«Nerve-wracking series»: Netflix’s new detective gets a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Netflix has released «Adolescence» / Adolescence —, a new four-episode Netflix detective series, shot in the one-shot style (as if in one continuous shot).

«Youth» tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy who is arrested on suspicion of murdering his classmate. From that moment on, the life of Jamie Miller and his family turns into a nightmare as his lawyer, therapist and investigators try to get to the bottom of the case. Owen Cooper takes on the lead role, while Stephen Graham plays the father of the family — it is this acting duo that has received the most praise from critics.

Currently, the movie has perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 40 critics’ reviews. Here are some direct quotes:

• David Opie, Empire Magazine: «Much more adult than its title might suggest, Youth is a triumph of creative and technical excellence that elevates it to one of the year’s best series. The third episode — is the best».
• Nilly Swanson, Beverly Hills Courier: «A must-see. Slowly from the beginning, it captures your attention and makes you ask questions about what you might actually know about your own family».
• Peter Travers, ABC News: «An emotional powerhouse that sneaks up on you and hits you. The series sets a new gold standard and is sure to be one of the year’s best. Give an Emmy Award to Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper as the father and son at the center of the story».
• Rad Simonpilai, CBC: «It rarely happens that an hour of anything, whether on television or in the movies, gets on our nerves as much as the third episode».

The audience, meanwhile, gave a slightly more modest 74%. Most of the reviews are decent, but not without negativity:

• «This play is a projection of a parent’s worst fear in today’s reality. Universal, beautifully written, acted and directed. The tension is unbearable, the emotions are high. A must-see».
• «It started out intriguing, but became slow and painful. A waste of a day. Be sure to skip episode 4…».
• «Socially relevant, at times shocking and incomprehensible. It’s not so much a plot-driven series — it’s character-driven, personalized by the amazing performances of the actors, radiating love and resilience in the light of human loss. I was so engrossed in the character interactions that sometimes it almost didn’t matter if I was right or wrong».

All four episodes of «Youth», which last from 51 to 65 minutes, have been streaming on Netflix since March 13 and are available in Ukrainian dubbing. The series has already topped the viewing charts in Ukraine.