Ever since at least William Hazlitt in the 1820s we have been chasing the ‘spirit of the age’. Ever since at least Evelyn Waugh in the 1920s we have noticed that the spirit of the age is accelerating faster and faster. The last rotation of the cultural turntable threw out the Netflix series Adolescence. I saw the reviews of it, and the fuss about it, and waited. Finally, I watched it. Now, I know that you have already read Michael Rainsborough’s review. He suggests, amusingly, that the series was a satirical revelation of the state of our society. I have a different suggestion.
Was it good? Not really. There was a certain grim amusement in watching the single-shot camera following characters around. Though this had the sad consequence of enforcing on us extremely long scenes which felt Lear-like in length though they were Lear-less in content. Policeman tries to bond with his estranged son. Psychologist flirts with adolescent boy murderer. Husband and wife talk about how babies are made.
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