What Netflix TV Show Adolescence Says About the Current TV Industry Trends

Netflix’s new British crime series Adolescence has stormed onto screens with over 24 million views in its first four days​. Its instant popularity highlights several key trends shaping UK television commissioning in 2024–25. From the enduring dominance of crime thrillers to a growing appetite for socially relevant storytelling, Adolescence offers a snapshot of where the industry is headed.

Crime Thrillers Dominate Commissions

Crime drama is king in the current TV landscape – especially in the UK. Commissioners across both streamers and broadcasters have zeroed in on crime thrillers and true-crime inspired stories as surefire hits. The numbers back it up: Western Europe secured a record 94 crime/thriller commissions from global streamers in 2024 (43% of all new scripted orders in that genre)​, and the UK matched the US in the number of new crime series commissioned for the first time​. British TV schedules are packed with detectives, gangsters and con artists, from high-end BBC dramas to Netflix originals. Viewers can’t get enough – the BBC’s police thriller Line of Duty grew its audience by over 11 million from its first to sixth series, while ITV’s serial-killer drama Des became that channel’s most-watched drama in 15 years with around 10 million viewers​. It’s a genre with broad appeal and binge-worthy intrigue, and right now, it’s the centre of the commissioning focus.

Tackling Tough Issues On-Screen

Today’s standout dramas aren’t just about solving crimes; they’re delving into why the crimes happen – holding up a mirror to social ills. Adolescence exemplifies this shift with its unflinching look at toxic masculinity, youth violence and institutional failure in Britain. The show’s creators (actor Stephen Graham and writer Jack Thorne) explicitly set out to spark conversation about “what’s happening to our young men” in the internet age​.

Indeed, the series’ tale of social-media-fuelled violence has ignited national debate, even prompting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to endorse it as an important watch that spotlights a “real problem” of online-influenced young male violence​. This hunger for issue-driven narratives is reflected in other recent hits, too. ITV’s The Long Shadow, for example, re-examined the Yorkshire Ripper murders with a focus on the victims and the ingrained misogyny that hampered the investigation​. Even traditionally lighter outlets are joining in – Channel 5’s new drama Ellis centres on a detective confronting the death of a teenager, misogyny within the police force, and the dark sway of social media​.

Across the board, UK commissioners are betting big on dramas that pair edgy, dark storylines with social relevance, tapping into viewers’ appetite for entertainment that resonates and provokes thought.

Dark Drama, Broadcasters and Global Reach

Craving the buzz that comes with dark, talked-about drama, UK broadcasters and streamers alike are adapting their strategies.

Netflix, which saved London gang seriesTop Boy from cancellation and turned it into a world-class hit, has made the UK a key content hub for its original dramas​. In fact, global platforms increasingly commission British stories with international audiences in mind from day one. A recent industry report noted that streamers see crime thrillers as a cornerstone because the genre travels so well, engaging subscribers across borders​.

British productions benefit from this global appetite: we’ve seen co-productions like Lockerbie (a forthcoming drama about the 1988 bombing, co-commissioned by BBC and Netflix) and even a Netflix/BBC Films movie spinoff of Peaky Blinders in the works​.

These partnerships show how local stories are being supercharged for worldwide release. A British drama might be set in Leeds or London, but in 2025 it’s just as likely to be made with Netflix, Amazon or Apple on board – aiming to captivate viewers from Birmingham to New York to New Delhi.

Adolescence’s breakout success encapsulates the current TV moment: British drama that is dark, socially conscious, and globally attractive. Crime thrillers rooted in real issues are dominating development slates, as UK creators and commissioners recognise that gritty authenticity can hook viewers and spark conversation in equal measure. Crime is a safe bet in these uncertain times!