Acclaimed filmmaker Philip Barantini has stated that Netflix drama Adolescence should remain a “standalone” piece, rather than being extended into a second series.
The 44-year-old director, speaking to the PA news agency, admitted he was surprised by the overwhelming reaction to the four-part drama but insisted that it was intended as a self-contained story.
A self-contained narrative
Adolescence, created by This Is England star Stephen Graham and writer Jack Thorne, explores themes of misogyny, social media bullying, and incel culture. The gripping crime drama follows the story of 13-year-old Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, who is arrested on suspicion of murdering his classmate. Graham plays Eddie Miller, Jamie’s father, who is forced to confront the shocking reality of his son’s alleged crime.
The series has sparked widespread discussion around online safety, incel ideology, and parental responsibility. However, Barantini believes that adding another series would undermine the power of the original story.
“Personally, I think it should be a standalone thing,” he said. “The conversation it has sparked has just blown my mind.
“I mean, we really did hope that it would ignite discussions among parents, but the fact that it has gone global – and it was just this small British TV show filmed in a little town – is incredible.
“But I don’t personally think there should be another series. I see it as a snapshot of this moment in time, and I believe that’s how it should remain.”
Unscripted moments that defined the series
One of the most emotionally charged scenes in the drama sees Eddie visiting the site where Katie, Jamie’s alleged victim, was murdered. Barantini revealed that this moment was not originally in the script, but was later added to enhance the emotional depth of Eddie’s journey.
“It’s a sucker punch, because your son has been responsible for this child’s death,” he explained.
“What that must do to a parent is horrific. For Eddie to be brave enough to visit the scene of the crime and pay his respects, it felt incredibly powerful.
“We felt we needed to show that moment. It wasn’t planned, but it became one of the most important scenes in the series.”
The challenges of the one-shot format
One of the most unique aspects of Adolescence is its one-shot format, where each episode is filmed in a single continuous take. Barantini explained the complex planning required to achieve this.
“With this script, it needed to be a constant flow. There are no traditional scenes – it’s just one continuous journey,” he said.
Barantini worked closely with Thorne and Graham, ensuring the script was written in a way that allowed for seamless transitions between locations.
“Jack would write something, and I’d say, ‘We physically can’t do that.’ So we’d collaborate back and forth to figure out how to make it work.”
Cinematographer Matt Lewis played a crucial role in mapping out the camera movements, which had to be meticulously choreographed.
“The first plans were literally drawn on a piece of paper,” Barantini recalled.
“We mapped out where the camera would move, how it would enter and exit rooms, and then built the set accordingly.”
Perfecting the logistics
One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the real-time transitions between locations matched the dialogue and pacing of the script.
For example, in Episode One, Eddie and Jamie are taken from their home to a police station.
“The travel time needed to be exactly three minutes, or at least close enough to maintain the flow of the scene,” Barantini explained.
To achieve this, the production team built the police station set at Production Park studios in Pontefract. They then scouted for a house within a three-minute drive from the studio.
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“Once we found the house, Matt and I drove the route, reading the script aloud to time the journey perfectly.”
After the logistics were in place, the crew rehearsed extensively before filming. Each episode was shot twice in a row, with the first take used to identify potential issues.
“We’d film an hour-long take, make notes, and then go again. That way, we could perfect the final version.”
Impact on online safety discussions
Beyond its critical acclaim, Adolescence has also sparked debate in Parliament. Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne have been invited by Labour MP Josh MacAlister to discuss the show’s themes, particularly regarding the dangers of online radicalisation.
With such an impactful message, Barantini remains firm in his stance that Adolescence should remain a single-series drama.
“It was meant to make people think. If we dragged it out, it might lose that impact.”
For now, Adolescence stands alone, a gripping and thought-provoking drama that has left audiences reeling – and most importantly, talking.
