Normal People - BBC3 [SPOILER ALERT ADDED BY MNHQ]

[Lockdownlife]

Anyone watching the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's 'Normal People' on iPlayer?

I’m about halfway through and think it’s beautiful. Trying to only watch one episode a night so I don’t rush through it. I think it might be better than the book.

@thismushroom

Does the book explain why, when Connell tells Marianne he's lost his job so will have to go home for the summer, they both think the other is saying they want to see other people?

I think he's hoping she'll say 'don't go home, stay at the flat with me' but she doesn't, and he's too shy to ask. So he thinks because she doesn't ask, she's breaking up with him, again.

Just a heads up if anyone is on Spotify, there's playlists for the show. I've been listening to them a lot. The music choices are wonderful. Just search 'normal people' and they'll pop up.

I accidentally ruined the ending for my brother... he is now no longer speaking to me. I googled it. I've not even got past episode 4 still...
I am really enjoying it. I just find it really heavy going... emotionally. also there's not been a sex scene in a while, thank god!

I found it so much better than the book - which I thought was a bit over hyped, same with Conversations with Friends- nothing really happened in that at all!

The actors were amazing. Loved them both and their vulnerability was so stark

I can't remember exactly now. I read it last year some time but I thought it was due to a massive lack of communication rather than anything overtly misunderstood. Also compounding the breakup was Connell being unable to ask for help with money. In the book I remember feeling for him a lot around his awkwardness, tension and and inability to be seen as needing help but the program made him seem an idiot. I didn't really feel this part was explained well in the program, it wasn't how I would have interpreted a situation like that if it was me. Connell is a very complex character so it was disappointing that his side feels left out so much.

But It's funny you should mention that particular bit because I think i remember in the book too it was too subtle and abrupt for me to understand at first what had happened. The book was like that a lot. One sentence was often the only hinge for everything to change and could be easily missed. But that's my issue as I don't always read carefully.

There's something else I thought whilst watching and that was the level of frustration you feel watching them. Do others get that? But interestingly I don't think I felt that at all whilst reading them. They are more rounded as people so their actions make more sense. Watching them is only half the story maybe.

@LauraBerthaud
Sorry should have tagged you to my post as it was your question that set my ramble off!

Is there any back story in the book to why Marianne’s family are so horrible to her? I get from the series that her dad beat her mum ( and possibly Marianne too? Although she denied it) Her brother, jealous of her success? Her mum is really cold. It makes me wonder what her childhood was like. We see her at secondary school with no friends but Was it always like this? Maybe we are meant to fill in the blanks.

I am loving it!! I have binge watched the first 11 episodes over 3 days - I don't want it to be over so I'm hanging on until tomorrow to watch 12.
The acting is amazing and it's beautifully directed/produced and so emotional

Just read an article about it and hadn’t realised Marianne is in cold feet!

I’m on episode one but I’m finding the accents hard to understand :( it’s had good reviews though so I’m going to stick with it

Binged the whole thing over last 24 hours. Oooft. Connell and his chain.

I'm in absolute love with it and agree that it is just as good as the book. However, I don't think it conveys quite how awful her family is in the series. The book is set in the late 90s when the economic depression hit Ireland I think. But the series seems much more modern with mobiles and laptops. From what I remember, the book only really mentions email communication. I agree about the internal monologue of connell not really being communicated in the series, but I totally felt frustrated with them in the book as well as the series! And I think the ending makes complete sense given all that has gone before. She knows that if it's meant to be then it will in the future.

I've got two episodes left and I'm saving them for a special occasion

What do you think it is that we all like about it sooo much?
I like the slow place and quite realistic dialouge, plus beautiful accents (Even though it's cheesy to say so). You feel frustration on their behalves, and it seems rediculous, but many of us will have experienced similar stuff.

I absolutely loved it, I just wish there was an extra ten mins to show them in ten years time living happily with a few kids and Lorraine

I haven't seen the TV adaption, but I didn't really care for the book. I only read it at the end of last year, but I don't remember much of it.
Two unsuitable people dancing around each for years, neither really making the other one happy.
Filled with some really bad similes and metaphors too... and some downright weird ones:
'in some photographs she appears not only plain but garishly ugly, baring her teeth like a piece of vermin'
'he's wholesome like a big baby tooth'
And it can be rather depressing at times:
‘If people appeared to behave pointlessly in grief, it was only because human life was pointless, and this was the truth that grief revealed.'
There were some well written phrases and lines and it started off OK. She did capture emotional turmoil.
The most interesting aspect is never fully explored (M' s mentally and physically abusive family). I also didn't care for the ending.
There was something compelling about the novel though.

I've heard good things about the show and might watch it.

Just finished watching it (12 episodes over two nights) and I thought it was beautifully done. I also read the book last year and loved it, but the series was incredible. The acting is amazing: particarly Connell. He deserves every award under the sun for that scene in the therapist's office. I think both the book and the series captured the psychological truths of the characters. The title is spot on : despite feeling like weird misfits there is something universal and very normal about their insecurities and heartbreak.

I've watched two episodes and it's very slow.
Gratuitous sex scenes.
Marianne's accent is brilliant.
Connell's mother looks too young.
Why is M's mother so cold ?
I read two chapters of the book and wondered what all the hype was about.

Lady Eloise, stick with it as the story progresses to university years.

I think it's a shame when people mention the sex scenes as being gratuitous. Yes they are graphic, but I think it's sensitively done without being porny. What I see is an honest and raw depiction of intimacy in a developing relationship between two complex characters.

Both leads were excellent in their character portrayal, and they have believable natural chemistry with each other.

@Misty9 the book starts in 2011 not the late 90’s. Definitely phones and laptops by then!

@LadyEloise I thought the sex scenes were really well done and used to portray their intensity of feelings which they couldn’t express otherwise.

Oh and Connell’s mother had him as a teenager so that’s why she looks young. Thought the actress who played her was brilliant.

@thismushroom - thanks. It was so bloody frustrating that these two people who were supposed to have a deep connection split up over one sentence. Lazy writing I think.

I think the reason people are loving it and describing it as beautiful is because the cinematography was beautiful. But the actual plot was seedy and exploitative esp of the Marianne actress. It was soft porn with good lighting.

Just watched episodes 3&4, oh it's just heartbreaking! What's with the guy who is not Mariannes bf, who said she'd have white wine, and then another, and then a cigarette. I don't like him at all. I was quite tense waiting for Connell and Marianne to meet up at uni.
My dd told me a spoiler, which when you google Paul Mescal comes up. Its not happened yet has it? I'm pretty sure I was watching each episode quite closely, and with no phone, which is unheard of!
Can't wait and am dreading next weeks.

I love this series. I just watched 3 & 4. Connels mother is amazing. The scene where she gets him to pull over was brilliantly done. I was heartbroken for Connell when he rang Marianne at his debs. It was so strained with Rachel. But why he didn't just being Marianne is beyond me ???

I've watched it again! You can tell we are on lockdown! The ore I watch the more frustrated Inger with connell in the pool scene..whynog why didn't he ask Marianne to stay with her???? Then there's be no Jamie and a happy ever after