Jeremy Clarkson has made his thoughts clear on Netflix’s critically acclaimed series Adolescence, applauding the drama for its storytelling and directorial feats.
The 64-year-old writer and broadcaster took to social media to share his thoughts on the programme and its particularly impressive camera work earlier this week.
Adolescence follows Eddie Miller, played by Stephen Graham, a man whose life becomes “an ordinary family’s worst nightmare” after his 13-year-old son Jamie (Owen Cooper) is accused of murdering a female classmate.
Each episode of the intense four-part series was filmed in a single unbroken shot – a signature style of British director Philip Barantini.
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One of the show’s most impressive segments came in the closing moments of episode two, where the camera appears to glide seamlessly from the school to the crime scene before finally landing on a close-up of Graham.
One of the fans bowled over by the shot was Clarkson, who asked on X: “The camera at the end of show 2. How on earth did they do that? It’s impossible.”
“I’ve been in the business for 30 years and I cannot work it out. The only other time I was stumped was the bathroom cabinet scene in Contact,” he added.
One fan directed the 64-year-old to Netflix’s explanation of the mind-bending shot.
The streaming giant revealed in a Q&A that the camera was attached to a drone at the school mid-shot and flown to the crime scene before the crew “smoothly caught the camera and transitioned into a close shot of Stephen Graham.”
A newly enlightened Clarkson responded: “Thank you for this. The magic is explained.”
“Ballsy to do that at the end of a one hour take. Seriously ballsy,” he praised.
Engaging with others discussing the shot, the former Top Gear presenter gushed the shot was: “Amazing. And an amazing show.”
Sean Chriscole, who played a background police officer in the show, also reached out to Clarkson with an explanation.
“It was indeed attached VERY carefully to a powerful drone. They only got the take in the bag on the final day,” the actor confirmed.
“Well congrats to you all. Masterful television,” the 64-year-old commended.
During the online Q&A, Netflix also explained the lengths the production had to go through regularly to achieve the one-shot episodes.
The shoots had to be meticulously planned with the actors, extras, and crew unable to make a single error for a successful take.
Hundreds of extras had to be placed exactly, with the crew members in costume disguised as among them.
Each instalment was initially planned to be filmed 10 times, but the incredibly ambitious nature of the project meant “many more takes” had to be done.