Conspirituality Podcast Episode 252: Netflix vs. Andrew Tate (On “Adolescence”) - Detailed Summary

Release Date: April 10, 2025

Hosts:

• Matthew Remsky: Journalist and co-host
• Julian Walker: Philosophical skeptic and co-host

Overview

In Episode 252 of the Conspirituality Podcast, hosts Matthew Remsky and Julian Walker delve into the critically acclaimed Netflix series "Adolescence", exploring its portrayal of youth violence and the alleged influence of online figures like Andrew Tate and the broader manosphere. The episode scrutinizes the series' narrative choices, its alignment with real-world events, and the implications of its storytelling techniques on public discourse surrounding adolescent behavior and online radicalization.

Introduction to "Adolescence"

Julian Walker introduces the episode by highlighting the rising concern over violence among youth, particularly boys, and questions whether influences like Snapchat, video games, or figures like Andrew Tate are to blame. The Netflix series "Adolescence" serves as the focal point for this exploration.

Matthew Remsky provides background on Andrew Tate, outlining his controversial rise within the manosphere, his promotion of misogynistic ideologies, and his criminal convictions related to sex trafficking. He discusses the broader "Tate effect" on youth behavior, referencing real-life incidents and media coverage that link Tate's influence to increased misogynistic attitudes and violence among young males.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Remsky (01:31): "This guy's a former B level kickboxer and he has confessed to battery and rape not to clear his conscience, but to bolster his brand."

Synopsis of "Adolescence"

Julian Walker provides a detailed rundown of the four-episode Netflix series:

1. Episode 1: Centers on the arrest of Jamie, a 13-year-old accused of murdering his classmate Katie. Security footage confirms his guilt, shifting the narrative from a whodunit to examining why he committed the act.

2. Episode 2: Explores Jamie's school environment, highlighting issues like unruly classrooms, bullying, and the pervasive influence of manosphere culture among students. Detective Bascom, whose son attends the school, begins to uncover links between online culture and the violence.

3. Episode 3: Features an intense psychological evaluation of Jamie by forensic psychologist Briony. The interaction reveals Jamie's aggressive tendencies and hints at underlying causes of his actions, including humiliation and manipulation influenced by online content.

4. Episode 4: Focuses on Jamie's family dealing with grief, shame, and guilt. It touches upon the indirect influence of Andrew Tate through Jamie's father's exposure to Tate's content, suggesting a link between online misogyny and the tragic events.

Notable Quote:

Julian Walker (06:10): "It's a very immersive experience that leaves viewers questioning the root causes of such violence."

Analysis of Real-World Parallels

Matthew Remsky draws parallels between the series and real-life incidents in the UK, such as the murders of Eliane Andam and Ava White by teenage boys. He critiques the series for race-swapping real events, pointing out that the fictional portrayal may skew public perception by attributing violence to online influences like Andrew Tate without substantial evidence.

He highlights that while cases like Kyle Clifford's murder, who cited watching Andrew Tate videos before committing the crime, suggest a clearer causal relationship, the series "Adolescence" fails to present a robust connection between online content and youth violence.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Remsky (09:49): "Here's a moral panic red flag that neither the cases said to inspire 'Adolescence' nor the real-world stats point to the influence of Andrew Tate or the manosphere in knife violence tragedies."

Critique of Filmmaking Techniques

The hosts examine the single-take technique employed in "Adolescence," lauding its immersive quality but criticizing its limitations in character development and narrative depth.

Julian Walker appreciates the seamlessness and real-time engagement the technique offers, likening it to earlier movements like cinema verité. However, he notes that this approach restricts the exploration of characters' internal states, leaving pivotal elements like Jamie's motivations and the impact of online culture largely unexplored.

Matthew Remsky argues that the single-take method results in a passive viewing experience where critical internal dialogues are absent. This choice undermines the show's ability to provide a comprehensive understanding of the characters' psyches and the complex factors contributing to their actions.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Remsky (25:02): "There's this constant motion that follows clumps of characters at a time. And that tends to mean that I can't really invest in a single human being, really."

Depiction of Institutional Responses

The series portrays institutions such as the police and schools as struggling to manage rampant youth violence influenced by online cultures. Matthew Remsky points out inconsistencies in this portrayal, noting that Detective Bascom violates numerous protocols, such as hiding evidence from Jamie's lawyer, which undermines the credibility of the institutional response depicted.

Julian Walker echoes these sentiments, suggesting that while the show aims to highlight institutional failures, it often resorts to oversimplified explanations that don't account for broader socio-economic factors like underfunded schools and reduced teacher salaries in the UK.

Notable Quote:

Julian Walker (34:53): "What we are dealing with is something new and that the phones, the social media, the Tate effect is this. This is the ingredient X that's causing all the problems."

Family Dynamics and Character Development

The hosts critique the series' handling of family dynamics, particularly the portrayal of Jamie's father, Eddie. Matthew Remsky observes that while Eddie claims to have overcome his abusive upbringing, his behavior suggests underlying anger issues, raising questions about the effectiveness of his self-improvement and its impact on his family.

Julian Walker adds that the series misses opportunities to delve deeper into characters like Jade and Katie, who are integral to understanding the social environment influencing Jamie. The lack of their perspectives results in an incomplete narrative that fails to fully explore the complexities of female experiences and the reciprocal nature of online misogyny.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Remsky (55:47): "He's a product of his society. He's overwhelmed by massive stress, and he's telling us very intensely that his dad beat him and he promised he would never do that to his kids."

Intentions vs. Execution

Jack Thorne, one of the series' creators, emphasizes that "Adolescence" aims to explore violence towards girls by boys without attributing blame to parents, teachers, or specific societal structures. However, Matthew Remsky argues that the series inadvertently centers blame on familial shame and pathological behavior, deviating from its stated intentions.

Julian Walker concurs, noting that the series leaves significant narrative gaps, particularly regarding institutional accountability and the nuanced effects of online cultures. The authors' focus on a singular narrative thread overshadows other critical factors contributing to youth violence.

Notable Quote:

Jack Thorne (45:05): "We wanted to pose a question and understand violence towards girls by boys. We wanted to get inside that problem and make it as complex as possible."

Proposed Alternatives and Future Directions

Towards the episode's conclusion, Matthew Remsky and Julian Walker propose an alternate Episode 4 that would offer a more balanced exploration of the factors leading to Jamie's actions. This proposed episode would focus on Jamie's sister, Lisa, uncovering his online activities and drawing direct connections to the manosphere, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of the root causes.

This suggestion underscores the podcast hosts' belief that the original series missed opportunities to fully engage with the complexities of online influence, familial dynamics, and institutional responsibilities.

Final Reflections

The hosts conclude by acknowledging the artistic merit of "Adolescence" while critiquing its oversimplified narrative and missed opportunities for deeper exploration. They emphasize the importance of nuanced storytelling in addressing complex societal issues and caution against adopting fictional portrayals as templates for policy or educational curricula without critical analysis.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Remsky (66:26): "So, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, wonderful artistic work... hopefully this criticism is positive and constructive."

Conclusion

Episode 252 of the Conspirituality Podcast provides a thorough critique of Netflix's "Adolescence," highlighting the series' attempt to link youth violence to online misogynistic influences while exposing its shortcomings in narrative depth and real-world applicability. Through insightful analysis and constructive feedback, hosts Matthew Remsky and Julian Walker encourage a more balanced and evidence-based approach to understanding and addressing the factors contributing to adolescent violence in contemporary society.