It is safe to say Adolescence is some of the most anxiety-inducing television Netflix has produced in recent years, and it achieves this through its unique storytelling device. Each episode of the show is told through one continuous take, so if you can’t see where the scene cuts, that’s because it never does. This means that if you are at the 50-minute mark of an episode, the actors are on the 50th minute of that take. It is a hugely impressive feat, not just for the actors who can perform with such emotion from the first minute to the last, but also for the crew who carefully dance around the action to make the takes look seamless. It isn’t magic, it is hours of meticulous planning, and Netflix revealing exactly how it was done doesn’t ruin the allure; it only cements Adolescence as one of the most impressive pieces of TV this decade.
‘Adolescence’ Uses Unique Camerawork to Create Realism
The choice to film Adolescence in four oners is vital to the realism the show creates. There is this heightened sense of tension as the viewer is watching the events unfold at the same time as the characters. This allows the reveals to create emotional parallels between the audience’s reaction and the reaction of Jamie’s (Owen Cooper) family, particularly the confusion and the heartbreak when you see the CCTV video at the end of episode one. The oners make sure the show feels ordinary, as though this could happen to any family, and it is only through stripping the show down and showing the audience every single second that this is achieved.
This choice means each episode replicates a stage play, as the events are occurring in front of you in real-time and the cast exit and enter as stage performers would. Only one perspective is ever seen at any one time and the show only switches viewpoints if another character appears. This is how the series flips between different locations in a seamless manner; one scene will be taking place and then another character will appear to relay information and the camera will begin to follow them. This is particularly noticeable in Episode 2, where casual conversations between students serve as gateways between scenes but also offer insight into how knowledge of Katie’s death has spread.
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‘Adolescence’ Required Multiple Takes to Shoot
Netflix revealed in detail how these oners were achieved, explaining how the preparation for each episode was meticulous. Each episode would start with rehearsals, allowing the actors to understand the space and how it interacts with the script. This would be followed by a tech rehearsal, where the production crew would follow the narrative, allowing them to identify any obstacles. Although the camera appears to be moving seamlessly, it actually required intricate handovers and making sure the operators were all standing in the right positions. Episode 4 features an extended period set in Jamie’s dad’s (Stephen Graham) van, which required the camera to be attached to the front of the vehicle securely without evidencing this to the audience. The production started with just the first segment of the script, adding a bit more each day, so by the end of the week they were doing full runthroughs with the full cast and crew.
The one-take format meant every single member of the production had to be in sync, so mistakes were inevitable. In some cases, these weren’t noticeable, and the take could be carried on, but if a cast member missed a line, they had to reset the whole episode. Episode 2 stands out because of its scale, unlike the other episodes which are closed sets with a handful of episodes, the second installment is ambitious because it is set in Jamie’s school. This meant there was a huge reliance on background actors, which included 320 teenagers and 50 adults. In some instances, the crew even had to be dressed in costume so they could blend in as extras. When they were finally ready to shoot, the cast and crew would do two full runthroughs a day over the course of 5 days.
How Did ‘Adolescence’ Film the End of Episode 2?
The most impressive shot in Adolescence comes at the end of Episode 2, when the camera flies from the school to the murder site. This aerial shot shows the importance of space and highlights this feeling of closeness, with both locations being a stone’s throw from each other. The take was initially going to travel from the end of the chase scene between Jamie’s friend Ryan (Kaine Davis) and DI Bascombe (Ashley Walters), and was going to see the camera travel on its own to the murder site. However, the crew was worried this would feel too similar to a video game, and lose the essence of the show as it would be the only shot that didn’t follow an individual.
The crew found a way to make the camera fly by attaching it to a drone. This required two crew members to attach the camera as it was moving sideways to follow Jade (Fatima Bojang) before it took off and flew over to the murder site where Jamie’s dad was putting flowers down. The way the camera travels across the sky feels ethereal, heightened by the haunting vocals of the actress who plays Katie. The camera was then caught smoothly by a separate camera crew, who guided the shot over to a close-up of Stephen Graham. The whole operation had to be choreographed to each second to ensure the camera always remained calm and even.
Adolescence is one of the most impressive pieces of technical television, requiring precision and diligent rehearsals to create the desired final product. It is only through the crew being able to run around the actors without disturbing the narrative that the show creates the sense of realism that makes it so impressive. It offers small windows into Jamie’s life, but rather than merely glancing over, it shows you these pockets of detail in excruciating detail. The camera has to trace every aspect of the shot; it cannot simply cut from one place to another, and this allows the audience to see pieces of the set that otherwise would not be visible. Pieces of set dressing, such as the sandwich psychologist Briony (Erin Doherty) gives Jamie, painfully linger in the shot, creating unease that is only possible through the use of oners. It took a huge amount of preparation, but the result is striking.
Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix.
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