Your framing of “toxic manly" figures fails to match the layered complexity of the masterful piece it references. Why focus on blaming public figures without asking: What societal voids leave boys adrift? Condemnation is easy; building inclusive systems where vulnerability isn’t ridiculed is harder. Algorithms amplify toxicity, but the real rot starts earlier—in homes, schools, and communities that offer no compass. Dig deeper.
Well, this is a title review, not a deeper exploration of toxic masculinity. So for a review, I'm already digging a bit too deep with this one.
But if you want to learn more about these themes, why no hear directly from the writers and cast? I have an article titled "Making of 'Adolescence'", which is an interview where they talked about some of these themes and issues. Recommend you check that out.
Oh, and here is a preview:
“There are certain elements you expect in this kind of drama — a violent father, an alcoholic mother, a history of abuse. But we wanted to remove all of those. This wasn’t about a kid with an obvious, tragic backstory. It was about asking: Why did he do this? What leads someone down this path when none of those expected markers are there?”
Your framing of “toxic manly" figures fails to match the layered complexity of the masterful piece it references. Why focus on blaming public figures without asking: What societal voids leave boys adrift? Condemnation is easy; building inclusive systems where vulnerability isn’t ridiculed is harder. Algorithms amplify toxicity, but the real rot starts earlier—in homes, schools, and communities that offer no compass. Dig deeper.
Well, this is a title review, not a deeper exploration of toxic masculinity. So for a review, I'm already digging a bit too deep with this one.
But if you want to learn more about these themes, why no hear directly from the writers and cast? I have an article titled "Making of 'Adolescence'", which is an interview where they talked about some of these themes and issues. Recommend you check that out.
Oh, and here is a preview:
“There are certain elements you expect in this kind of drama — a violent father, an alcoholic mother, a history of abuse. But we wanted to remove all of those. This wasn’t about a kid with an obvious, tragic backstory. It was about asking: Why did he do this? What leads someone down this path when none of those expected markers are there?”