Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Adolescence, Netflix, TV And Film, Entertainment
Lucy Devine
Viewers of Netflix's Adolescence are just realising that one gut-punch scene was totally improvised.
Over the last week, Netflix viewers have been hooked to the new, four-part drama that tells the story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper).
Jamie is arrested by police during a dawn raid, after he is suspected of murdering his classmate, Katie.
The drama follows Jamie and his parents - mum Manda (played by Christine Tremarco) and dad Eddie (Stephen Graham) - as the teenager is investigated and eventually pleads guilty to the heinous crime.
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It's not just the brilliant script that deserves all the praise it's getting, but the incredible cast, too.
Tackling tough subjects such as misogyny, 'incels', the online 'manosphere', and toxic masculinity, Adolescence was actually Cooper's first ever acting role.
And each episode was filmed in a single, hour-long take.
Meanwhile, director Philip Barantini has spoken about how one particular scene was completely unscripted.
At the end of the series, Graham's character Eddie could be seen in Jamie's room, one year on from his arrest.
Breaking down in tears, Eddie takes Jamie's teddy and tucks it into bed. The incredibly powerful moment was a talking point online, with the scene perfectly portraying just how much of an impact Jamie's crime has had on his family.
"I'm sorry son, I should have done better," says Eddie.
Although the scene has been praised, it wasn't actually in the original script, with Barantini explaining that in the original, Eddie gets into Jamie's bed and pulls the covers over.
“We rehearsed it, and it was great. But I just felt like there’s something about him tucking in Jamie’s teddy,” he told Netflix's Tudum.
“This is the only thing that Eddie’s got that he can touch — that’s malleable, that Jamie’s cuddled, and Jamie’s been with. And then Stephen made it his own.”
Focusing the finale on the family was hugely important, too, with Graham explaining he wanted to explore the ripple effect that Jamie's crime had on those closest to him.
“To be with the family again is the emotional draw of the series,” Barantini says.
“Each individual member of the Millers is trying to hold the other one up. And in turn, they’re actually breaking each other down. It’s really heart-wrenching to watch this family falling apart.”
Meanwhile, Graham explained that it was important to portray Eddie and Manda as hardworking parents.
“I wanted to eliminate the possibility of thinking Eddie is a violent man,” said Graham.
You can watch Adolescence on Netflix now.