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Normal People on BBC3

649 replies

Bouledeneige · 27/04/2020 20:05

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.

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mistermagpie · 02/05/2020 08:07

I think it was more her personality at school that set her apart, she was quite rude to teachers and arrogant about how clever she was. She admitted to looking down on Connells friends

Yes but I don't think this was really obvious in the tv adaptation, you didn't really see why she was such an outcast. Her brother isn't. Being rude to teachers was usually the domain of the cool kids in my school!

I loved Joanne though.

MistyMinge2 · 02/05/2020 08:39

Finished watching last night. I loved it and found it strangely addictive. It reminded me of the guy I was head over heels in love with at uni. I would have done anything for him. We also had bloody good sex! Grin

It also made me feel a bit sad and wistful. I want to go back and be a 20 something again, not nearly 40, and feeling like I might have missed out on something.

I thought the casting was great. The 2 leads were very believable and had great chemistry.

EdwinaMay · 02/05/2020 09:44

The behaviour of the evil witch mother at the end where she didn't even acknowledge Connell's mother - even evil people put on a pretence in public usually - made it clear what a poisoned home Marianne came from and explained much of her quirky behaviour and her equally evil brother's, he just seemed like the mother.

xsquared · 02/05/2020 09:55

I think Marianne letting Connell go to New York was a very self sacrificing and loving thing to do. At this point Marianne was as someone mentioned earlier content for the first time in her life, so I guess at that point t she didn't want to disrupt that.

Who knows maybe Sally Rooney will write a sequel for their happy ever after?

Rollergirl11 · 02/05/2020 10:02

Was trying to work out where I’d seen Daisy Edgar Jones before and she was one of the twin daughters of Karen and David in Cold Feet. Connel’s Mum was Cassie/Lexie in The Dublin Murders.

Connel was definitely emotionally stunted. He was definitely embarrassed to be seen with her at school and that is the main reason why he wanted their relationship to be secret. But later on at Trinity (when she is the popular one and there is no reason for it to be secret) and they are back together, he is still very stilted with her in public. I think Marianne mentions something once at the pool party like “heavens forbid you touch me when we aren’t the only ones in the room”. Then he put his arm round her but it’s really awkward and he’s completely out of his comfort zone. Then he wants to tell her something (I can’t remember what) but can’t bring himself to say the words. So even when they are actually a legit couple he really struggles with the public displays of affection. So perhaps the secrecy at school was more to do with his own issues then Marianne being a pariah, bit obviously this didn’t help.

The whole thing with Marianne’s predilection for bondage and rough sex doesn’t sit well with me either. Isn’t it suggested that Marianne is the one that brings that to the relationship that she had with Jamie? And I couldn’t really work out what the hell was going on with the guy in Sweden but they were both clearly very dysfunctional and toxic relationships. Is the inference that Marianne sought out these men because she sees herself as damaged and not good enough?

Wbeezer · 02/05/2020 10:03

It kind of reminds me, as a viewing experience of watching the Richard Linklater films that begin with Before Sunrise. In that film a young couple meet and have an intense connection and in the sequels you find out what happens afterwards, when life gets more complicated. I married my on/off young passion so im very invested in these stories!

BikeRunSki · 02/05/2020 10:05

I think the later episodes were better. Great acting.

I’m glad you’ve said that, because I’ve watched the first 3 and it just seems to be about teenage sex.

Rollergirl11 · 02/05/2020 10:10

@wbeezer is that the film with Ethan Hawke? God I haven’t seen that film in years! Yes I know what you mean. Also think it is quite similar to One Day that other people have mentioned. There is a series on Netflix called Modern Love that is a series of short love stories. Very good and some devastatingly lovely episodes!

Wbeezer · 02/05/2020 10:19

Yes, @Rollergirl there are sequels taking them up to middle age, i immediately fantasised about Sally Rooney doing something similar but that would mean waiting ten years for the next installment.

covetingthepreciousthings · 02/05/2020 10:28

Then he wants to tell her something (I can’t remember what) but can’t bring himself to say the words.

I wondered what he was going to ask her in the pool scene as it seemed like he was close to tears.

Was he going to tell her about the NY application then? Or ask if he could live with her?

sourcreamnchives · 02/05/2020 10:31

How amazing was that? Totally held up to the book which blew me away when I read it last year.

Wbeezer · 02/05/2020 11:17

The cinematography, lighting, sound, direction and acting were all top quality which helped.

covetingthepreciousthings · 02/05/2020 11:23

The cinematography, lighting, sound, direction and acting were all top quality which helped.

Yes definitely. I'm a actually rewatching it (slowly this time, not bingeing it) as my DH didn't watch it first time, and I'm noticing more things this time with the cinematography. I thought it was stunning the way it was all out together. I hope it wins some awards, television BAFTAs?

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Bouledeneige · 02/05/2020 11:50

I haven't read the book so I'm not coming at it with any expectations. Although I disapproved of Connell's behaviour in the early episodes pretending she didn't exist and not acknowledging their relationship or coming to her defence, I did understand it. Young people don't instantly understand how to have relationships and don't always treat each other well. They are awkward and worried about what other people think. It reminded me of one of my early relationships, which was similarly passionate with a deep connection but he wasn't very good at looking like he was with me when we were first going out and got hit on a lot by other girls. It made me very insecure. The tables turned later and I ended up ending it with him. I forgive him though as we were so young and you learn what you want and don't want through these early relationships. And what you will and wont put up with and how to communicate your needs and care for each other. I liked it when his Mum told him off.

It made me wistful for being young and first love.

The later scenes at Trinity I liked the tables turning. But I felt for Connell. Without the crowd he could easily rely on and be surrounded by he didn't have the communications skills to connect and make friends, was a socially awkward. She shone but had her own demons and insecurities. And of course their misunderstanding which drove hem apart and broke both their hearts. I was really rooting for both of them. Lovely performances. And I think they managed the ageing issue well.

Thanks whoever posted the interview with the Connell actor earlier. He obviously thought quite deeply about the role - it was clearly a breakout role for him and meant a lot to him. I think it was very sensitively done.

Oh to be young and fall in love! (and all the anguish.....)

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Rollergirl11 · 02/05/2020 12:05

Out of interest would people let their teenage daughters watch? I think there are some valuable life lessons in there but also rather a lot of sex! 🤭

Patspost · 02/05/2020 12:11

I loved it and binge watched.

I don't normally watch sex scenes and fast forward because frankly I can't be bothered and they don't interest me. The scenes here however really conveyed a sense of intimacy and love, something I don't think I have ever seen on TV before. Great acting for sure.

Can't say that I find the whole topic of submissiveness particularly enticing and that bit made for uncomfortable viewing.

It really made me think about relationships and how even we love someone and they love us, the relationship just may not work out and also that perhaps being very familiar with each other as the two main characters are is not always best for mature, grown up, long term relationships.

The first few episodes where Marianne was treated with such contempt made me cry. Probably some unresolved feelings of being treated in that way in the past bubbled up. Not fitting in can be soul destroying.

I really loved the ending.

BikeRunSki · 02/05/2020 12:16

The cinematography, lighting, sound, direction and acting were all top quality which helped.

This is what is keeping me watching at the moment, and I could listen to those accents all day. I’m glad the story is only just beggining (I’ve watched to the end of episode 3).

Patspost · 02/05/2020 12:23

Love the accents too!

Patspost · 02/05/2020 12:27

@Rollergirl11 depends on how old the teenager is? I'd say 16 plus but not sure.

Querlouse · 02/05/2020 12:27

I did get bored with the sex scenes!

I thought it was actually better than the book, although I watched with my dd and had to explain a bit about Connell feeling like the poor relation at Trinity which I wasn't sure was explained very well.

The actor playing Connell was absolutely 🔥

Querlouse · 02/05/2020 12:29

Dd17 couldn't handle watching with me at all. Dd20 was fine with it!

Rollergirl11 · 02/05/2020 12:34

She’s 14. She is very emotionally mature. She’s watched both series of You (along with the majority of her friends) on Netflix which I would say is somewhat comparable in terms of adult content. I wouldn’t watch it with her as I think that would be excruciating! She’s asked about it as it seems to be getting a bit of a following.

Querlouse · 02/05/2020 12:37

You is no where near Normal People in terms of adult content!

Ulysses · 02/05/2020 14:01

I’ve got a 14 year old and wouldn’t recommend her watching it.

LadyRochfordsHoickedGusset · 02/05/2020 14:05

I'd rather my 15 year old watched this than porn. It shows the connection between love and sex.