Normal People [BBC - RTE] - [**SPOILERS**]

Beechwoodspark

bcklschaps wrote: »

Connell (Paul Mescal) looks old enough to be dating the character that plays his mom in the series. How come he is soo old/she is soo young?.

Its like watching American high school dramas like Beverly Hills 90210 .... Where Jason Priestly and Luke Perry were clearly over 30 ...but were still in high school.

This is it.

When I first saw it I assumed he was infiltrating the school as an older man in his late 20s for plot reasons then I realized that no, we are supposed to suspend all judgement and pretend he is 17 or something

take everything

Mam's got herself a new man herself.
Plottwist!

Pythagorean

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

The Ken Russell TV series Lady Chatterley, with Sean Bean and Joely Richardson, was much more raunchy and risque than this show, and that was shown on the BBC over 25 years ago. It baffles me how even an older demographic could be bothered about what they've seen on this programme. If you're in your seventies today, then you would have been in your forties when that was shown. Maybe people just naturally become prudes as they get older.

Yes, and I remember Casanova, a BBC series in the 70s, that had Mary Whitehouse all worked up. BBC Play for today back in the 60s was fairly explicit at times, too. How come there have been no complaints about the smoking/drinking/bad language on Normal People yet ? I'm waiting to hear a gripe about social distancing from the perpetually offended next. :rolleyes:

olestoepoke

"The world is full of whingers and moaners" Roy Keane

This is an excellent show. Music is great, camera work is excellent and the acting is really good. The story although a bit soppy felt like a trip down memory lane a very nostalgic experience that I think Irish people would appreciate more so. Stop nitpicking and enjoy or just turn it off and move on.

2ndcoming

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Connel mother is mis cast. Too young by about twenty years. The show loses so much credibility due to stuff like this.

Her performance is good but she is about 12 years older than Conal in real life.

I've no issue with the ages of the other two. Theyre young adults, playing young adults. It's hardly Dylan McKay in high school at 30

Purple Mountain

2ndcoming wrote: »

Her performance is good but she is about 12 years older than Conal in real life.

I've no issue with the ages of the other two. Theyre young adults, playing young adults. It's hardly Dylan McKay in high school at 30

I don't agree about Sarah Greenes casting.
The point is she acts the part of a mom to a teenager.
It's realistic she could be a young looking mom, after all, she supposedly had Connell as a teenager herself.
But the chemistry between them, you would easily believe she is his mother.

Beechwoodspark

Clichéd pretentious tripe

take everything

Hope Sandoval
Cool

Sebastian Dangerfield

I dont think Sarah Greene even looked especially young in it, she looked a tired and old 35. She hardly looked like she did in Dublin Murders; they aged her and she looked like a woman who worked hard and struggled all her life as a single parent. I dont see any issue with it at all.

As for Mescal, he would be 22/23 at the end of the story, and he's 24 IRL. Not sure why people are getting so annoyed about this.

Thargor

Cant believe the amount of whingers in here, this is the most realistic drama about young Irish people ever filmed, pity the secondary school stuff was only 2 eps long, I had a lump in my throat watching it it was so close to the bone for someone who went to secondary school out Wesht, could have watched a whole series of that. She's too good looking as an actress though, its not faithful to the book and causes issues, same as the Maid of Tarth in Game of Thrones books vs the show.

2ndcoming

Purple Mountain wrote: »

I don't agree about Sarah Greenes casting.
The point is she acts the part of a mom to a teenager.
It's realistic she could be a young looking mom, after all, she supposedly had Connell as a teenager herself.
But the chemistry between them, you would easily believe she is his mother.

As I said, her performance is good. Just if people are complaining about ages that's the only one that is a bit questionable. No one outside Ireland will be aware of that more than likely and I doubt they would notice

robwen

Marianne resembles a younger Maggie Siff to me from Billions & Sons of Anarchy fame

Ferris_Bueller

Enjoying it so far, wasn't sure after the first two episodes last week but it has perked my interest now that they have moved on to college, although the secondary school stuff was done really well. The portrayal of the different characters in Trinity is done really well, it's not the most exciting thing to watch but it is so well done and realistic which is what has me enjoying it.

gp1990

It's what I feared really - when a series gets such plaudits and acclaim the begrudgers have to come out in force. Welcome to the internet

Sadly I just see this thread becoming completely unreadable over the next few weeks

So far we've seen some say the characters are too young, others the actors are too old, others the actors are too young and too old- or something... actually I give up!

If it wasn't that it would be something else. People really are so miserable in this day and age

The real coup de grace though is criticising the casting of a 35 year old in a 35 year old's role... It's just about funnier than those who would seem to rather they cast two different lead actors to just play 3 episodes. Enough said

In fairness the majority who dislike it have given valid reasons which are perfectly understandable. There's always a few though

Good publicity + positive acclaim + large coverage = large scale internet begrudgery in 2020

Fitz*

The only unrealistic thing I've seen so far is the Leaving Cert student sitting at home on a random Tuesday evening, close to exams time, and drinking a can of Bulmers with his mam, while watching TV!

gp1990

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

Enjoying it so far, wasn't sure after the first two episodes last week but it has perked my interest now that they have moved on to college, although the secondary school stuff was done really well. The portrayal of the different characters in Trinity is done really well, it's not the most exciting thing to watch but it is so well done and realistic which is what has me enjoying it.

Yep episode 3 is where it really picks up.

Such a Shame about that nob in the nightclub as she was really starting to come out of her shell and was enjoying her night. Who knows what would have happened had her night not been cut short?

It was all set up for Connell in school the week after. His relationship has basically been revealed, it's clear everyone has put 2 and 2 together after taking her home, and it's his chance to take the high ground and make it 'public'.

But in typical teenage style after his panic attack in the bathroom , he strolls out as if nothing has happened, puts on a front to the group again and to cover up he asks the pretty school bitch to the Debs - it's the completely realistic reaction from an anxious teenager, and although we wish we could give him a royal kick up the arse , I think anyone who went to school in rural Ireland can completely relate to him!

I think it's a really well portrayed episode.

Your man coming out and just casually dropping in his knowledge of the relationship too - and the face on Connell when he does!!

Also when Karen scolds him "what's she ever done to you?" and his response "what's she done to Waldron is the question"!

gp1990

Jeepers I could feel Connell's awkwardness when attending the party.

Having to turn up sober on your own, basically not knowing anyone, having nothing in common with anyone there - such a difficult situation.

His isolation in his new environment is portrayed brilliantly.

Also having the pint with his immature friend from school back home, was quite clear that it was all a bit laboured - and a bit of a subtle indication of regrets from his time in school being spent mainly on shallow associations.

You genuinely get the sense that his actions around the Debs caused him great distress for quite some time and by that stage he's caught in a storm of wanting to distance himself from that period and the events of his final school year but also being unable to attach himself to anyone in his new environment. His one constant of course being Marianne

bigpink

Id deffo gping to give it a go but if you arent a country gaa kinda person would you understand it

bigpink

FitzShane wrote: »

The only unrealistic thing I've seen so far is the Leaving Cert student sitting at home on a random Tuesday evening, close to exams time, and drinking a can of Bulmers with his mam, while watching TV!

Not as uncommon as you think

Tork

bigpink wrote: »

Id deffo gping to give it a go but if you arent a country gaa kinda person would you understand it

I have two English friends who loved it. Neither has Irish roots.

olestoepoke

bigpink wrote: »

Id deffo gping to give it a go but if you arent a country gaa kinda person would you understand it

I think secondary school politics, first kiss, first love, mental health issues and the awkwardness of the first few weeks in college are universal issues that everyone can relate to. I also think Irish people can relate more to it and country people who made their way to college in Dublin maybe a little more so.

Drifter50

The casting absolutely ruins what should be an outstanding production. Bad casting takes away all credibility to make it a reasonably serious situation for both the main leads. How is Connell`s mam supposed to act seriously with that set up. Sarah Greene is an outstanding actor but this role and its casting makes it impossible for her. She was brilliant in Dublin Murders as well

Its the fault of the casting director especially and to an executive extent the producer and director

Dreadful, no one can take it seriously in my house without groaning and laughing its so pathetic

olestoepoke

Drifter50 wrote: »

The casting absolutely ruins what should be an outstanding production. Bad casting takes away all credibility to make it a reasonably serious situation for both the main leads. How is Connell`s mam supposed to act seriously with that set up. Sarah Greene is an outstanding actor but this role and its casting makes it impossible for her. She was brilliant in Dublin Murders as well

Its the fault of the casting director especially and to an executive extent the producer and director

Dreadful, no one can take it seriously in my house without groaning and laughing its so pathetic

I found this show by mistake. Never heard of the book or seen a trailer. 100% had no idea what I was turning on. I watched all of it in about two days and not once did it cross my mind that they were the wrong age. I enjoyed it for what it was a well produced, well acted show. I was also fooled into thinking Marianne was Irish in real life which is a testament to how well she played the part. Some people just need to get out of their own way and they'll enjoy it more. I will wait a few months and go back and watch it again, thats how much I enjoyed it. Also thought the music was really good and not just the songs some of the piano pieces etc.

gp1990

Drifter50 wrote: »

The casting absolutely ruins what should be an outstanding production. Bad casting takes away all credibility to make it a reasonably serious situation for both the main leads. How is Connell`s mam supposed to act seriously with that set up. Sarah Greene is an outstanding actor but this role and its casting makes it impossible for her. She was brilliant in Dublin Murders as well

Its the fault of the casting director especially and to an executive extent the producer and director

Dreadful, no one can take it seriously in my house without groaning and laughing its so pathetic

How old an actress would you have cast for the role of his mother?

Rodin

What a load of auld guff.
Boring as hell.
Won't be watching any further.

Zzzzzzzz

olestoepoke

Rodin wrote: »

What a load of auld guff.
Boring as hell.
Won't be watching any further.

Zzzzzzzz

Ignorance is bliss.

gp1990

Sebastian Dangerfield wrote: »

I dont think Sarah Greene even looked especially young in it, she looked a tired and old 35. She hardly looked like she did in Dublin Murders; they aged her and she looked like a woman who worked hard and struggled all her life as a single parent. I dont see any issue with it at all.

As for Mescal, he would be 22/23 at the end of the story, and he's 24 IRL. Not sure why people are getting so annoyed about this.

I'm guessing most of the criticism is from people who actually don't know the characters' backgrounds from the book (ie the actual characters' ages), and are assuming that every family on these shows should be 'conventional' with Connell's mother being a 50 odd year old stereotypical Irish mammy with shorter hair and a strong rural accent

Shock horror - people have children in their teens. In my own year in school (yes in real life) one of my fellow students had a single mother 16 when she had her, and another was born when her parents were 17. In my brothers year three of his classmates had kids by the time they did the leaving cert - the 2 girls had to drop out in 5th year

Owen farrell the rugby player's parents were 16 when they had him. There was a woman in the Apprentice a few years ago who had a child at about 15

Are people really so naive to think that sex is not widespread amongst teenagers? and yes - accidents happen!

Some people seem to take some extremely trivial things very seriously when watching things like this. Is it really a big deal?

bitofabind

I binged the whole series in one night. Don't think I've ever been as emotionally impacted by a TV show.

It was the perfect storm of all these universal themes we can all relate to like teenage peer pressure, young / first love, that self-identity struggle we all have as we move into adulthood and maybe change environments with a new college / work life, depression, the grief of suicide, communication issues that we can all experience in relationships. And add on top of that a world-class director, astonishing acting and a uniquely Irish setting that made it so nostalgic for me personally.

My only fear now is that these two actors will get so much exposure from the success of the show that they'll end up being "Hollywood"-ised and going the route of shyte blockbusters and movie / TV projects that are far inferior to the material they had to work with in this show, but that's probably inevitable and sure fair play to them.

I think the real hero of this whole series is Lenny Abrahamson, he really knows how to captivate the viewer in his visual storytelling, his use of silence, attention to detail, close-ups etc is incredible and makes me want to watch everything he's ever directed to date.

Tork

gp1990 wrote: »

Some people seem to take some extremely trivial things very seriously when watching things like this. Is it really a big deal?

I think they've lowered themselves to that because there isn't anything else to give out about. The usual low hanging fruit (dodgy accents, wooden actors,ridiculous Irish stereotypes) are absent from this so now we're down to whining about the actors' ages.

olestoepoke

Loved this show the acting was great bar one fella. I thought the small lad her friend/boyfriend in Italy couldn't act the egit. The rest of the acting was really good but I thought he was terrible.

Drifter50

Ah come on now
Sarah Greene is 35 and an outstanding actress. She is a single girl and Yes, she could pass for 28/30. The 2 leads are supposed to be 18-22 if timelines work. The male lead Paul must have a hard paper round if he is 24, he could pass for 28/30 easily. Fair enough Daisy could pass for 19, her real age is 21. What about all the schoolmates, take a look at them, they are not teenagers or anywhere close.The guy from Fair City is 26 and even Rachel looks like her mum`s sister

A good casting director will take all these issues and find actors to fit the roles, not the other way around, thats why the shows credibility is wrong

Yes, the show is good but it could have been outstanding, thats the pity

wakka12

bitofabind wrote: »

I binged the whole series in one night. Don't think I've ever been as emotionally impacted by a TV show.

It was the perfect storm of all these universal themes we can all relate to like teenage peer pressure, young / first love, that self-identity struggle we all have as we move into adulthood and maybe change environments with a new college / work life, depression, the grief of suicide, communication issues that we can all experience in relationships. And add on top of that a world-class director, astonishing acting and a uniquely Irish setting that made it so nostalgic for me personally.

My only fear now is that these two actors will get so much exposure from the success of the show that they'll end up being "Hollywood"-ised and going the route of shyte blockbusters and movie / TV projects that are far inferior to the material they had to work with in this show, but that's probably inevitable and sure fair play to them.

I think the real hero of this whole series is Lenny Abrahamson, he really knows how to captivate the viewer in his visual storytelling, his use of silence, attention to detail, close-ups etc is incredible and makes me want to watch everything he's ever directed to date.

Can't really see either actor ever working outside arthouse type stuff tbh

take everything

gp1990 wrote: »

Jeepers I could feel Connell's awkwardness when attending the party.

Having to turn up sober on your own, basically not knowing anyone, having nothing in common with anyone there - such a difficult situation.

His isolation in his new environment is portrayed brilliantly.

Also having the pint with his immature friend from school back home, was quite clear that it was all a bit laboured - and a bit of a subtle indication of regrets from his time in school being spent mainly on shallow associations.

You genuinely get the sense that his actions around the Debs caused him great distress for quite some time and by that stage he's caught in a storm of wanting to distance himself from that period and the events of his final school year but also being unable to attach himself to anyone in his new environment. His one constant of course being Marianne

I think you described it really well.

ednwireland

Rodin wrote: »

What a load of auld guff.
Boring as hell.
Won't be watching any further.

Zzzzzzzz

cant disagree with that, i dont think there making enough of connal now ben nhe loner and marianne being the popular one switch around.

will watch the rest as OH is watching

lainey_d_123

Have watched up to episode 4 and loving it so far. It's so unbelievably accurate, right down to the types of people you'd meet at Trinity. Even Marianne's English flatmate reminds me of a girl I knew in college. I thought it portrayed the small mindedness of many Irish secondary schools perfectly.

My (English) flatmate was a bit confused about why someone as pretty and cool as Marianne wasn't popular and I tried to explain that that was kind of the point. Nobody actually thought she was ugly or pathetic, she just didn't fit in, and didn't try to fit in, and that made them all extremely uncomfortable. That kind of personality might have been popular in a London school but being like that in rural Ireland would be like social suicide. It's all about GAA and whatever is mainstream, and I thought the show portrayed that really well. It also showed how Marianne wasn't totally a victim - she was very rude and aggressive to the teacher in the first episode, and she was openly snotty and superior acting at times, and really not very likeable at all, and to me that stopped it being too much of a cliché of 'shy girl gets gets bullied'.

The only thing I haven't liked so far was that the age thing is a bit jarring - your man who plays Connell could easily be 30+. He's very old looking for 24. Others have said the mam looks too young to be his mam and I don't agree - I think she also looks very old for her age. She could easily be in her forties rather than 35. Was she maybe aged with make up for the series? I noticed in the first episode that the actress playing Marianne wasn't really Irish, as the accent seemed to slip a bit between different regional accents (even getting a bit Nordie at one point) and the English accent slipped out a little bit, but I think I just have an ear for this stuff. It was overall pretty convincing, and I thought her performance was brilliant.

Can't wait to see the rest now...trying to skim my eyes over a few spoilers in this thread!

AdamD

I think Connell looks like hes in his early 20s, no idea where anyone's getting 30 from.

LuckyLloyd

Jaysus it's just brilliant really. Beautifully shot, cast is excellent and it's so relatable - though I personally would pick from strands of either characters on that score. Looking forward to next week already.

lainey_d_123

AdamD wrote: »

I think Connell looks like hes in his early 20s, no idea where anyone's getting 30 from.

He has very deep frown lines and just way more wrinkles than you'd expect at that age. He looks far older than he is, IMO. I had a boyfriend like that in my early twenties, who looked a decade older than he was. Led to some weird and awkward situations where people thought he was a bit of a creep for dating a much younger woman (I was actually a year older than him!)

gp1990

lainey_d_123 wrote: »

Have watched up to episode 4 and loving it so far. It's so unbelievably accurate, right down to the types of people you'd meet at Trinity. Even Marianne's English flatmate reminds me of a girl I knew in college. I thought it portrayed the small mindedness of many Irish secondary schools perfectly.

My (English) flatmate was a bit confused about why someone as pretty and cool as Marianne wasn't popular and I tried to explain that that was kind of the point. Nobody actually thought she was ugly or pathetic, she just didn't fit in, and didn't try to fit in, and that made them all extremely uncomfortable. That kind of personality might have been popular in a London school but being like that in rural Ireland would be like social suicide. It's all about GAA and whatever is mainstream, and I thought the show portrayed that really well. It also showed how Marianne wasn't totally a victim - she was very rude and aggressive to the teacher in the first episode, and she was openly snotty and superior acting at times, and really not very likeable at all, and to me that stopped it being too much of a cliché of 'shy girl gets gets bullied'.

Yep you have it in one

Think she's more portrayed as not making the effort and dressing 'plainly' than actually being physically unattractive

As can be seen when she makes the effort in the nightclub, even the nastier lads from the popular group acknowledge she scrubs up well.

But the definition of good looking from the perspective of teenagers is based on much more superficial and shallow aspects than natural beauty

Also its clear in the nightclub scene that she's coming out of her shell after a drink or two, so I don't get the criticism some have that she suddenly becomes a social person the minute she hits college. The college crowd are just much more on her level than the school clique

gp1990

AdamD wrote: »

I think Connell looks like hes in his early 20s, no idea where anyone's getting 30 from.

Yep and even still, people can tend to look far older or younger than they actually are - its fairly normal

Things like regular exposure to sunlight can cause slightly ageing skin, heavy drinkers/smokers, stress etc. can add years to people's complexions and then you have sportspeople that might be bulkier than the average person and this can add a few years, or the likes of jockeys who are so skinny they look way younger than they are - and so on

It reminds me looking back that there was a guy in my year in school about 6"5 and 17 stone and when he was 17 he'd go down to the shop and buy fags for all the smokers - not once was he asked for id despite them having a notoriously strict policy, the manager was well known as a complete stickler in general, my cousin of 30 was id'd a few times in there

That's life - sure how on earth is Tadhg Furlong below 30!!

The Princess Bride

I never heard of the book and am really enjoying the series.
Just a very real storyline, acting is good and Marianne's /Daisy's accent is spot on.

I watched episode 5 last night, and am almost* tempted to listen to Joe Duffy's Liveline next week, just to hear the commotion...
Naked man with full frontal nudity, upset viewers who can't remember how to use their remote control to switch off, and no doubt a lot of people who've never experienced passion and are just downright jealous.

*almost but probably not.

And re: ages, my son is 20 and was never ever asked for ID as a late teen, he always looked older and could grow a full beard from 17.
His older sister still gets asked at 23, she's quite petite.

Nobody's experience of anything will ever be the same.
Thankfully!

sheroman01

One part of the show that really frustrated me, maybe someone can explain...

When they're in college and Connell needs to go back home to Sligo for the summer as he can't get work...why was this such a big deal?! They are only 2 bloody hours away from each other...and it's only for the summer!

bitofabind

sheroman01 wrote: »

One part of the show that really frustrated me, maybe someone can explain...

When they're in college and Connell needs to go back home to Sligo for the summer as he can't get work...why was this such a big deal?! They are only 2 bloody hours away from each other...and it's only for the summer!

I think it was more about their communication issues kicking in than the actual logistics of the situation itself.

Like,

Connell was afraid of being vulnerable and asking Marianne if he could stay with her, and the whole thing got overblown in his head. My take was it was hard for him in that moment to be vulnerable and honest about the fact that he couldn't afford to stay in Dublin and was sort of at her mercy, his pride kicked in and he sort of pre-empted any rejection by saying "I suppose you'll want to see other people", which of course Marianne took as him breaking up with her.

I thought it was a really good example of how our anxieties and fear of rejection can really play out in our relationships and lead to all sorts of heartbreaking misunderstandings. It reminded of one of my big breakups a few years ago actually and how we were so hurt by one another that we were barely able to hold a conversation at the end of it

olestoepoke

Will there be second series? It looks like it's already a huge hit and usually when that happens they try to milk it. Will Sally Rooney write a second book? Not sure how I'd feel about that, would it ruin it?

All that fandango

Promised myself I'd not watch ahead of the scheduled tv times...watched eps 3 and 4 yesterday from Monday night and had to continue onto 5 and 6 last night. Just my point of view but in ep 3 I dont think Connell is portrayed as being as socially outcasted in college as much as some people were saying he was? I dont know maybe Im wrong. After watching ep 6 last night and all I could think of was "aaaarrgghh what the hell is up with these two?!". Cannot wait to see ep 7 later on via iplayer. (Please dont say what happens!!) Not much of a tv head and never really get drawn into series but this Has. Got. Me. Hooked.

lainey_d_123

All that fandango wrote: »

Promised myself I'd not watch ahead of the scheduled tv times...watched eps 3 and 4 yesterday from Monday night and had to continue onto 5 and 6 last night. Just my point of view but in ep 3 I dont think Connell is portrayed as being as socially outcasted in college as much as some people were saying he was? I dont know maybe Im wrong. After watching ep 6 last night and all I could think of was "aaaarrgghh what the hell is up with these two?!". Cannot wait to see ep 7 later on via iplayer. (Please dont say what happens!!) Not much of a tv head and never really get drawn into series but this Has. Got. Me. Hooked.

It's more in his own head, isn't it? People in that episode were fairly kind and sound to him, but he felt he didn't fit in with them. I know I felt like a duck out of water in Trinity, not being from the same kind of background most others were from. It can be massively alienating. I almost felt like everyone else had some secret language or code and I wasn't in on it. I can't say anyone was unkind but I just felt so incredibly out of place, like Connell does.

The Princess Bride

https://twitter.com/WhispersNewsLTD/status/1258049040010350593?s=19

zerosugarbuzz

Is there somewhere we can now watch all the episodes instead of waiting for it to air on RTE?

Tork

BBC iPlayer and Hulu

olestoepoke

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

Is there somewhere we can now watch all the episodes instead of waiting for it to air on RTE?

BBCiplayer but you'll need a VPN