Adolescence: What Do You Do When You’re Crushed? (pt 2 of 2)

Written By Paul McDonald

Download your study guide here.

Every man reaches the point where strength runs out. In Netflix’s Adolescence (Part 2), we see what happens when control collapses and power turns toxic. Jamie tries to reclaim it through domination—over Ellie, over his psychologist—but the more he grasps, the more everything unravels. Eddie does the opposite: he breaks under the weight of guilt, realizing too late he couldn’t rescue his son.

This episode of Men at the Movies explores how we respond when life crushes us—when the plan fails, the illusion of control dies, and all that’s left is presence and surrender. What if being powerless isn’t failure but the beginning of transformation?

Join us as we unpack Adolescence through the lens of faith and masculinity—discovering how God meets us not in strength, but in our breaking.

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The Quotes

  • What you think matters more than what is true.

  • You can’t dominate your way out of shame.

  • We keep thinking strength will save us, but it’s surrender that does.

  • When power slips away, love costs everything—and heals what control never could.

  • Being crushed isn’t the end. It’s where grace does its best work.

 Themes

  • Power and Powerlessness

    • When control collapses, the truth of who we are is revealed.

    • Power built on fear always leads to destruction.

    • God invites us to release control so His presence can restore what’s broken.

  • Shame and Domination

    • Shame drives us to dominate, hide, or perform.

    • The illusion of control isolates us from love.

    • Freedom begins when we confess rather than compete.

  • Grace in the Breaking

    • God doesn’t waste the weight that crushes us.

    • Redemption begins where self-reliance ends.

    • Surrender opens the door to healing and purpose.

  • Presence over Control

    • Love isn’t about fixing—it’s about staying.

    • When we stop striving, we create space for grace.

    • Presence turns pain into connection.

  • Redemptive Masculinity

    • True strength is humility, confession, and compassion.

    • Power is meant for service, not domination.

    • The mature man leads through vulnerability and love.

Resources

Questions

  • Where do you feel most powerless right now—and how are you responding?

  • How do you try to control the people or situations that make you feel weak?

  • What’s one failure or regret you keep trying to make up for?

  • When have you chosen presence over fixing in someone’s pain?

  • How has surrender, rather than strength, brought growth in your life?

  • What would change if you believed God meets you most deeply in your breaking?

More info

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Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock.

Links:

Paul McDonald
Next

Adolescence, pt. 1: “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing Here”