to counter toxic misogyny early” and pushed for a campaign that would “give young men the role models they deserve.”
Whether real change can come about from a TV show remains to be seen, but the first step is recognizing the problem and bringing it into the public eye, which is precisely what these leaders are doing.
Adolescenceis now streaming on Netflix.
Adolescence
Source:BBC
