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   Evan Prodromou (evan@cosocial.ca)'s status on Thursday, 17-Apr-2025 00:21:58 JST Evan Prodromou

   So, I watched #Adolescence on the airplane. I was really impressed with it. The single-shot technique is a little distracting -- I kept looking for tough shots instead of focusing on the story -- but also gives a really human-centred feel to the action across many POV characters. I thought the reveal in the interrogation room was stunning. Owen Cooper's portrayal of Jamie is masterful; hard to believe that a teen actor can reach that deep into the human psyche. Whole cast is great.

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     Evan Prodromou (evan@cosocial.ca)'s status on Thursday, 17-Apr-2025 00:26:09 JST Evan Prodromou

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     A lot of people point out that Katie never gets a chance to tell her own story -- we only see it reflected in her friend Jade and in the stories that others tell about her. We don't even meet her parents on screen. I don't think this is an oversight; I think this is intentional. Like the psychologist says, bluntly: "She's dead." She doesn't get a voice. Her lack of voice is a visible hole in the middle of the series.

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     Evan Prodromou (evan@cosocial.ca)'s status on Thursday, 17-Apr-2025 00:29:50 JST Evan Prodromou

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     Other people have said that the story excuses incel violence by trying to explain it. I'm not sure that's true. Jamie is clearly unstable -- he has multiple outbursts of rage during episode 3, and there are hints of other events. The idea that one person's actions led inevitably, and excusably, to the other's is just not there on screen. The structures are too complex.

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     Evan Prodromou (evan@cosocial.ca)'s status on Thursday, 17-Apr-2025 00:33:08 JST Evan Prodromou

     in reply to

     The bullying dynamic is also really powerful. The storytelling around bullies is compelling -- when they appear on the screen, the audience is moved to anger. It pulls us along even when the anger explodes -- like the father's fury at the gang of vandals by the hardware store.

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     Evan Prodromou (evan@cosocial.ca)'s status on Thursday, 17-Apr-2025 00:35:08 JST Evan Prodromou

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     All in all, I'd really recommend it. Not as an anti-bullying PSA; I don't think it's got a clear enough message for that. But rather, as a picture of people teetering around the edge of the crater left by a tragedy.

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     Evan Prodromou (evan@cosocial.ca)'s status on Friday, 18-Apr-2025 12:13:24 JST Evan Prodromou

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     • Dave Winer ☕️

     @davew thanks! Did you see 1917? Also a really good piece, also done in a single shot (or, you know, N shots, where N is a small integer), and a little bit overwhelmed by that fact. I hope you're doing well! I am enjoying following your work.

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     Dave Winer ☕️ (davew@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 18-Apr-2025 12:13:25 JST Dave Winer ☕️

     in reply to

     @evan

     good review, i loved it, and also found the fact that i knew it was all done in a single shot was distracting. i'd rather have not looked for it. that said it was a huge achievement, beautiful piece of work.