Normal People: A Deep Dive into the Hit TV Series
A distinct memory I have of solitary confinement (aside from the boredom and annoyance that bore me) is that I devoured Sally Roony's 2018 novel Normal People. To my surprise, there was also an adaptation of the BBC miniseries of the same name, and I gobbled it up in 2 sittings as well, and I am not shying away from declaring definitively that both the novel and the series are masterpieces.
I have never experienced an adaptation so faithful to the source material. It has been hailed as the quintessential 21st century romance because it portrays young love with such accuracy. With its immense popularity among book clubs and now multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, it's time for you to watch it or read it if you haven't already. Here are five reasons why you should watch Normal People:
Strong characters
The titular Normal People - Connell and Marianne are played by the very talented Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones. We follow them from their school days toward the end of their college years. Set in the picturesque town of Sligo, Ireland, we understand that they are bound by small-town and community boundaries.
Divided by social class and high school hierarchy, these two are classmates. Connell, who is working class and fits in with many of the kids in the school, and Marianne, who is upper middle class and a lonely social outcast at school, have their differences. They share a kind of secret world with each other where this division dissolves.
Marianne is not well liked in the classroom or at home, so she resorts to being fierce and outspoken about how she feels. She is complex and strong-willed and autonomous, yet she has her doubts and insecurities where she is silent. We don't just get the stick of a character, but she is flesh and blood and Edgar Jones gives her that; as the character is allowed to breathe.
Connell has that soft but stern masculinity but still falls for the slightest peer pressure and Paul Mescal is a brilliant casting choice. He knows what it is like to be in a small community where people can be very constricting. He has difficulty knowing what he wants since most of his identity has been passed on to him by other people. Rooney masterfully presents the full spectrum of the human experience, whether it is love, desire, a sense of belonging, anxiety, isolation, and alienation.
Chains and bangs
If you've been on Instagram in the past year you may have come across at least one post by regular people. Connell sports a delicate silver chain throughout the series and oh boy, is that a phenomenon in itself. There is a very popular Instagram account called 'connells chain' that only posts pictures of the adorable Paul Mescal with that chain and he is absolutely gorgeous.
It took a lot of mental strength to convince me not to cut my hair like Marianne. In what I call the “isolation bangs phase” where every person and their mom started cutting their hair, it was Daisy Edgar Jones' beautiful bangs that got me in trouble. Marianne's entire wardrobe is one to watch. You can watch this series if you just want some haircut or outfit inspiration.
Vicar
The series is directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald, with 6 episodes each, and they are both distinct and have their own voice and vision, but they blend beautifully without creating any distance or confusion (props go to the editor). The color palette is full of grays and blues that give a kind of soft feel.
The cinematography is very personal, with close shots of the characters as they reflect or just lie around drinking tea, making the audience feel as if they are in the character's head, and this stylistic choice fits well since the book is narrated in the third person. The soundtrack is so well edited. It is soft and sultry with refreshing sprinkles of Elliott Smith, Imogen Heap, Frank Ocean, and a number of beautiful songs.
The songs match exceptionally well with the soft and delicate piano and the triangle, dreamy and ethereal and just beautiful. It really puts you in a warm and vulnerable position.
A promise beyond “forever”
Many of the themes and nuances encapsulate the feeling of youth and young love. People think it is fragile and superficial, but it can be deeply real and meaningful without being all-consuming. Rooney is aware that social behaviors affect us and the constraints of our internal worlds can also be harmful.
Our view of ourselves is developed in our formative and seminal years by the people around us. We see this happening in Marianne where her harmful view of herself comes from her dysfunctional home and as much as she tries to hide it, it is obvious to the outside world. “We are the culmination of the people around us,” Rooney says in an interview.
She truly believes in the power that people have over each other and that we are capable of change. Connell and Marianne's love for each other exudes a sense of admiration. Both constantly call the other the smartest person they have met and consider themselves irreplaceable in their lives. “It's not like that with other people,” they say.
They mirror each other in their behaviors as they observe each other wandering in the outside world. They show many of their vulnerabilities not only by being naked but also by being free. Giving access to a part of themselves that would not emerge if the other person did not exist.
Redefining normalcy (spoiler alert)
“She brought her goodness as a gift and now it belongs to her. Meanwhile, his life opens up before him in all directions at once. They have done very well for each other. Really, she thinks, really. People really can change each other.” These last words of the novel remind me of the myriad of people who exist, who have wills, autonomy, hopes and dreams.
They remind me of how they must have gotten to where they are now. We are the culmination of the people around us. We take and give in the good and the bad. We leave some people and meet new ones. We have our various versions of “normalcy,” happiness and contentment, and it brought me great joy to see these two find comfort and acceptance in each other. You can keep all the good that the other person gives you and move on with or without them.
After all, all we have is each other.
