“Adolescence” is worth the devastating ride

Netflix is terrible at advertising things. Unless it's Stranger Things," your show/movie is not getting giant billboards. So, when I heard incredible things about "Adolescence," I had to check it out. Everything I saw eluded to something that made this special, and they were not wrong.

I am still going to be mindful of spoilers and will not give too many details, but I do need to reveal basic plot details. Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is a 13-year-old boy accused of killing one of his classmates.

The show has four episodes, each in a single take. I love it when something is done in a single take. It showcases the artistry of the medium. What makes the single take so compelling here is that it doesn't let the viewer take a break. You are forced to feel every second. With the subject matter this show deals with, not getting a break makes it more powerful.

"Adolescence" is not a typical crime drama. The episodes don't follow the well-worn path of other shows like this. Episode one is Jamie's arrest and initial interview, but episode four doesn't take place in a courtroom. We never see his guilt or innocence argued before a judge. Each episode deals with a specific moment in the lives of the people connected to this case.

This is very hard to watch. I had to ensure I was in the right frame of mind to watch it, which was tough because I'd been fighting a cold this week. Episode one is brutal, and episode two is the weakest, but it shines the case in a new light. Episode three is a star-making hour for Cooper, and four is a showcase for Stephen Graham, who plays Jamie's dad, Eddie. These last two episodes are an emotional one-two gut punch. If you can make it through the first episode, you can do the rest. I am glad I watched this, but it is not something I will rewatch.

"Adolescence" is streaming on Netflix.