Have you heard about the TV series Normal People? It hasn't been on Netflix, and it hasn't aired on popular TV networks like CBS and NBC in the United States. Instead, it was produced by BBC and it aired on BBC in the UK and RTE in Ireland in April 2020, and it was also released on Hulu in the United States in April. It has received fantastic critics, and just a few days ago, I saw someone give it 6/6 as rating. What is Normal People all about? Is it worth watching?
What is Normal People about?
Normal People is a series with a total of 12 episodes. Throughout the episodes, we meet Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal) as two teenagers who turn into adults in front of our eyes. Marianne is a very popular student at first, while Connell is a popular boy. For this reason, Connell doesn't dare to tell anyone about his relationship to Marianne. This is just the start of a long and messy relationship that will take them through their studies at Trinity College in Dublin.
That is the very short story of Normal People. It might sound flat, and this is not the kind of show that I normally enjoy, but I have watched all episodes, and I have actually had quite a good time doing so... Except for the fact that the series really annoys me.
What are normal people like?
The annoying part is that this is about normal people. It could have been you and me. Of course, it couldn't have been me, because I am not like Connell in the series. I am much more determined and if I want something, I take it. Also, I don't care so much about what people think... So, to me, it was a major challenge to keep my blood pressure low as I watched Connell being so extremely lame (in my eyes) and choosing wrong and being stupid so many times.
But, I do believe many people who watch Normal People will be able to associate with what Connell is going through, and also to see and understand what Marianne is going through. Maybe this series will feel like an eye-opener to some?
Have you noticed that normal people are annoying, especially if you spend time with them. So, what can you expect when you decide to spend between 5 and 6 hours to watch all the twelve episodes of Normal People? It is going to be annoying. You let two persons into your life, and they will for sure impact you in one way or another.
Normal People had more than 16 million viewer requests on BBC iPlayer in the first week after it's release. This is way higher than any other earlier program in history. It currently has a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Should I watch Normal People or not?
I am a big fan of crazy humor, high adrenaline action movies, and detailed detective movies. This didn't fall into any of those categories (not even close). This is a slow drama with beautiful Irish accent. But, even though this isn't the kind of series I would really watch, I actually had a good time watching it... besides all the occasions in which I wanted to throw a chair at either Marianne or at Connell, simply because they made terrible choices (that I of course would never have done).
As a result, I would give Normal People a chance. However, I do understand that some macho men will call this terrible, boring, and so on... and I have no problem understanding that either. In fact, you don't need to be very macho for this to be boring. But, the younger audience will probably relate better to the characters, and that is why it has turned so popular among people in the age group between 18 and 35 years in the UK.
My Normal People score
7.5/10
It made me furious about what was going on way too often, but still, it had a strange magic to it, and it always made me cheer for the characters in the series to make the right choices.
Want to know more about Normal People before you give it a try? Check the trailer right here.
Where to watch Normal People?
You can currently stream Normal People online on NRK in Norway, on BBC iPlayer, and on Hulu in the United States. For more information on how to watch Normal People online, check this article.
Have you seen Normal People?
Have you seen the show yourself? I would love to hear your honest opinion on the show. Did you get angry when you saw it? Did you recognize yourself in the struggles of Marianne and Connell? Write down your thoughts and let me know about them.