My review of Netflix's Adolescence

And how it's in conversation with Chris Haye's new book The Siren's Call

WOW! This year’s Baby Reindeer.

I don’t normally associate Netflix with engaging, once-in-a-lifetime TV experiences that offer a sharp critique of modern culture. Instead, I usually see it as a content farm; mostly ambient shows meant to make you check out through hours of unengaged binge-watching. I also associate the platform heavily with true crime. I know people love true crime, but I personally find it gross, salacious, glamorizing; and, frankly, just cheap entertainment.

But then we get a show like Adolescence.

I love that it uses the framework of “true crime” (without leaning into glamorization) to deliver such a pointed cultural critique of adolescence in our modern world.

Whereas most true crime narratives feel exploitative or rely on a “whodunnit” to keep you locked in, Adolescence does something far more interesting; it explores why they did it. What structural and societal forces were at play? What shaped this behavior?

I recently finished The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource by Chris Hayes, and this show feels deeply in conversation with it.

In The Sirens’ Call, Hayes argues that internet platforms have commodified attention, creating a digital landscape where sensational, emotionally charged content thrives over thoughtful discourse. The relentless competition for engagement has led to an environment where outrage and extremism are rewarded.

Similarly, Adolescence examines the dark consequences of online radicalization among teenagers. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Jamie (the 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his classmate) has been influenced by toxic online communities, including misogynistic and incel subcultures. What’s especially compelling is that Jamie isn’t even fully “subscribed” to these ideologies. Just the presence of these narratives in the zeitgeist is enough to influence teens.

Both The Sirens’ Call and Adolescence underscore the dangers posed by the digital landscape to mental health and social well-being, and the systemic issues within the “attention economy” that prioritize engagement over humanity.

We urgently need a critical reassessment of how digital platforms operate; and protective measures, especially for the young people navigating these virtual environments. Adolescence powerfully illustrates the human cost when these mechanisms are left unchecked.

Anyway, fantastic (and important) show! Some of the best acting I’ve seen all year. All four episodes are a single take (no easy feat), which makes the show feel incredibly immersive. This deserves to sweep the Emmys.

The standout episode? Episode 3! It’s mostly just Jamie and the psychologist talking…but it is RIVETING. A masterclass in acting and character study. Just wow!