Expert explains fascinating reason why psychologist in Adolescence only offers Jamie half a sandwich
Netflix's Adolescence is quickly becoming one of the biggest TV shows of the year - and it's easy to see why.
An incredible cast, brilliant acting - in which every episode of Adolescence is filmed in a single, hour-long take - and a thought-provoking storyline has had it sitting in Netflix's top spot for days.
The series focuses on a 13-year-old boy named Jamie (played by Owen Cooper), who is arrested in a police raid at dawn for the murder of classmate Katie.
Seized in his childhood bedroom, with his mum Manda (Christine Tremarco) and dad Eddie (Stephen Graham) watching on in horror, convinced Jamie couldn't possibly have committed the heinous crime.
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But it was during episode three that the teenager's character begins to unravel and viewers are given a glimpse into his dark and violent nature.
The show tackles topical subjects like misogyny, 'incels', the online 'manosphere', and toxic masculinity, with many viewers praising the show as a 'masterpiece' in the way it depicts and handles such themes.
Delving deeper into how Jamie became so troubled, a meeting with his psychologist, Briony in episode three left viewers feeling disturbed.
We first meet Briony when she arrives at the young offenders facility, insisting on taking Jamie a hot chocolate with marshmallows and bringing him a cheese and pickle sandwich, despite him disliking pickles.
It was a small detail that viewers were particularly fascinated by.
"I'm so stuck on the pickle sandwich! I know he was obviously losing his composure. But at the beginning he said he hated pickles. And then he loses his fake composure has a couple tantrums. Tries to intimidate and then just sits down and eats the pickle sandwich!" one person wrote on Reddit.
While another added: "Why did the psychologist on Adolescence make that disgusting cheese and pickle sandwich?"
Well, it turns out there's a pretty interesting reason.
Psychologist Dannielle Haig explains that the fact Briony gave Jamie the sandwich could be a way of understanding how he responds to such gestures.
"The half-sandwich, particularly the fact that it contains something Jamie dislikes, could be a way of testing his response," Dannielle tells Tyla.
"Does he push it away? Does he eat it to be polite? Does he comment on it? These reactions provide insight into his personality. If he simply tolerates it without complaint, it may suggest a history of feeling powerless and being accustomed to having things done to him rather than for him.
"If he refuses it outright, it might indicate defiance or a need to exert control in a situation where he has very little power.
"It’s a clever way of gauging how Jamie sees himself in relation to authority figures and whether he feels able to assert his own needs."
Explaining the significance of Briony bringing Jamie a hot chocolate, with added marshmallows, Dannielle adds: "Everything in a psychological assessment is deliberate; small actions can tell you a great deal about a person’s mindset, and this is no exception.
"The hot chocolate is a comforting, almost maternal offering. It’s something associated with warmth, safety, and childhood, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of Jamie’s situation.
"By giving it to him, the psychologist may be trying to create a sense of familiarity and ease, making it more likely that he will open up."
You can watch Adolescence on Netflix now.
Topics: Netflix, Adolescence, TV And Film, Entertainment
Lucy Devine