Summary
- Adolescence captivates with its bone-chilling performances and one-shot approach, exploring themes of masculinity, gender, and the impact of social media.
- Toxic Town sheds light on a real-life tragedy, showcasing a community of strong women fighting for answers in the Corby pollution scandal.
- Skins, a revolutionary coming-of-age drama, offers an introspective look into the dramatic social lives of British teenagers navigating adulthood.
Adolescence has taken the world by storm since its release early in 2025, delivering a riveting drama surrounding the murder of a young schoolgirl by a troubled boy, with themes of masculinity, gender, education, and social media being prominent in the Netflix hit. Despite its British backdrop, Adolescence has struck a chord internationally, being empowered by its bone-chilling performances, led by British acting heavyweight Stephen Graham, and its one-shot approach, which is employed throughout its four episodes.
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The bleak outcome of Adolescence is a heavy pill to swallow for audiences. However, for viewers intrigued by the events of Adolescence and the British aesthetic, there are a multitude of alternative British shows that are brimming with pulsating spectacle and touch upon essential themes within society, showing the capabilities of UK television.
7 This Is England '86
Television Spin-Off Of A Movie Examining Skinhead Culture In The Late 20th Century
This Is England '86
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2010 - 2010-00-00
- Network
- Channel 4
- Directors
- Shane Meadows
- Seasons
- 1
Spawned from the cult classic movie This Is England, which focuses on the skinhead and street culture of 1980s England, This Is England '86 follows many of the film's characters, showing their early adulthood and gradual growth.
Dipping between aspects of comedy and serious subjects, This Is England 86's examination of class, crime, mental health, race, and intimate relationships in England makes for an intriguing depiction of British culture. Starring Stephen Graham, This Is England is one of the most groundbreaking depictions of British youth culture, capturing the highs and lows of growing up in working-class communities.
6 A Thousand Blows
A Bare-Knuckle Boxing Spectacle Set In London's Underbelly
A Thousand Blows
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- February 21, 2025
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
Starring two of Adolescence's impeccable cast members, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty, the Disney+ drama A Thousand Blows was released this year to widespread acclaim, as it delves into London's underbelly, where crime syndicates and bare-knuckle boxing intersect. The fresh new drama focuses on an all-female criminal organization led by Mary Carr, who plots and schemes, causing a boxing prodigy and kingpin to have his status threatened.
Between an emerging turf war, two immigrant best friends try to survive the impending conflict despite being drawn into the fray. With Victorian Era London as its backdrop, A Thousand Blows delivers through pulsating action, backstabbing, and intense politicking, again showcasing the potential of British productions and their endless talent.
5 Toxic Town
A Small Community Bands Together As Mothers Fight For Justice
Toxic Town
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
For those yearning for compelling British stories in limited series as depicted in Adolescence, Toxic Town is another Netflix original that focuses on the real-life tragedy of the Corby pollution scandal, a tragic British event that rocked the nation. Examining the small town of Corby and its sudden number of congenital disabilities in newborns, the mothers of the affected babies rally together to expose the council for failing to prevent the infestation of Corby with toxins from a nearby steelworks.
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In a faithful depiction, Toxic Town is held together by its courageous and visceral story, powered by a community of strong women who fight for answers, no matter the cost.
4 Time
A Must-Watch BBC Drama That Explores Prison Dynamics Between A Prisoner And A Guard
Time
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2025-00-00
- Seasons
- 2
While prison dramas can often be over-represented on television, the anthology show Time presents the UK's prison system through a fascinating lens, illustrating the harsh realities of not only the incarcerated but also the prison officers who strive to maintain order. While its two seasons differ, its engrossing first season features Sean Bean and Stephen Graham as an inmate and a correctional officer who become targets for prisoners, complicating their lives as their moral compass comes under threat.
The BBC drama's exploration of the morality and guilt of convicts shares resemblances to Adolescence, where a child offender is put under the microscope for the actions of his disturbing crimes.
3 Criminal: UK
Psychological Warfare Between Detectives And Suspects
Criminal: UK
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2020
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
While Adolescence involves an interview of a child suspect by police detectives, Criminal: UK goes one step further, devoting its entire premise to the psychological warfare between detectives and highly manipulative suspects, with the show being set exclusively in police headquarters and, more specifically, a single interrogation room.
Playing out like a cat-and-mouse game, Criminal: UK's sole focus on the back-and-forth between the accused, lawyers, and detectives provides groundbreaking television. Powered by electrifying writing and elevated by the show's stellar performances, David Tennant and Kit Harington's slimy portrayals of suspects prove harrowing as they come under excruciating pressure from the authorities in such captivating roles.
2 Skins
A Revolutionary Coming-Of-Age Show Featuring Many Future A-Listers
Skins
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2013-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 7
One of the most revolutionary and influential British shows of the 2000s was Skins, a melodrama akin to Euphoria that explores the dramatic social lives of young people as they transition into adulthood. Featuring several future A-listers, such as Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, and Daniel Kaluuya before hitting the heights of Hollywood, Skins examines groups of teenagers in Sixth Form education as they get involved with prominent and relevant topics such as drug usage, romance, pregnancy, and sexuality.
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Like Adolescence, Skins is a worthwhile watch for an understanding of youth culture and how teenagers can quickly feel engulfed by their environment.
1 Boiling Point
A Chef Drama Brimming With Tension And Hostility
Boiling Point
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 1, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
Although starting as a successful movie, Boiling Point received a TV spin-off continuing the events of Stephen Graham's Andy Jones, a chef whose heart attack leads to Carly, Andy's former sous-chef, now leading a hot-tempered kitchen.
As seen in shows like The Bear, a restaurant kitchen can be a challenging environment to survive in, and Boiling Point is no different, as Carly deals with constant distractions and chaos that erupt in her kitchen. Delivering a raw and authentic feel, Boiling Point is a prime example of some of the best of British television in recent years, matching up to shows like Adolescence in pure tension and intensity.
- Release Date
- March 13, 2025
- Network
- Netflix
- Directors
- Philip Barantini
- Writers
- Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne
Cast
-
Stephen GrahamEddie Miller -
Owen CooperJamie Miller -
Bidi IredaleEileen
-
Amélie PeaseLisa Miller
- Seasons
- 1