- abbieduncan
- May 14, 2020
- 4 min read
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past three weeks, you're more than likely to have seen the massive buzz surrounding new BBC iPlayer drama, Normal People. For those who are utterly clueless and have never before heard of this title, Normal People is a TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's hit 2018 novel of the same name, which believe it or not was her second ever novel to be released. Set in early 2010's Ireland, the story follows two Irish schoolmates, Marianne and Connell, and details how their relationship evolves through the years of high school, university, and beyond. Marianne comes from a family of wealth, yet she is the alienated outcast of her school year - she is bookish, sarcastic, and misunderstood by those around her. On the contrary, Connell is a stunning (and I mean stunning), athletic, and popular boy, who's single mother is the cleaner for Marianne's family. The story begins with the two engaging in a secret relationship in their final year of high school, before splitting up as they both head to Trinity College in Dublin. Over the course of the following four years, the two rekindle their love and then break it off multiple times, yet still maintaining a friendship with one another to help each other overcome familial abuse, toxic relationships, and the struggles mental health. Normal People is an absolutely heart wrenching tale of first love, and the casting of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones could not have been a better choice.
Normal People weaves an intricate web of themes which are painfully relatable with many of us watching - everything from suicide, abuse, depression, and heartbreak are all conveyed with real, raw emotions. Nothing is glossed over or romanticised in this tale, instead the show provides viewers with a stark depiction of all issues at hand, and provides us with some gut wrenching, and truly heartbreaking moments throughout the show. An example of this which stood out for me was the ending of episode nine and the entirety of episode ten. I won't spoil for those who have not yet watched, but I'd go as far as to say that that 25 minute episode was the saddest episode of any TV show I have ever watched in my life. I cried like an absolute baby and literally had to turn my TV off for about twenty minutes before I could return to watch the remaining episodes. That is what makes Normal People so beautiful - the show's darkest and most silent moments make every single little thing each character experiences feel so real and so raw. Another aspect which stood out for me was the fact that these issues span out over the four years the show is set, and you as a viewer can see them silently develop in the background of the main story, making them so much more impactful when they reach their peak. For example, one of the main characters (no spoilers) can be seen having a panic attack in one of the first episodes. Although it is not discussed at the time, in the final episodes you can see how their anxiety is now impacting them on a much deeper level than four years prior. Although these details are not as important to the story at the start, they really make those finally episodes hit with an even harder punch than one might first expect.
Alongside mental health, the other theme that runs throughout the 12 episodes is first love. The relationship between Connell and Marianne is frustrating and heartbreaking, but the emotional and physical intimacy they share is beautiful. The show absolutely does not shy away from the physical aspects of their relationship either, as early as the second episode we seem them experiencing sex together for the first time. Although it can appear to be a bit much for the viewer, the sex really contributed to their growing relationship with one another. The sex scenes are incredibly vivid and it's at times hard to believe that they weren't actually going at it in front of the camera, however this makes the relationship between the two feel all that more intimate and real. What particularly struck me about the sex scenes was the level of nudity - women are 3x more likely to be fully nude in TV and film, but in Normal People the nudity is shared between the two, and both characters can be seen fully nude multiple times throughout the series, as opposed to just Marianne. This creates an even deeper level of intimacy throughout the series, and allows viewers to connect with them even further. There's also a really great conversation between the two before they have sex for the first time, where Connell pauses to ensure Marianne is fully comfortable and consenting to what is about to take place. It's a small detail that does not really hold much significance to the main plot line, but it's an incredibly important conversation to be had, and I'm glad it was featured in the show.
By the time the final credits appear in episode twelve, Connell and Marianne's relationship feels completely unresolved, and leaves viewers shouting 'IS THAT IT?!' at their screens. However, I feel like this was a deliberate decision. First love, or love in general, does not follow a straight line - it is not an easy path to take, there are twists and turns, ups and downs, and not every love story can be tied up in a bow and finish on a happy ending. It's frustrating, confusing, and often times leaves us feeling defeated, and Normal People does an impeccable job at portraying the ups and downs of relationships - Connell and Marianne's story doesn't end, but perhaps that's the point.
I've recommended Normal People to everybody I know, a few of my friends have even watched it more than once, and I'll probably follow suit. I plan on purchasing the book to read through it and let it rip me apart even more than the series did, as well as Ronney's other novel Conversations With Friends. I'm excited to see what Ronney does next, if we will ever hear from Connell or Marianne again, and where they might be.
P.s
For anyone who is as obsessed with Connell as I am, I recommend checking out @connellschain on Instagram. You will not regret it x
