Netflix’s latest standout hit, Adolescence, is being hailed by critics as one of the most exceptional pieces of television in recent memory. The four-part crime drama series follows the story of 13 year old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), who is thrown into a whirlwind of suspicion and legal challenges after being detained for the alleged murder of Katie, his classmate.

His journey through the legal system unfolds on screen, starting with his traumatic time at the local police station, leading up to impactful sessions with his psychologist.

Adolescence distinguishes itself with its innovative storytelling technique, opting for a one-shot format that eschews traditional cuts, maintaining a continuous take throughout the show’s production. This required an intensive preparation period, culminating in just two takes of a highly complex, hour-long sequence.

Writer Jack Thorne provided 5Live with a deeper look at how this filming strategy necessitated that viewers put together the storyline themselves, seeing as the narrative was confined to what could be shown in real-time.

Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston
Audiences are left to grapple with gaps in the story, especially concerning Jamie’s fate within the justice system – gaps intentionally left by Thorne. He explained the thinking behind these omissions in detail, particularly when it comes to the technical aspects of creating such a show, reports the Liverpool Echo.

He commented on the constraints and implications of the one-shot method, saying: “It forces the camera to do something and it also forces the pen to do something.”

As he elaborated: “As a writer you have to think about corridors, you have to think about staircases, you have to think about all of those technical things.

“You also can’t tell all the story. So you are telling an incomplete story, because there is only so much you can see in an hour.

Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence
“So Jamie’s legal process, anything that the family is doing in terms of mourning the loss of Katie – any of these things you can’t cut to.

“And so you are sort of stuck in something and that forces you to be partial, and it forces you to be incomplete.

“I think that causes the audience to lean forward because they know they are not going to get all of the story. They have got to work.”

The show required tight scripting for accuracy, yet there were times the cast veered slightly off script.

In a notable scene from the third episode, Jamie interacts with his therapist Briony (portrayed by Erin Doherty), where an impromptu moment emerges as Jamie yawns, leading Briony to ask, “Am I boring you?”.

Owen, the star, relayed this moment, pointing out how he naturally grinned at her spontaneous question, which wasn’t part of the planned dialogue.