Netflix’s Adolescence, created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, has become a cultural sensation since its release on March 13, 2025. The four-part drama follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is arrested for his classmate’s murder, exploring themes of online radicalization, teenage alienation, and social media’s impact.
Record-Breaking Success
The series topped Netflix’s global charts, racking up 24.3 million views in its first week. It also became the first streaming-only show to lead the UK’s weekly TV ratings, with the first episode drawing 6.5 million viewers—beating The Apprentice. Its innovative single-take filming style has been widely praised.
Cultural Impact
Beyond entertainment, Adolescence has sparked national debate, with co-creator Jack Thorne calling for stricter smartphone regulations for under-16s. The show’s raw portrayal of modern teenage life has resonated with audiences, fueling discussions on masculinity and online toxicity.
Faraz’s Standout Role
Faraz delivers a powerful performance as Mr. Malik, a history teacher struggling to guide students in a digital age. His nuanced portrayal of an educator battling online influences has earned critical acclaim.
While a second season is unlikely, the creators are keen to explore similar themes in future projects. Adolescence has cemented its place as one of Netflix’s most impactful dramas.
Interview :
1. Hey Faraz can you tell us a bit about your character and what drew you to the role?
Sure, the character plays called Mr. Malik and he is the history teacher of Jamie the boy accused of murder and as he mentions an episode one is his favourite class. But Mr Malik presents a very unkempt and a very controversial figure.
2. How does your character’s journey reflect some of the real challenges teenagers face today?
Well it highlights the strong influence negative or positive. The educators and teachers have on young people and they’re almost in second importance only to the parents and so Jamie and the other characters interaction with them is vital to how those young people will interact with the world.
3. Was there a particular scene that felt especially personal or emotional for you?
The series touches on [e.g. identity, mental health, peer pressure] — why do you think it’s important for young audiences to see this portrayed on screen?
Yeah, actually all the scenes I did were not that far off from my own experiences as a young person in school with teachers and having mostly a negative experience with them went into the creation of Mr Malik.
4. How do you hope viewers will feel after watching the show?
Well as you can see for the war reaction, it’s exactly what the reaction we wanted, which is to make people think about the influences around us on our young people and how we need to really guide and teach our young men and have positive influences around them.
5. What kind of conversations do you hope this show sparks among teens and parents?
Try to understand each other’s points of view parents need to have a friendship with their children rather than just assume someone that tells them off and I hope children realise also that their parents ultimately want the best for them and I hope it bridges that generation go.
You can watch Adolescence, the acclaimed British crime drama miniseries featuring Faraz Ayub, on Netflix now.
