Introducing your new quarantine obsession: Normal People, the brand new drama series based on Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel with the same name.
The show is set in a small-town west of Ireland and follows the complicated relationship between high school lovers Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal).
The concept of star-crossed lovers is one that’s been explored in popular culture since the dawn of time (i.e. Romeo & Juliet), however, Normal People takes this super spicy theme and makes it relevant to the modern era.
Marianne and Connell are from entirely different worlds. Marianne is lonely and a little introverted, while Connell is a well-liked, outgoing bloke.
What’s more is that Connell’s mum is a cleaner at Marianne’s family home. However, if it weren’t for this twist of fate, they never would’ve crossed paths.
The pair notice each other for the first time when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her cleaning job at Marianne’s house, and they form a deep but unexpected connection, one that they decide to keep secret.
Although, on paper, they are entirely different people, their intense attraction for each other is all-consuming and impossible for either of them to ignore.
One year after high school, they’re both studying in Dublin and their roles reverse as Marianne is now the social queen and Connell is shy and awkward.
The overarching theme of the series is that regardless of their social or class status, they’re still very much horny for one another and said horniness spills out into numerous sex scenes that are a work of fkn art – and they should be.
Because their chemistry is such an important factor in their relationship, the production hired an intimacy coordinator to make sure they got it right.
Speaking of which, there are some full-frontal nudity scenes which is very much necessary to the story (plus makes for some A+ television), but I just thought I’d warn you in case you’re in iso with your folks or younger siblings. This is definitely a show you wanna binge solo in your bedroom or with mates.
Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson said he wanted to make “a very strong statement” with Normal People, particularly about dating in the modern era.
“The territory is so interesting – it’s a positive account of two young people falling in love,” he told The Guardian. “It sounds simple but there’s a lot cynicism around that kind of material. It’s a look at intimacy in the 21st century and a portrait of a very tender relationship. It’s radical in a sense.”
Fans of the book are in good hands ‘coz according Abrahamson, best-selling author Sally Rooney had a big influence on the way Normal People looks on screen.
“Sally was involved in all the early discussions about how many episodes, the format, conversations about actors, as well as reading various versions of the script,” producer Ed Guiney also told the publication.
“She contributed to them all; it was a full-blooded engagement.”
The entire series just landed on Stan so dim the lights, get some candles going, and pour yourself a glass o’ wine while you binge the spicy new series.
