Speaking with Netflix’s Tudum, Graham, who both stars in and co-created Adolescence, explained the importance of making audiences feel connected to Jamie before revealing he did, in fact, kill Katie. Co-creator Jack Thorne explained the importance of themes like masculinity, alongside questioning men’s roles in society in particular. He also highlighted how Jamie knew he needed to take responsibility for his actions at the end, coming full circle. Check out what the co-creators had to say below:
Stephen Graham: That was down to the casting. We wanted the audience to be on Jamie’s side and think, ‘Oh my God, this arrest is terrible. There’s no way he’s done this.’ We wanted the audience to feel the same feelings that Eddie feels when he looks at it and realizes what Jamie did.
Jack Thorne: We wanted to give the audience certainty and then go, ‘Now where do we go and how will this work?’ That was really exciting. Telling a drama that’s a why-done-it, rather than a whodunit, hopefully engages people in different questions. Questions like, ‘What’s going on within our teenage boys?’ Phil, Stephen, and I are looking at masculinity — thinking about ourselves as men, the kinds of fathers, partners, and friends we are, and questioning with some intensity who we are as people…. Jamie knows what he’s done, he’s terrified, and he hasn’t computed how final it was. He’s looking for his dad to tell him, ‘You’re safe and I love you.’ And his dad can never give him that ever again.
In Episode 4, he’s much further along on his journey than before. Jamie now knows what he’s done and what his future might be. That allows him to put his feelings in a box and close the lid on himself in some way.
In addition, writer Phillip Barantini explained how Jamie’s new plea deal was like turning off “a life support machine“ for a dying family member, accepting his actions. Cooper jumped in to explain that Jamie didn’t want to disappoint his family, especially his dad, not wanting to let him down even though he knew changing his plea was the right choice. Check out what Barantini and Cooper said below:
Phillip Barantini: I told them, ‘Imagine that someone you love has been on a life support machine. You’ve been hoping and praying that they stay alive. Then, in this moment, the doctor finally tells you, ‘There’s nothing else we can do, and we’re going to switch the machine off.’ That’s what Jamie pleading guilty is for the Millers.
Owen Cooper: Jamie is always trying to impress his dad and make sure his dad is proud of him. But I don’t think he finds that. He’s obviously bothered about the plea, but he’s more bothered about his dad. Although he doesn’t want to let down his whole family, his dad’s at the core of his heart. Jamie doesn’t want to let Eddie down.
Co-creator Jack Thorne also served as executive producer and writer on Toxic Town, another critically acclaimed Netflix miniseries that came out in 2025.
What Jamie’s Actions In Adolescence Say About The Miniseries
Changing His Plea Was An Important Step For His Character
The biggest focus of the miniseries is how the characters in Adolescence are impacted by the revelation that Jamie killed Katie established at the end of episode 1. While this includes law enforcement members like DI Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters) and the boy’s psychologist, Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty), Eddie is the one most heavily impacted because it’s his son. Hearing that he’s going to change his plea nearly breaks him, with the final scene showing he feels like he failed him as a father.
Jamie’s final decision also shows he’s accepted what he’s done, alongside the reality that his father will never look at him the same way again after what happened. His case overall reveals Adolescence‘s true story inspiration taken from a rise in violent crime from young men, commentating on the social effects that lead to such horrific conclusions. The important discussion reaches its apex when the boy admits to his crime, the weight of that reality crushing his father, making him feel just as responsible for what happened as his son.
Our Take On What Jamie Did In Adolescence
His Punishment Was Inevitable
Given the video evidence of him killing Katie and the time he’s had to accept what he’d done, it makes sense for Jamie’s story to end with changing his plea to guilty. While his father feels like he failed his son by the end, Adolescence never presents a black-and-white explanation for what the boy did to his classmate, with layers of masculinity being addressed throughout the series. This nuanced storytelling highlights its character-driven core, while ending with responsibility finally being taken for what happened.
