The episode opens 13 months after the murder case began, on Eddie Miller's 50th birthday. Eddie wakes up to a loving breakfast prepared by his wife Amanda, and he receives a hand-drawn birthday card from his son Jamie, which he looks at fondly. The family tries to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the ongoing turmoil surrounding Jamie's trial.

Shortly after, the family's day takes a dark turn when Lisa, Eddie and Amanda's daughter, interrupts to inform them that Eddie's work van has been vandalized with graffiti. The word spray-painted on the van is "nonse," a misspelled insult implying pedophilia, directed at the family because of Jamie's arrest. Amanda calls the police, who advise them to take photos but do not come out to investigate immediately. The neighbors, including one named Eileen, refuse to cooperate or provide any information about the culprits.

Eddie tries to downplay the incident, pretending everything is fine, but Amanda insists they confront the reality that the community is hostile and the public is lashing out at them because Jamie's trial is imminent in four weeks. Amanda suggests moving to Liverpool to live with her mother for safety and peace, but Eddie vehemently refuses, arguing that they have done nothing wrong and should not have to run away. This leads to a heated argument where Eddie yells, expressing his frustration and anger at the situation. Their eldest daughter Lisa is upset by the tension and struggles to engage in conversation with Amanda, feeling frustrated that the insult is unfair since Jamie is a child who made a mistake, and Eddie is innocent.

Eddie goes outside to try to wash the paint off the van with water, but the graffiti does not come off. While he is scrubbing, two boys on bicycles ride by and jeer at him, calling him a "nonce" before cycling away. Eddie quietly returns inside, defeated by the inability to erase the public stain on his family's reputation.

Amanda checks on Lisa, who reveals she has been texting a boy named Billy but insists she looks after herself. Amanda mentions vacuuming Jamie's room recently, but Lisa says she cannot bring herself to enter it. The family's emotional strain is palpable as they try to navigate the fallout from Jamie's arrest and the community's judgment.

Eddie and Amanda discuss the upcoming trial and the fact that Jamie will have to take the stand behind a big screen to protect his identity. Amanda mentions she can try to get Eddie some work through a contact named Sam, but Eddie insists he does not need help. He remains adamant about staying put despite the hostility, believing moving would only make things worse.

Later, Eddie takes Amanda and Lisa to a hardware store to buy cleaning supplies to try to remove the graffiti. At the store, a staff member recognizes Eddie and expresses sympathy, saying he is on Jamie's side and doubts the official story about Katie's murder. The employee mentions having seen naked photos of Katie shared by one of Jamie's classmates and advises Eddie to hire a good lawyer, suggesting that crowdfunding could help raise money for legal defense. This interaction highlights the divided opinions in the community and the ongoing suspicion surrounding the case.

The episode closes with a poignant moment as the song "Through the Eyes of a Child," originally by Aurora and performed by Emilia Holliday (the actress who plays Katie), plays in the background. This underscores Katie's lingering presence in the story despite the focus on Jamie's family and their struggle to cope with the aftermath of the murder accusation.

The ending of Adolescence, Season 1, Episode 4, concludes with Jamie Miller being formally charged and taken into custody, his family grappling with the fallout, and the community's tensions reaching a peak. The episode closes on a somber note, emphasizing the irreversible consequences of the crime and the emotional devastation for all involved.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The episode opens in the police station where Jamie, the 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his classmate Katie Leonard, is undergoing the final stages of processing. The atmosphere is tense and claustrophobic, with the camera following Jamie in a continuous take as he is fingerprinted, photographed, and questioned. Jamie's demeanor is a mix of confusion, fear, and resignation, reflecting his internal turmoil.

Next, the scene shifts to the interrogation room where Detective Inspector Bascombe conducts a final interview with Jamie. The dialogue is sparse but heavy with implication. Jamie's responses are hesitant, revealing his isolation and the psychological pressure he is under. The detective's tone is firm but not unkind, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Jamie's family is shown in their home, dealing with the community backlash. His mother and father are visibly distressed, exchanging worried glances and struggling to maintain composure. The camera lingers on their faces, capturing the raw emotional weight of their predicament. The family's interactions are strained, highlighting the fracture the arrest has caused in their lives.

The narrative then returns to the police station where Jamie is formally charged with Katie's murder. The procedural formality contrasts starkly with the emotional chaos experienced by Jamie and his family. Jamie is led away in handcuffs, his small frame emphasized against the stark institutional backdrop.

The final moments focus on Jamie's father, who stands outside the police station, looking lost and overwhelmed. The community's judgment is palpable in the background, with whispers and stares from passersby. The episode closes with a lingering shot of Jamie's father's face, a mixture of despair and helplessness, encapsulating the tragic fallout of the crime.

Each main character's fate at the end is clear: Jamie is in custody awaiting trial, his future uncertain and bleak; his family is left to navigate the social stigma and emotional devastation; and the community remains fractured, grappling with the shock and implications of the crime.

This ending scene-by-scene narrative captures the procedural and emotional culmination of the series' central conflict, emphasizing the irreversible impact of the tragedy on all involved.

Episode 4 of Adolescence Season 1, titled "Episode 4," does include a significant post-credits scene that is deeply emotional and symbolic. After the main narrative concludes, the scene shows Eddie, Jamie's father, sitting on Jamie's bed in the room where Jamie spent much time isolated and radicalized. Eddie breaks down in tears, unable to contain his grief and guilt. He takes Jamie's teddy bear and tucks it beneath the covers as if putting Jamie to bed, whispering, "I'm sorry, son. I should have done better." This act symbolizes Eddie's profound remorse and the last tangible connection he has to his son.

Additionally, the director Philip Barantini revealed that this moment was made more poignant by the presence of photos of Stephen Graham's (Eddie's actor) real family placed on the wardrobe in the set, with messages like "We love you. We're so proud of you." Although these photos are not visible on screen, Graham's glance toward them during the scene visibly breaks him emotionally, adding a layer of authenticity and depth to the performance.

The post-credits scene is silent except for the emotional weight of Eddie's actions and is accompanied by the song "Through the Eyes of a Child," sung by Emilia Holliday, who played Katie, the classmate Jamie killed. This choice underscores Katie's lingering presence throughout the series and the tragedy's impact.

In summary, the post-credits scene is a quiet, intimate moment of grief and apology from Eddie to Jamie, emphasizing the emotional core of the series and its themes of loss, guilt, and the unknowable struggles behind closed doors.

The kids vandalize Eddie's van by painting the word 'nonse' on it, which is a misspelled insult implying pedophilia. This act reflects the community's anger and suspicion towards Eddie's family because Jamie, Eddie's son, is going to trial for a serious crime. The neighbors refuse to help identify the culprits, showing the social isolation the family faces.

Eddie tries to pretend everything is fine but is forced by his wife Amanda to confront the reality that Jamie's trial is imminent and the public is lashing out at them. He becomes frustrated and screams that they haven't done anything wrong. He also attempts to wash off the paint from the van but fails, and is jeered at by local kids.

When Eddie, Amanda, and their daughter Lisa go to a hardware store to buy paint to cover the vandalism, they encounter a staff member who supports Jamie and doubts the official story of the murder. This encounter adds to the family's emotional strain and highlights the divided opinions in the community.

Jamie sends Eddie a hand-drawn birthday card featuring a drawing of Eddie, which Eddie looks at fondly. This moment shows the lingering family bonds and Eddie's complex feelings towards his son despite the accusations and social ostracism they face.

Although the series is mostly told from Jamie's perspective, Katie's presence is felt in the finale through the song 'Through the Eyes of a Child,' performed by Emilia Holliday, the actress who plays Katie. The director explained that Katie's voice in the score symbolizes her ongoing presence throughout the series, even if she is not physically present.

The TV show Adolescence, season 1 "Limited Series," episode 4 is not family friendly and is rated TV-MA, meaning it is intended for mature audiences 17 and older due to its content.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:

• References to a horrific murder and its emotional aftermath, which is central to the plot.
• Mild violence, including a stabbing death, physical assaults with visible blood, and bullying scenes, some shown on CCTV footage.
• Severe profanity throughout the series.
• Mild sexual content, such as infrequent non-graphic sexual dialogue, mention of nude pictures, and a police strip-search scene that is off-screen but verbally described in a way that could be uncomfortable.
• Themes involving online dangers, social media risks, and radicalization, which can be emotionally intense and thought-provoking but also distressing.
• Moderate frightening and intense scenes related to the crime and its investigation.

Overall, the series deals with dark, mature themes including crime, social media harm, and teen relationships in a serious and unsettling manner, making it unsuitable for children and sensitive viewers without parental guidance.

In the TV show Adolescence, season 1, episode 4 ("Episode 4") produced in 2025, the dog does not die. According to the trigger information from DoesTheDogDie.com, there are no reports or confirmations that the dog dies in this episode or the series overall; the "Does the dog die?" question is answered with "No" by 34 supporters and "Yes" by 0 supporters, indicating the dog survives.

The episode focuses on the Miller family dealing with the aftermath of Jamie's arrest and the social fallout, including vandalism and community hostility. Emotional scenes include Eddie Miller reflecting on his past and struggling with his son's situation, but no mention or depiction of the dog dying occurs.

Therefore, viewers can be assured that the dog remains alive throughout episode 4 of Adolescence.