Episode 3 of "Adolescence" resumes seven months later, with Jamie being shuffled through a series of therapists until he lands with Briony, who seems to be making genuine strides with him. Their interactions are tinged with warmth and a playful banter that sets the tone for their sessions.
Upon her arrival, Briony is informed that Jamie has been involved in a scuffle with another inmate. She promptly fetches him his favorite food and drink, paving the way for a promising start to their session. With subtle finesse, she steers the conversation, weaving in tales of her grandparents, transitioning seamlessly to his own, and eventually delving into the men of his family.
Jamie catches on quickly, sensing her tactical maneuver to induce him into discussing his emotions. She clarifies her stance, reassuring him that she stands on his side and that her report to the judge will serve as a window into his thoughts and motivations.
As the session unfolds, it becomes increasingly apparent that Jamie is far from settled. His mood swings like a pendulum, shifting from earnest playfulness to a mocking demeanor in the blink of an eye. He bristles when she inquiries about his feelings towards his family and the reasons behind his altercation.
Briony, sensing his guardedness, decides to lay her cards on the table. She openly admits that her objective is to understand his perspective on masculinity. In the rapid-fire exchange of words, Jamie lets slip that his father, Eddie, harbors a tempestuous temper, though he hastily qualifies this by insisting that Eddie is not abusive. Jamie suspects that Briony's intentions might be to get Eddie into trouble, but he concedes that tensions escalate when sports are involved.
Eddie takes Jamie to play football, but each time Jamie makes a misstep, Eddie is consumed by shame. He anticipates that after his confession, Briony will step into the role of a father figure, only to be perplexed when she fails to do so. Unable to decipher Briony's demeanor, Eddie finds himself tempted to unleash harsh words. Yet, she remains unperturbed by his bait. Confounded by his liminal existence within the training center, Eddie yearns either for the comfort of his home or the clarity of prison. His frustration boils over, and he insists that he would willingly accept his punishment if he were truly a murderer. In a fit of anger, he hurls a glass and becomes aggressive, shouting obscenities at Briony until guards intervene. Afterward, he apologizes, requesting another drink.
Briony maintains a semblance of calm indoors, but once outside, she is overwhelmed with emotion. She reviews the CCTV footage, and the correctional officer wonders if Jamie's body language might offer insight. Upon noticing Jamie's look of embarrassment, Briony adopts an offensive stance. She bursts into the room, making it abundantly clear that his case is her top priority. Jamie apologizes, but his defenses resurface when she inquires about his father's behavior and how he treats his mother.
Switching her approach, Briony asks Jamie about his feelings towards women and female friendships. He vehemently denies being gay. When Briony prompts him to describe an ideal date night, he claims it would involve a movie followed by intimate kissing. He initially lies, asserting he has had experiences with girls, before ultimately coming clean.
In his rambling confessions, Jamie inadvertently reveals that Katie's nude photos were leaked. It transpires that a classmate named Fidget coerces girls into sending him nude images, which he then shares with the male students. Jamie is merely annoyed that Fidget's actions have led to his own supply of nudes drying up, now that Fidget has been caught.
Briony delves into the subject of sexual attraction, prompting him to claim that his ugliness renders him unappealing to anyone. When she inquiries further about his perception of his own ugliness, he becomes defensive once more, accusing her of manipulating his words. His demeanor turns confrontational as he leans in menacingly, attempting to intimidate her. Although disturbed, Briony manages to soothe him by expressing empathy for the bullying he and his friends endure.
The conversation then shifts to his Instagram habits, specifically how he uses the platform to browse other accounts. She quizzes him on why he posts photos of models rather than his own, delving into Katie's comments before inadvertently mentioning Facebook. He taunts her for her apparent fear and exhaustion towards him, but quickly regains composure to explain the incel comments and his disconnect from that ideology.
Briony persists in her inquiry about why Katie targeted him, and while he mocks her as though she's on the brink of an epiphany, he eventually reveals the sequence of events – following the leak, he apologized to Katie and asked her out, hoping that amidst the teasing, she might crave some positive attention. Instead, she laughed at him and embarked on a campaign of cyberbullying.
He yearns for Briony's understanding, rambling on and even declaring, in a moment of vulnerability, that he could have sexually assaulted Katie on that fateful night but chose not to. Briony's expression darkens, prompting him to apologize hastily, insisting he didn't mean it. She endeavors to impress upon him the gravity of such statements, ultimately declaring that this will be their final session together.
Panic sets in as he expresses his reluctance for her to leave. He pleads for her validation of his feelings and begs her not to inform his father. As he is physically removed from the room, he screams and pounds on the walls in distress. Briony, deeply affected by the session, struggles to conclude it with the dignity it deserves at the end of Adolescence Episode 3.
