Does Netflix’s Adolescence have any hidden cuts? Details explored

Adolescence, a British miniseries from Netflix, has garnered a large audience. Thanks to its exciting plot and novel filming techniques. Among the most discussed is its claim of having been shot in one long sequence continuously from the beginning to the end of every episode.

Quite an audacious stylistic choice, this raises the question from viewers and critics alike: Does Adolescence really have no hidden cuts, or are there edits cleverly sewn into it? In this article, we investigate the production tricks used throughout Adolescence to expose the truth behind the one-shot illusion.

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The one-take ambition: Crafting seamless storytelling

Every episode of Adolescence is carefully shot in real-time, continuously something that distinguishes the coming-of-age drama. This technique is intended to immerse viewers completely into the drama as it unfolds, creating an uninterrupted visceral experience. To achieve this, creative blocking, rehearsals, and an extraordinary level of coordination between cast and crew were involved.

In the words of co-creator and writer Jack Thorne, the decision to avoid cuts was made to keep the rawness and honesty alive in our storytelling. He stated,

"The camera doesn’t blink in this show, and by being unblinking it allows for a certain rawness and honesty."

Indeed, several rehearsals were held in preparation for the full technical run, allowing the director of photography to plan camera moves in a particular way. Every one-hour spacing episode was shot around ten times taking two takes a day for an event to unfold as if it was an actual take without any hidden cuts or digital stitching. This further proves the undoubted determination of the series to depict an uninterrupted narrative flow.

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Addressing viewer skepticism: The reality of hidden cuts

Given the production's candidness about its one-take style, there are some skeptics among the audience regarding the undeclared cuts at certain moments, such as when the action is too complicated. Take, for instance, the way in episode two, the camera glided from one school scene to a crime scene, ushering discussions on the credibility of such a shot without any hidden edits.

Much clarification from the filmmakers was that these transitions were effected by entirely practical means and not by digital manipulation. For example, all handheld cameras will be just passed to the drone for smooth flow before scenes.

This shows the inventive ways the crew kept the one-take illusion alive.

What's more is such a discussion in front of the viewers: An argument can be raised for the fact that some of the moves of the camera suggest that perhaps some kind of digital manipulation has been employed.

However, most of them are done with practical effects and clever camera work and do not result from hidden cuts. The production has kept its emotion intact. So, whatever happens on the screen is entirely the result of staggeringly careful plans and executions after-effect hocus-pocus.

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Adolescence is an excellent television production that has pushed the limits of conventional storytelling with its extremely ambitious "one take." It is not just a technical gimmick. It enhances the immediacy and emotion of the narrative.

The rawness of action on the screen immerses the viewers in an unbroken flow, making them relate more to the characters and the themes. Though one would naturally question the feasibility of such an event in the shots, the very transparency and dedication of all at Adolescence confirm that such seamless storytelling is a product of craft, not hidden edits.

Not only does this commitment raise the bar of viewing experience, but it also lays a new standard for productions that wish to couple technical magic with spellbinding storytelling.