Normal People on BBC3

[Bouledeneige]

Binge watched it yesterday and loved it. Emotional, passionate and two really great leads. Thoroughly recommend it (so long as you don't mind lots of love scenes). Cried lie and felt bereft when it finished.

I am not sure why Niall and Connell went to the villa at all though. 🤷‍♀️
Bit weird to invite your ex and his mate when your boyfriend doesn’t like him as well.

In the hook Niall, his gf Elaine and Connell have been inter railing with some other friends at the start. Those 3 then go to the villa for a few days. I would suppose its Connell's first trip abroad, he's loving the culture as opposed to Jamie's lame full of Asiabs quips.

I loved it. Like pp have said, I'm middle aged now and it took me right back to my first love (from school to uni), and the intensity of emotions. Sadly far from my relationship now, which made it a bittersweet watch.

Actors were great, very believable, and refreshing to see consent issues raised. I disagree about Connal being abusive - yes he treated her badly at the start, but he was 17ish, insecure, and truly remorseful. He later protects her several times, and tries to steer her out of bad relationships without being controlling. What i found less believable was Mariannes eagerness to jump straight into bed with him to start with. From virgin and very inexperienced it seems a strange move.

I didnt like the ending - just seemed a bit unbelieveable that he'd apply to go to ny without mentioning it, and they'd both just agree to part given they'd been so miserable until having got back together. I was also disappointed that towards the end she asked him to hit her while having sex - til then it had seemed she hadnt wanted that from him. I guess it mirrors real life where things arnt so clear cut.

I thought the sex scenes were really well done. Interesting that the sex she had with others was always doggy style, but never like that with him until that last time iirc.

Hi, I've just watched episode 6, I'm enjoying it but still a bit confused about a few things. Why does Connell keep telling Marianne he loves her if they're not 'exclusive'?? I admit relationships seem to have moved on since my day, when it was a given that if you were regularly sleeping with someone you were in an exclusive relationship, but do people who are just casually sleeping with people tell them they love them?? Wasn't Connell incredibly offended when Marianne told him 'I nearly started developing feelings for you then' after they'd had sex one time?

And I don't mean to be bitchy, but neither of them seem particularly attractive to me which I thought was the point - and quite refreshing. I.e they aren't conventionally and unrealistically TV beautiful. Though Daisy Edgar Jones looks great with her Trinity made up look and clothes which I guess is also the point. I agree with pp about the Father Ted character, he also is starting to remind me of Father Dougal. I keep feeling as I'm watching an episode of Father Ted where Father Dougal gets mistakenly admitted to Trinity and everyone thinks he's a genius.

Did I miss the bit about why he is heading back to Sligo (presumably) and she smashes a glass at the end of ep 6? Or is that going to be explained in flash-back? Presumably he doesn't ask to move in with her - why not? Bit unrealistic.

I think the whole thing is about miscommunication - which makes it all the more frustrating! I think Connell does love Marianne, although it does seem funny that he is able to say that yet can't verbalise that he wants to be exclusive/stay with her over summer etc.

I keep feeling as I'm watching an episode of Father Ted where Father Dougal gets mistakenly admitted to Trinity and everyone thinks he's a genius.

I watched it and it made me feel really depressed. It was very 'angsty' teenage into early twentysomething romance. I would have enjoyed watching it more if I'd been the age my DC are now.

I thought they were kind of caught up in a co-dependent relationship of sorts.

There was so much angst, I agree NewModelArmyMayhem18.

I had fairly straightforward relationships at that age (in comparison) but the late teens/early twenties are full of angst. Even more so with some of the emotional baggage those two had.

I had a fairly angsty teenage to early 20s on off relationship but there is no way I'd go months after a miscommunication like the 'seeing other people' one over summer without speaking etc, they must either had willpower of iron/ stubborn / scared to death of rejection!

He gave her the opportunity to say ‘stay here’ but she didn’t. That bit was very strange. All the ‘seeing other people’ misunderstanding.

It needs rewriting so he asks Marianne to the Debs, that would sort everything out. 😂

Perhaps I don't get the love for Normal People because my love life at a similar age in college in Dublin was free of all that angst.

Haha yes it does sparkling

I had some of the angst but no way it lasted as long as these guys, I mean we are talking years here! How you can go from going out with someone to not talking again until you bump into them months later...

Does make me miss being young and carefree though, lie ins, etc - not quite the same with 2 primary age kids and a large mortgage

Yes the thing they had lots of was time. I miss those days.

I enjoyed the book and I am enjoying the series though think the actor who is playing Connell is very miscast, he's too old and not as good looking as the character described in the book.

I hadn’t read the book so now he’s Connell to me and I can’t change it.
Who would you have cast @Violetparis?

I thought the Jamie character was cast terribly. I can’t see how Marianne would be attracted to him after Connell.

I quite fancy Connell so I'm happy with him

No idea who I would cast Sparklingbrook other than someone who doesn't look more similar to the age of his on screen mother rather than his youthful girlfriend.

Pressed send too soon, maybe it's just me having read the book first so had my own idea of what 'Connell' should look like.

His Mum is supposed to be only 17 years older than him. The actor cast as his Mum is 35 and he Is 24 In RL so it’s all a bit weird.

He gave her the opportunity to say ‘stay here’ but she didn’t. That bit was very strange. All the ‘seeing other people’ misunderstanding

Agreed. This really lets the story down. Maybe it’s explained better in the book? I don’t think him not asking and her not offering was particularly strange - they were young and had never lived together so it wouldn’t be automatically assumed. The seeing other people but was the part that jarred. Could he not go home for the summer, her stay in Dublin but remain a couple? That was odd. I don’t have the book but I’d be interested to read that passage.

Yes even if he couldn’t ask couldn’t he could just say ‘It’s not for long and I will be back’ and that be ok? He could still have visited over that time. 🤷‍♀️

Too many couldnt’s. Sun is on my phone. ☹️

Yes exactly - it's only for the summer, we can visit, 'you know I love you' etc etc - it's like they want to be miserable!

DS1 managed just that last year come to think of it. They were further from each other than those two and still managed visits through the summer. Got back together in the September in the University town.