Whatever aspect of the new Netflix show grabbed you, there is more to be enjoyed elsewhere

If you have any sort of social media presence, you have been bombarded with comments and posts about the gripping Netflix drama Adolescence, the story of 13-year-old Jamie, a British schoolboy who finds himself accused of the brutal stabbing of a girl. Over the course of four heart-wrenching episodes, we see the story unfold taking a deep and disturbing dive into the world of extreme toxic masculinity and the radicalisation of young men by dirtbag influencers. It is dark, it is disturbing and it is a must-see if you are raising children and you are – as you should be – concerned about their online diet.

Once you are done though, what should you watch next? Depending on what you loved about Adolescence, there is a choice of shows and movies to fill that gaping void where your soul used to be. An unfortunate side-effect of watching Adolescence is the utter destruction of optimism and everything else that is good and right in this world.

Boiling Point

Adolescence has an amazing script and soul-shattering dialogue but managed to be technically brilliant as well. What stood out were the continuous shots, giving the illusion of events unfolding in real time. If you liked them, then you will most certainly love Boiling Point, a one-shot movie by the same people. Boiling Point was basically the first draft, an original attempt at the continuous shot, whose lessons were later used to shoot Adolescence.

Boiling Point again stars Stephen Graham, this time as an over-worked, stressed-out head chef named Andy whose personal life is in shambles. He tries to keep his personal demons at bay during a frantic night at the restaurant. His staff barely keep it together, the night is filled with the mistakes that usually take place in a kitchen and on top of that he gets a surprise visit from a food critic!

The Social Dilemma

Was it the crazy descent into the disturbing world of incel culture and toxic masculinity that got you hooked? Are you worried? Believe me, you are not worried enough. If Adolescence gave you a scare, The Social Dilemma will have you deleting profiles left and right. This documentary was made back in 2020 and things have gotten much much worse since then.

The Social Dilemma explores the seedy underbelly of social media and how tech giants manipulate people for profit, damn the consequences for the society at large. Tech executives from Facebook, Google, Twitter and other major companies explain how companies benefit from keeping people constantly engaged, scared and angry and how being terminally online has massive and devastating effects on our mental and physical health. The Social Dilemma is a wake-up call for most, making people seriously reconsider their online habits.

Your Honor

Maybe it was the relationship between father and child guilty of murder that got you? In that case, you are going to love Your Honor, a 2021 series about a judge in the US who finds himself in an impossible position when his son is involved in a hit-and-run that kills a family member of a crime gang. Desperate to protect his son, the judge uses his position to bend the rules and legal proceedings to save him and protect his family from both the legal ramifications of his actions and the gang that is out for revenge.

Broadchurch

Was it the small-town family drama and murder that got you tingling? In that case, boy do I have a show for you! Broadchurch is a British crime drama series that takes place in the titular city. The body of 11-year-old Danny Latimer is discovered on the beach, shocking the small-town community that appears to be idyllic but deep down hides terrible secrets. David Tennant stars as Alec Hardy, a brilliant veteran detective with a troubled past who is called in to investigate, alongside Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) the local officer with close ties to the community. Broadchurch leans more on the crime than the drama but there are enough twists and turns to remind you of Adolescence.

Defending Jacob

It may be the closest thing to a series where a radicalised troubled youth is embroiled in a violent murder and how far parents are willing to go to protect him. Based on William Landay’s book of the same name, Defending Jacob stars Chris Evans as a young district attorney with a seemingly perfect life. Everything comes down tumbling down though when his son Jacob is accused of murder. His perfect life unravels as both he and his wife struggle to come to terms with the murder and to protect their son.