And while the storytelling is almost flawless, there is one glaring element that happens to be missing.
Instead, the focus remains on Jamie and his surrounding community.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
The perpetrator always gets the front line, she explains to her colleague when asked about her mood.
A man raped a woman.
We followed Jamies brain around this entire case.
Katie isnt important, Jamie is.
Everyone will remember Jamie.
No one will remember her.
She has a point, though her colleague doesnt necessarily agree with her.
Another victim forgotten and another perpetrator made notorious.
The showrunners have a message hereand, unfortunately, it has little to nothing to actually do with Katie.
Would we analyze her actions to the same degree that we analyze Jamies?
Heres the truth:It shouldnt.
All were given are the key insights into how Jamie viewed her; the rest is unimportant.
Yes, let me say it again:who Katie is doesnt matter.
If she hadnt spoken her mind freely.
If she hadnt rejected someone so bluntly.
If she hadnt pushed someone away to protect herself.
If she had just made herself more empathetic, more demure, more palatable.
By extricating Katie from the story otherwise, there is no more that she could be.
There is little she could have done more perfectly.
So if your biggest gripe aboutAdolescenceis that it doesnt spend enough time on its victim, youre rightit doesnt.
She will be forgotten, while Jamies story will be remembered.
Its unfair, and its problematic, and unfortunately, its realistic.
