Normal People

I have to start by saying that “Normal People” is one of those shows that crept up on me with its quiet intensity. Based on Sally Rooney’s novel, the story follows Marianne and Connell, two Irish teenagers navigating the minefield of love, class differences, and self-worth from high school through college. There’s nothing flashy about this show, but I was hooked by how intimate and raw it felt.

What blew me away is the chemistry between Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. These two deliver performances so vulnerable and real, you feel like you’re eavesdropping on moments you shouldn’t be watching. Mescal, especially, brings a kind of soft masculinity to Connell that totally sidesteps the typical “romance lead.” There’s a particular scene at a therapist’s office (you’ll know it when you get there) that floored me with how natural the emotion felt.

Visually, “Normal People” has an understated, almost poetic look. The camera lingers on awkward silences, biting looks, and gentle touches. There’s a lot of negative space, which kind of makes you feel the isolation and longing between the characters. Some might call the pacing slow, but I thought it matched the messy stops and starts of real relationships. No over-produced soundtrack or romanticized shots, just a lot of cold Irish streets and bedrooms.

If I have a bone to pick, it’s that the show can occasionally feel emotionally masochistic, almost to the point of frustration. Marianne and Connell struggle with communication, and while that makes their relationship relatable, sometimes their lack of straightforwardness made me want to hurl a cushion at the screen. A little resolution here and there wouldn’t have hurt.

On the other hand, the series doesn’t fall into the trap of teenage melodrama or cliché love triangles. It treats the characters and their mistakes with respect, and by the end, you really feel the weight of everything they’ve gone through. Minor characters fade into the background and it’s very much a two-person story, but that focus is what gives it such intensity.

All in all, “Normal People” is a delicate, gorgeous gut-punch of a romance. It’s earnest and understated in a way I don’t see too often. Just don’t go in expecting fireworks. This is more of a slow-burning candle — and sometimes it’ll break your heart.