Everything to know about Adolescence season 2 and why it wouldn’t work

Netflix’s Adolescence has proven to be a huge hit, and fans are already wondering whether a second series of the drama could be on the cards

Netflix’s Adolescence has rapidly become the most talked out TV show of 2025, with fans already clamouring for a second series.

The four-part miniseries, featuring Stephen Graham, Christine Tremarco, and Owen Cooper, debuted on Netflix on March 13.

Fresh data from BARB reveals that the opening episode drew in a whopping 6.45 million viewers in its first week of release. This means Adolescence has smashed records, boasting the largest audience for any streaming show in the UK in a single week, surpassing the 6.3 million viewing figure set by Fool Me Once in 2024.

Adolescence has made waves, sparking discussions about online radicalisation, knife crime and more. So, could we be in store for a second helping of the hit show?

Will there be an Adolescence series two?

As it stands, Netflix hasn’t announced any plans for a second series of Adolescence, reports Surrey Live.

The show was originally conceived as a mini-series, typically a one-off programme for Netflix. However, the streaming behemoth has been known to commission new seasons of shows initially intended to be mini-series, like the 2023 drama Beef.

What inspired the first series?

Adolescence was initially conceived by Stephen as a reaction to a sudden surge in violent knife crime in Britain, leading him to team up with writer Jack Thorne to bring his vision to fruition.

The star of Boiling Point has opened up about the chilling real-life knife crime stories that grabbed his attention in the press, inspiring him to “shine a light” on this disturbing trend.

“I’d read an article in the paper about a young boy stabbing a young girl, and it made me feel a bit cold,” he shared with Birmingham Live. “Then about three or four months later, there was a piece on the news about a young boy who’d stabbed a young girl – and they are young boys. They’re not men. And it was the complete opposite end of the country.”

In a conversation with Tudum, Stephen elaborated on his motivations behind the creation of Adolescence: “One of our aims was to ask, ‘What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and from social media?’ And the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here as they are the world over.”

What could series two be about?

As fans speculate on what the next instalment might bring, series two of Adolescence could delve deeper into the critical issues highlighted in the first series.

The show touches upon the controversial figure Andrew Tate, who is notorious for his opinions and sway over young men via online platforms.

Stephen, a dad to Grace and Alfie, disclosed that his own experiences as a parent have shown him how social media algorithms can dictate the content accessible to the youth.

He shared a concerning experience with Rolling Stone UK, revealing: “I was looking online at a workout thing that our Alfie sent me, and it was a good workout. Three or four days later, the algorithm – which I don’t understand – showed me the same gentleman again, and he was telling me his misogynistic opinions and views.”

The hit series Adolescence has sparked conversations on the pressing issue of online radicalisation, teasing the prospect of exploration into these dark corridors in a potential second series.

Who could star?

Should we dive back into the life of young Jamie in a follow-up season, expectations would be set for the original cast to make a return. Owen Cooper would presumably step back into Jamie’s shoes, while Stephen and Christine would likely come back as his parents Eddie and Manda.

If Jamie remains central to the story, then fans could also anticipate the return of Mark Stanley as the lawyer Paul Barlow, Ashley Walters playing DI Luke Bascombe, and Faye Marsay in the role of DS Frank.

What have the cast said?

Although masterminds Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne haven’t directly addressed the rumours of a second season of Adolescence, actress Christine Tremarco has spoken out. The star, who plays Manda Miller in the drama, spoke candidly about the potential during an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine hosted by Lorraine Kelly on 24 March.

Lorraine couldn’t help but inquire about a sequel, pointing out: “Do you think there might be a sequel? I’d love to find out what happens. I’m left with so many questions!”

Christine confessed: “You’re not alone, a couple of people have said that! But maybe that’s a good thing because it leaves you thinking about what would happen afterward. But I think this is a one-off. I think it ends with episode four.”

Why wouldn’t it work?

Despite the clamour for more episodes of Adolescence, Netflix might not see a second series as a savvy move.

Netflix’s limited series have been a hit, bagging the platform some serious award nods. In the last two years, Netflix has scooped up nominations in the Limited Series category at the Primetime Emmy Awards, winning with both Baby Reindeer and Beef out of four nods.

Another hiccup for a follow-up season could be down to the plot of Adolescence itself. The show does leave us hanging with a few cliffhangers, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they need tying up.

The show’s fans will no doubt ponder over Jamie’s fate and how his folks will cope post-tragedy, not to mention the backstory of his drastic actions towards Katie. But are these loose ends crucial?

Or has the series done its duty by leaving us with these thought-provoking questions to mull over?

Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix