Adolescence is a gripping crime drama about 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), whose life takes a dark turn after he gets caught up in the murder of a female classmate. The show has started important discussions about how online communities influence young boys.
The meaning behind the sandwich scene
One of the most fascinating scenes in the series occurs in Episode 3, when Jamie is interviewed by psychiatrist Briony (played by Erin Doherty). Before they sit down, Briony shares half of her cheese and pickle sandwich with Jamie. Although this might appear to be a small gesture of generosity, psychologist Dannielle Haig thinks it might actually be a test in disguise.
“The half-sandwich, particularly the fact that it contains something Jamie dislikes, could be a way of testing his response. Does he push it away? Does he eat it to be polite? Does he comment on it? These reactions provide insight into his personality,” Haig told Tyla.
She explained that if Jamie had taken the sandwich without complaining, it may indicate that he feels powerless or is accustomed to taking things for granted. It may also indicate how he perceives himself in front of authority figures and whether he stands up for himself.
Even the hot chocolate Briony gives him could be a way to make him feel comfortable, Haig added.
Jamie’s bedroom scene
The series also uses Jamie’s bedroom as a potent metaphor. The room appears twice—once when he is arrested by the police in Episode 1, and again in the poignant last scene where his father, Eddie Miller, portrayed by Stephen Graham, sits in the childhood bedroom and tucks in Jamie’s teddy bear.
According to Haig, this moment could represent “parental grief and denial.”
“Eddie sitting in Jamie’s childhood space and engaging in a nurturing act like tucking in a teddy bear may reflect a subconscious attempt to hold onto the image of his son as an innocent child, rather than facing the reality of what he has done,” she explained.
Parents whose children have committed a serious crime tend to be in denial of their emotions because they don’t believe that their child can do such a thing.
Since Jamie has now chosen to plead guilty, his father Eddie will have to face the brutal reality.
“The teddy bear, the childhood setting, and Eddie’s quiet presence could all symbolise his mourning not just for Jamie’s future, which is now irreversibly altered, but for the child he thought he knew. It may also represent a sense of helplessness, as he realises he can no longer protect Jamie or rewrite what has happened,” Haig said.
Even the smallest details in the room—such as the wallpaper and books—could have been placed intentionally to reflect how Jamie was still a child before his world turned around.
“If the room remains unchanged from his younger years, it might further highlight the tragic contrast between the child Jamie once was and the crime he has now confessed to,” Haig added.
Haig explained that the last scene of Adolescence is intended to make audiences feel uneasy and consider deeply about human psychology, morality, and identity.
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