Best Film and Series about Parenthood

Over the course of four episodes, as the audience tries to uncover the motive behind the murder, they gradually drift away from the most fundamental question: “Why was the crime committed?” Instead, the series draws us into a complex web of questions that probe the social, psychological, sociological, and to some extent, technological dimensions of crime. It forces us to confront the shortcomings of the education system, the family structure, social services, and public spaces—revealing that no single cause can account for such a profound event. In doing so, it brings us face to face with the ambiguous culture of today’s world.

Naturally, every viewer will have their own reasons for connecting with the series, shaped by personal taste. But given the intense discussions and controversies Adolescence has sparked—through newspaper articles, television segments, and political debates—we’re offering Saatolog readers a “must-watch list” inspired by this provocative series.

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (2025)

The Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish offers a disturbing look at how parenting can become harmful and difficult; here, the issue is not neglect or indifference, but the excess of control. The story follows two teenagers, Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny, who are subjected to cyberbullying through hateful and threatening messages. But when it turns out that the messages came from Lauryn’s mother, Kendra, the narrative shifts and becomes a story that questions the limits of parenthood.

Kendra’s lies about her identity and her hiding behind technology violate the most fundamental trust a child should have in a parent, showing how unresolved traumas of parents can deeply affect their children. Speaking of her own past abuse, Kendra essentially tries to prevent Lauryn’s independence by frightening and harassing her online—controlling her life and psyche. Thus, as viewers, we are faced with the question: what happens when a parent, out of fear of losing their child or out of a misguided sense of “closeness,” does not allow the child to safely find their own identity?

In this sense, one of the key ideas the documentary raises is that raising children should not be left solely to parents—it is a societal responsibility. Children may need protection not only from external threats, but also from internal ones within the family: from parents’ fears, jealousies, traumas, or pathologies.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Almost as if responding to its own title, this film—rarely discussed despite its unsettling impact—pulls us into a pit of ambiguity much like Adolescence. And by ambiguity, we refer to the absence of a clear criminal profile or a single, overarching cause—a staple of the mainstream crime genre. Kevin, the eldest child of a financially comfortable, upper-middle-class family, has been in unsettling conflict with his mother since birth. The film works hard to liberate us from the binary of the “nature or nurture” debate—whether personality is innate or developed.

Like any mother, she sometimes questions her role; like any mother, she occasionally grows weary of her child’s mood swings and mischief; like any mother, she finds herself in a deeply complex equation as she tries to make sense of his actions—and like any mother, she often regrets not being better. Everything seems to be in place, everything feels “normal.” The father, like any father, goes to work, spends time with his children, and enjoys it. He has no alcohol or gambling issues, no affairs, no dark fantasies; he’s a devoted family man, including to the daughters born later.

The film grips its audience with evocative moments: scenes of the mother deep in thought, memories flashing like an old film reel—joyful evenings with her husband before the children arrived, happy, carefree days… Then, without warning, the film cuts to horror—people screaming, panicking, chaos.

Following Kevin’s crime, Eva’s punishment and social ostracization echo the themes of Adolescence: when a serious crime is committed by someone underage—especially something as grave as murder—it is never seen as an individual act. In the public eye, the parents, and especially the mother, are just as culpable. “How could she raise a child like that?” Even when the law doesn’t hold them accountable, society ensures that they are punished.

The film plays out like an extended meditation on Eva’s search for her role in the massacre, asking herself, “Where did I go wrong?” Its most powerful achievement is the way it holds up a mirror to the audience’s own idea of what makes a “good mother,” leaving the answer to the nature-versus-nurture dilemma in their hands.

Broadchurch (2013-2017)

With its setting, characters, and atmosphere, Broadchurch is a quintessentially British crime drama, taking place in a quiet, unremarkable town—but at its heart is the Latimer family and their 11-year-old son. When the boy is found dead on the beach, the town’s calm is shattered, becoming a stage for long-suppressed conflicts, the complex world of its children, and tensions that defy resolution. Secrets once thought buried begin to rise to the surface.

The murder’s connection to one of the two distinctive police officers investigating the case delivers a traumatic blow, both to the audience and the town itself. As the episodes unfold seamlessly, they intricately portray the psychological unraveling of a community in the face of tragedy. The series prompts viewers to reflect on a wide range of themes: the fragile bonds of communal life, the despair and invisible wounds people hide from one another, the media’s handling of crime, and the far-reaching emotional toll it leaves behind. At the same time, it urges a deep questioning of the relationship between adults and children.

Mare of Easttown (2021)

Mare of Easttown is a crime drama led by Kate Winslet. Set against the backdrop of a murder in a small town, it offers a haunting story that delves into mother-child relationships. The series confronts viewers with the silence between public servants, unhealed traumas, and the everyday challenges of parenthood. Winslet plays Mare Sheehan, a police officer whose role in town life extends far beyond her badge—she is a grieving mother whose son died by suicide, and, following a divorce, struggles to keep her family—her young granddaughter, her daughter, and herself—together.

The show’s tension is driven by adults entangled in emotional fallout from broken relationships, and by teenagers and young adults growing up in the stifling atmosphere of a small town. While some parents falter in guiding their children, we are introduced to a generation of teenagers grappling with confusion, making mistakes, and trying to carry the weight of it all on their own. Like Adolescence, Mare of Easttown gives voice to the quiet distress of youth and the apparent indifference of adults. It offers a gripping narrative that explores the clash between parenting and adolescence in the shadow of crime and sorrow.

Shameless (US, 2011–2021)

Running for 10 seasons, Shameless remains one of the most passionately followed series of all time. So much so, it was adapted in Turkey as Bizim Hikâye and aired for two seasons on FOX TV. Those in their 30s will likely remember Frank Gallagher and his chaotic family—characters that seemed to walk straight out of the Turkish classic Üvey Baba. In fact, compared to Halil from Üvey Baba, Frank’s bond with his children might even come across as tender.

At its core, Shameless is a coming-of-age story focused on the Gallagher kids. There may be no murders, but there’s certainly no shortage of violence and chaos. With both parents effectively absent, their older sister Fiona takes on the role of caretaker—shouldering responsibilities well beyond her years. Before she even has the chance to experience her own youth or adulthood, Fiona is raising a household.

Meanwhile, Frank Gallagher, the father whose actions defy logic and morality, always lurks in the background—often emerging just as things start to stabilize. The Gallagher children—Lip, Ian, Carl, Debbie, and the rest—grow up without reliable authority figures. Their education comes through trial and error, through hardship and loss. Carl’s journey, full of wayward antics and a strangely poetic sense of justice, is especially shaped by this environment.

They grow up clashing with school, the system, the neighborhood, the neighbors, the police, and the law. Shameless shows us what it means to come of age “from below”—sometimes with laughter, other times with heartbreak.

Defending Jacob (2020)

Unlike the rest of the titles on this list, Defending Jacob is a more subdued, slow-burning crime drama—but one that offers a powerful look into adolescence. Fourteen-year-old Jacob is accused of murdering a classmate, and complicating matters further, he is the son of a teacher and a prosecutor. As two of society’s most central institutions—education and justice—are shaken within a single household, the series explores not just the legal drama, but the emotional terrain of growing up under suspicion.

Jacob is a boy who keeps his distance from others, shows little interest in his surroundings, and while not fully withdrawn, skirts the edge of detachment. As the accusations surface and spread online, we see how the social media storm and resulting isolation impact his sense of identity. The way others perceive him begins to shape how he sees himself, reflecting how vital and often destructive social media can be in the formative stages of adolescence. Defending Jacob invites viewers to consider the complex interplay of crime, value judgments, and digital social norms.

BONUS: Gibi: “17 Conversations with Çağrı”

After all these heavy themes, let’s lighten the mood with a touch of the absurd.

The sixth episode of Gibi’s sixth season, “17 Conversations with Çağrı,” dives into teenage angst with both sharp wit and total chaos. At its center is Çağrı, a teen caught in the throes of classic adolescent turmoil—rebelling, questioning everything, hating everything, and believing no one understands him. In response, his overly anxious father turns to the worst possible advisors: İlkkan, Yılmaz, and Ersoy. This trio, more adolescent in spirit than the teenager himself, take it upon themselves to “fix” Çağrı—only to throw the universe off balance in the process. Without spoiling the fun, let’s just say the episode offers a hilariously skewed yet all-too-familiar commentary on adolescence, miscommunication, and the generational gap. A comedic gem that pokes fun at serious themes while keeping things delightfully absurd.

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