Netflix’s Adolescence makes history for British tv series

Netflix's hit crime drama miniseries, Adolescence, has made history for British TV. As per The Hollywood Reporter, the four-episodic drama becomes the first streaming show to land on the top of the British TV weekly ratings. Since its premiere on March 13, the show has taken the entertainment industry by storm. From the powerful themes to its one-shot cinematography, it is a powerhouse.

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Streaming Success for Netflix's Adolescence

The narrative revolves around a violent crime committed by a 13-year-old boy against a schoolmate. The themes tackled in the series hold up a mirror to many important issues that society is struggling with. Director Philip Barantini's drama has been showered with critical acclaim since its release. The streaming numbers that have rolled in since the release, attest to the success of the miniseries.

Creators Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham's drama has managed to surpass some of the giants in traditional broadcasting history, including but not limited to Death in Paradise and The Apprentice. The U.K. ratings body B.A.R.B (Broadcasters Audience Research Board) revealed that the first episode of Adolescence attracted approximately 6.45 million viewers within the first week of its release. These numbers beat most of the long-standing dramas.

The second episode performed equally remarkably, with 5.94 million viewers ranking second on the charts whereas The Apprentice follows in third place with 5.79 million viewers. Death in Paradise comes fourth, a close margin with its 5.75 million viewership. The final two episodes of Adolescence have equally strong performances with 5.14 million viewership for the third episode and 4.65 million for the final episode.

Adolescence sets new records for British TV as these numbers are record high for any streaming show in the UK. It appears that the one-shot technique known to have a gripping hold on the viewer's attention, has managed to break all records with its viewership. These numbers have surpassed previous records in British shows including 6.3 million viewers of Netflix's January 2024 release Fool Me Once. The show continues to garner praise worldwide, topping every chart even on global scales with its 100 million watch hours and 24 million views.

The show's themes about the toxicity that young men are vulnerable to in this digital society, force the adults to question just how well they are doing their jobs of taking care of the children. When a 13-year-old boy Jamie, played by Owen Cooper, is accused of stabbing a girl, his schoolmate, viewers are faced with the psychological implications of today's world in the mind of a child.

Since its release, Adolescence has managed to trigger a dialogue on a global scale about the reality of having kids and raising them in this day and age.