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© 2025 AFPNetflix hit 'Adolescence' about 13-year-old killer stokes UK parents' anxiety
By Caroline TAÏX LONDON©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
22 Comments
Bob Fosse
It’s depressing to think that Andrew Tate is influencing anybody. He’s clearly an insecure narcissistic dbag.
Jay
Netflix does it again - this time taking a black child killer and magically transforming them into a white character, because apparently, historical accuracy only matters when it fits their narrative.
But when it comes to historical icons like Cleopatra or Queen Charlotte - who were undeniably not black - Netflix has no problem rewriting history to push a false narrative. It's a blatant double standard: villains get race-swapped to protect certain groups, while revered historical figures are reimagined to fit their modern Uber "Progressive" political agenda.
Another example of laughable w.o-ke propaganda, twisting history to fit their ridiculous narrative while shamelessly protecting their own biases.
Bob Fosse
Are you mistakenly under the impression that this is a documentary?
Again, why does only some historical accuracy offend you, specifically racial historical accuracy? Do you not get upset every time you see the commonly portrayed blue eyed white complexion Jesus? No?
Bob Fosse
You shouldn’t be naive enough to think that is all he is doing or saying.
Read what I posted and you replied to. He doesn’t brag about sports cars or make misogynistic statements? Really? You’re a real piece of work bass.
wallace
The family who occupy the house where the filming happened had to move out for three months but have received enough money from the film company to right it outright. Sweet ending for that family.
Jay
You mean like how Netflix turned an actual black child killer into a white guy but had no problem making Cleopatra and Queen Charlotte black despite zero historical basis? Funny how “historical accuracy” only seems flexible when it fits a certain agenda.
And the one glaring issue you're conveniently "forgetting" Bobb is the crimes that inspired Adolescence - including the horrifying Southport bus stabbing - were committed by black teens, often from migrant backgrounds, and had nothing to do with kids on internet forums, or Jordan Peterson clips, or whatever the Uber "Progressive" script is telling you.
So yes, it IS based on a real story - just not the version you want to see.
Jay
If I had to absolutely had to choose between my sons learning self-discipline, resilience, and personal responsibility - even from a flawed figure like Tate - versus following heroes of the Uber "Progressive" Left like like Don Lemon, Shaun King, or Joy Reid, who do nothing but push victimhood, blame-shifting, and an outward focus of power, it's an easy choice. At least one path teaches self-improvement, while the other just creates bitter, weak people who spend their lives shrieking about fake oppression instead of actually doing anything to better themselves.
Bob Fosse
No.
Same questions again. Try to answer them.
Do you think this is a documentary?
Do you you get upset about blue eyed white skinned Jesus?
wallace
I like Stephen Graham, a local actor from my hometown. Born in Kirkby, Lancashire, a tough hood for kids.
I haven't watched Adolescence and probably I won't but I was wondering how many commentators here have seen it?
wallace
There have been several infamous UK child killers. Mary Bell. Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, also from Liverpool. Shawn Seesahai.
wallace
Adolescence was originally conceived by Stephen Graham as a response to a sudden increase in violent knife crime in Britain, including the murders of Elianne Andam and Ava White.
Alfie Noakes
Me too, he's a wonderful actor, one of the very best we have right now.
Not having watched something never prevents these people from being furiously outraged by it.
Jimizo
When some people hear ‘influencer’ they think of the trash spamming the internet with transparent multiple handles. Real garbage with no redeeming features. Tate could appeal to these types.
Mr Kipling
In that case the lead actor and victims should have been black as over 80% of the victims and perpetrators of knife crime in England and Wales are young black men.
owzer
Black people being cast as historical authority figures, respected individuals who were actually white, and white people cast as murderers.
Disgusting. Anyone who helped make it, and anyone who thinks it's a good idea.
kohakuebisu
I've seen the series and and it is excellent. However the above point is valid. Social media and the likes of Andrew Tait are a very negative influence on young people, but that doesn't mean kids will go from no criminal record at all to the "savage crime" (trying to avoid spoilers here) depicted in this drama.
This is the BBC on Ava White's killer.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-62119537
The family in Adolescence is completely normal, and the suggestion the series presents, now shaking families in the UK (especially well-to-do ones that Keir Starmer wants to appeal to), is your kid, plus teen angst, plus online nastiness they are soaking up at home in their nicely presented bedroom may produce a knife-toting murderer. This is actually a bit far-fetched. The idea is a free gift to politicians, center right and far right newspapers, etc. because they can blame Instagram for a shocking decline in society and shift attention away from parents' more prescient problems, like the cost of feeding their kids, keeping the electric on, finding reasonably priced rental accommodation (some renters are parents) ....
wallace
While young black men are disproportionately affected by knife crime in England and Wales, the statement that "over 80% of the victims and perpetrators are young black men" is an oversimplification and doesn't accurately reflect the data.
The TV series is a work of fiction and does not represent any real people.
Redtail Swift
Always trying to portray people of color as crooks and villains. School shootings with AR15s and military grade weapons is the work of good ol fashion white boys.
What's your next accusation? Black pilots flew the Enola Gay? Oppenheimer was clearly white. It will take people of color a 1,000 years to catch up with your body count.
bass4funk
Notice a pattern here?
MilesTeg
There are usually signs. It rarely happens out of the blue. The question is if exposure to sexual and violent content, which is far more accessible now, has an effect and if so how much. Then there is personality, home environment, peer pressure, drugs & alcohol, maybe even genetics. One factor itself is probably not going to be an indicator but if there are multiple, then you may have to start worrying. You need to be involved in your children's lives even if they don't want it.
kohakuebisu
Its also a terrible idea for people to comment on movies and TV shows they haven't watched. I'm not sure the writer of the above article has watched it, because its not about Andrew Tait and incels. The perp in the drama is psychoanalyzed in the third and best episode and his character and motivations are revealed. I can't write more without spoilers, which such a well-made drama does not deserve.
The point here is that people are saying it is realistic, and worth watching with your kids to spark important discussions with them, the kind of discussions you would not have about works of fiction like Harry Potter. I have no doubt that social media is a very negative influence on young people. That part is real. The somewhat dubious (to me) jump is that such negative influence will turn your no-warning-signs kid into a murderer. Not into a kid who goes down a progressively slippery slope into more and more trouble, just straight into knifing someone multiple times.
wallace
The TV series does not represent any real people it does represent a very real problem of young teenager homicide stabbings and attacks. Hopefully there will be some discussions between parents and children and in schools. In 2024 there were 283 teenage knife homicides.