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On not watching "Adolescence"

I haven't watched Netflix's drama "Adolescence", and in this, it seems, I am somewhat out of step with the Great British Public. I mean, I suppose I probably should, I keep getting told how good it is. The reviews have been universally panegyric, praising the acting, the relevance, the cultural timeliness, the technical brilliance.

There have been a few dissenting voices (in particular the author Joanne Harris who notes that it's still all about the boys) but the overall impression I get, having not watched it is that I should. Even some of the criticism I've seen reinforces that, as the only place I've seen a lot of grumbling was a Facebook comments thread where many respondents found it slow or boring, and if the age of social media has taught me anything, it's that Facebook comment threads and I are generally diametrically opposed.

Then there is its status as being part of the national conversation. Much like that one where that nice Toby Jones gets done over by the Post Office, it's must-see, everyone's talking about it. It's made the Government start asking questions, though, much as in the case of that one where that nice Toby Jones gets done over by the Post Office, I do find myself thinking should these questions not already have been asked.

( As an aside Why does it take a prestige TV drama to make politicians act? We were surely aware of the dangers of online incel manosphere culture already. Can we get one made about climate change please? Stephen Graham and Toby Jones furrowing their brows in their flooded homes, holding back the tears while Sarah Lancashire and Jodie Whittaker grimly try to hold the family together and then campaign against the local water company? That sort of thing?)

It's good that these things are being talked about, though. I employ quite a lot of young males, and  the Dad of two teenage boys, and while I feel I should point out that the bulk of young men of my acquaintance find the whole manosphere/incel/Andrew Tate thing utterly laughable, they do all know someone who's into it, and I have on occasion had cause to sack people for allowing their somewhat questionable views to enter the workplace. So it's definitely a topic which is worthy of examining. So despite the somewhat sparky tone here I'm glad it's out there.

In truth, I probably won't get round to it. I'm mired in series that I'm half-way through, and by the time I do clear the schedule its moment will well and truly have passed. It's more a matter of time management than taste.

In this unwatching, regrettably, I am in the same camp as Kemi Badenoch, who last week felt the need to opine on the subject while admitting to not having actually watched it, which is a very Kemi Badenoch thing to do. She had, however, had time to absorb a thoroughly debunked far-right Internet conspiracy theory about the protagonist being based on Axel Rudakabana and then colour swapped and parrot that despite there being zero evidence for it, which is an even more Kemi Badenoch thing to do. 

Still, if she can get mentions in the press for wanging on about a subject about which she knows nothing, I can at least get a blog out of it, right? Fair do's.

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