Erin Doherty’s Insightful Breakdown of ‘Adolescence’ Episode 3: Key Themes and Moments Unveiled

Decoding Briony: A Deep Dive into the Raw Emotion of Netflix’s “Adolescence”

An intimate look at the making of a pivotal episode, exploring the challenges and triumphs of portraying complex characters in a single-take drama.

The Intensity of Truth: Acting Under the Microscope

For stage actors making the leap to the screen, the transition can be jarring. The subtle art of performance, so carefully honed for a live audience, faces a unique challenge: the unforgiving gaze of the camera. As one actress revealed, “Even having the experience and love of theater, there is something very different about what is being asked of an actor to do on screen. It’s the intensity of knowing that the audience is going to see everything.There’s no hiding, and that is intimidating.”

This sentiment captures the core struggle. Every twitch, every flicker of emotion, is amplified, leaving no room for artifice. But within this vulnerability lies the potential for profound connection, a chance to deliver a raw, authentic performance that resonates deeply with viewers.

The actress experienced this firsthand when preparing for her role alongside co-star Owen in “Adolescence,” a series known for it’s intense, single-take episodes. Before meeting Owen, the actress shared with concern, “How the hell are we going to pull this off, it’s just the two of us in this room.” Though, her concerns quickly dissipated upon meeting her co-star. “But I met him, and on day one, I was like, “God, this dude’s a professional.” It’s like he’d been doing it for 50 years. He rocked up, and he knew his lines. It was one of the best acting experiences I could have asked for.”

two Weeks of Instinct: Forging a Creative Bond

Matthew Lewis, the cinematographer for “Adolescence,” noted the show’s intensive two-week rehearsal process. This period wasn’t just about memorizing lines; it was about building trust and a shared understanding of the story. The actress elaborated, expanding the importance of the rehearsal process.”Those two weeks where entirely about instinct. What I hope to and will strive to cling to is this necessity to put your headspace to one side. You’ve got to operate from the heart and your instincts. That’s what that rehearsal process was.it was getting every single creative mind, whether that’s the boom operator, me, Owen, or Matt, the brilliant cameraman. We were all working as one. That was what those two weeks before were about: bringing us together and becoming a team.”

This collaborative approach, prioritizing gut feeling and intuition, is a hallmark of effective creative teams. It allows for spontaneity and genuine connection, elements that are crucial for a performance to feel authentic.

The Therapist’s couch: Finding Truth in Empathy

To prepare for her role, the actress consulted with her therapist. this isn’t uncommon for actors tackling complex characters, especially those in emotionally demanding professions. The actress described her history with therapy. “I’ve always found therapy captivating from before I’d even begun my journey of sitting in that chair and doing the work. Having been through it, you mourn the days of going in and sitting. there’s something so stunning about sitting down and getting it all out.”

Her dedication underscores the importance of responsible storytelling, notably when dealing with sensitive topics. by understanding the internal landscape of a therapist, The actress said: “I was so passionate about representing those people in the best, most human way. There’s this weird trope of “I am a therapist and I am this guarded armored person.” They can be that way, but they can also be transformative, and I wanted to bring that to it.There’s no two ways about this.I had to get in contact with my old therapist because she was brilliant and completely changed my life. I want to bring that heart to it, but also just know where your head is at any given moment. I don’t understand how they get through one session, let alone however many people they see in 24 hours.” Doing so helps avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes and creates a more nuanced and realistic portrayal.

Playing a therapist takes a considerable mental toll, as the actress noted. “I was so emotionally and physically drained at the end of the shooting days — I don’t know how they do it. For me, sitting down with my therapist, was about getting into that frame of mind and understanding the journey of what it means to go through a session, and having to be your own filter, in that sense, and check yourself and say, “OK, is there any transference, or countertransference going on?” You’re constantly having to refresh. I just needed to pick her brain about that. That was really formative.” The concept of “transference,” where a patient redirects feelings onto their therapist, and “countertransference,” where the therapist unconsciously redirects feelings onto the patient, are critical aspects of therapeutic practice. Understanding these dynamics is essential for ethical and effective treatment.

A Glimmer of Hope: Entering the Room

The actress revealed her character’s mindset as she entered the scene: “I said to myself, “You’ve got to step into that room with this little morsel of hope.Everything in her had to be willing him to say something that would wipe the slate clean.” She wanted to establish a human connection. “I genuinely wanted you to feel this bond. The minute I met Owen, you couldn’t not love this boy; he’s such a gorgeous soul. He played that character with such skill because you genuinely did feel for him. As Briony, that’s got to be part of the essence of this dynamic; you can’t help but root for him. When she enters the room, she is willing him to be the good guy, and that’s what you see: the breakdown of that.”

Power Dynamics: A delicate Dance

The power dynamics between Briony and her patient were a central focus during rehearsals. The actress explained, “That’s what we were digging into in those two weeks. We were picking out the specific moments that you needed to bring to the forefront. it could be an eye movement or a flicker of something across the face.It was so refreshing because Phil trusted us to go. He gave us a safe space to play.But apart from that, he wanted this to be organic and genuine. And there’s something magic in that. He has the faith and trust in his actors to let them live and breathe this thing and whatever happens in the moment,he’s going to capture that. Like the yawn that owen does. He had never done that before, and that was a complete curveball for me, but that’s the level that we got to where the improv was so raw.” These subtle cues, carefully crafted and executed, speak volumes about the characters’ internal states and the shifting balance of power.

Evolution in Eleven Takes: Discovering New Depths

Filming in single takes presented unique challenges and opportunities. Each take allowed the actors to deepen their understanding of the characters and their relationship. The actress shared, “By the time it came to shooting — as we’d been on this thing for two weeks and worked with Jack for a couple of days on getting the language specific to us — we were so deeply ingrained in these people that we hit this sweet spot when it came to shooting that we weren’t even thinking about it anymore. It was this organic evolution of these two people.Every take added to the nuances and the richness of this relationship.”

Release and Reflection: After He Leaves the Room

The emotional release at the end of the scene was palpable. For the actress,the final moments were cathartic. “That was the easiest part of the episode to film for me because I am quite an outwardly expressive, heart-on-my-sleeve type of being. Getting through the hour and keeping a lid on these things was the task for me.Whereas the minute that Owen left,I was like,“Thank God.” I got to breathe.”

The character’s delayed reaction highlights the burden of professionalism and the emotional toll of holding back. “I don’t think Briony fully understood what she was in the room with until he left, because she had to keep that professional guard up. She knew what she was there for and what line she had to tread. It’s not until he leaves that these moments hit her in the face and she’s able to really digest what has just happened. It is quite frightening, and that was all it was. It was like an emotional vomit.”

Innocence Lost: Witnessing the Transformation

Owen’s portrayal of the character’s descent into anger was particularly impactful. The actress described it as: “genuinely scary. It’s every actor’s dream to get to a place where you forget yourself and you are in this strange reality that you’ve created. It sounds bizarre, but you genuinely do believe it in the moment. If the person opposite you is doing their job and you’re doing yours. You both created this other place, and we were lucky enough to get there together. I’m so proud of Owen because I got to see him push himself as an actor, to really go there.Back then, he was this kid and he didn’t want to be this scary thing, especially with someone he just met. So we really had to work on creating this safe space to let him know that he’s going to be fine. To think about that kid versus the one that turned up in that 11th take, and push those buttons and pushed himself, I’m just so proud.”

Letting Go: Shedding the character

The process of de-roling, of separating oneself from a demanding character, is often overlooked. The actress shared her technique: “people always talk about getting into character and the different ways that you find things, but no one really talks about getting out of character. You don’t get taught that. It’s an odd one. They leave you in whatever way is necessary. But for me, every night that I’d come out of her, I’d be completely wiped. You’ve got the physical and emotional exhaustion of getting through something so intensely focused, but underneath that, you’ve got the current of knowing that you’re a part of this vital story.That’s how I got out of it — with the pride of being a part of something so vital that I tuned into that, and Briony slowly slipped away. Slowly but surely as the lines left my head, she did too. I actually think they never fully leave you until you’ve jumped onto another project and you have to abandon ship.”

A Ripple Effect: Connecting with the audience

The impact of “Adolescence” extends beyond the screen, sparking conversations and resonating with viewers. The actress said: “The people on this job, the backstage crew and everyone come to me and say, “Oh my God!” I’m chatting to people, and they’re like, “I just watched episode two.” It’s an odd one to chat about while your head is also in something else, but it’s so lovely to talk to other creative minds about something like that, and to digest it with them. It’s so lovely that it’s reaching and having a ripple effect through society.”

How did Eliza Thorne’s readiness for the role of Briony, particularly her consultations with a therapist, contribute to her nuanced portrayal?

Decoding “Adolescence”: An Interview with Actress Eliza Thorne

Archyde News: Welcome, Eliza! Thank you for joining us today to discuss yoru captivating performance in Netflix’s “Adolescence,” specifically the emotionally charged episode featuring Briony. Could you start by sharing your initial approach to embodying such a complex character, especially given the single-take format?

“It was a journey, honestly,” Eliza began. “The single-take format was both exhilarating and intimidating. Knowing there was no room for error, no hiding, really pushed me to find the rawest, most authentic portrayal of Briony I could.It brought a new kind of intensity, and I loved it.”

Embracing Authenticity: The Role of Preparation

Archyde News: The article highlighted the importance of the two-week rehearsal process in building a team dynamic. How crucial was that time in shaping your performance and the dynamic with your co-star, Owen?

Eliza Thorne: Those two weeks were everything. It wasn’t just about lines; it was about trust, about understanding Briony’s motivations, and building a real connection with Owen. We had to become a team. Being able to work from instinct allowed for a freedom to explore the subtle nuances in the emotions, and that was amazing.

The Therapist’s Mind: Delving into the Role

Archyde News: The role of Briony, a therapist, required a deep dive into her professional world and emotional understanding. How did consulting with a therapist influence your portrayal?

Eliza Thorne: Therapy has always fascinated me.Before stepping into the role, I consulted with my own therapist and it proved to be invaluable. It wasn’t just about the professional aspects – the transference, countertransference, but about her heart, her understanding of humanity. I wanted to bring that to Briony and avoid any stereotypes.

Single-Take Challenges: Building a Raw Connection

Archyde News: “Adolescence” is known for its single-take episodes.What unique challenges and opportunities did this format present when filming such emotionally demanding scenes?

Eliza Thorne: Each take was a chance to deepen the characters. It was a risk, but it pushed us to discover the true heart of briony’s journey. By the eleventh take, everything really just clicked. It was like this organic evolution of the characters.

The Power of Subtlety: Exploring Power Dynamics.

Archyde News: The power dynamics between Briony and her client seemed central. How did you and Owen navigate the nuances of this relationship during rehearsals and the intense filming process?

Eliza Thorne: That’s right. We really worked to unpack them. The director, Phil, gave us the freedom to find those moments organically, which was refreshing. The smallest cues, eye movements, a flicker on the face… all of it really helped to tell the story. It’s a delicate dance, this power dynamic.”

Leaving the Room: Shedding the Character

Archyde News: the process of “de-roling,” separating yourself from a demanding character.How you managed to leave Briony behind after such an intense project?

Eliza Thorne: its the hardest part. To me,it was about honoring the story and also finding the pride that came from that. So, slowly but surely, Briony slipped away. She is one of those who has to be abandoned before the next one, however.

Archyde News: Given the intimate nature of the series, what lingering lessons or insights from the production of “Adolescence” do you find most impactful?

Eliza Thorne: I think it’s the power of human connection and the beauty that lies in vulnerability. Creating this character and sharing it with others has been really powerful. I’m still touched when people say that they just watched the show. They are able to connect to it and feel such a connection.

Archyde News: Eliza, thank you for sharing your experiences with us today. A true honor.

Eliza Thorne: Thank you, it was a pleasure!

Join the conversation:

What aspects of Briony’s portrayal resonated with you most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!