Review of the BBC drama 'Normal People'

Normal People is a novel written by Sally Rooney. When the tv show first came out in 2020 it was given great reviews and recently its popularity has spiked with it being a Tik Tok trend, so I decided to re-watch it, and here are my thoughts.

Intimacy

Normal people is about sex, It's about a lot more, but one of the main themes is sex. The sex scenes in Normal People are one of the best things about the show. Full-frontal nudity is something shocking to see on BBC Three, however it is done in such a creative, and respectful way, it not only seems necessary, but normalised. The two protagonists; Marianne and Connell, first get together in high school and have a 'friends with benefits' situation. This then occurs again when they both move to university. However, from the beginning, their relationship is more than friends, they both agree, 'it's not like this with other people' and this is clear to the audience. The first time they have sex, is the best portrayal of first-time sex I have seen on tv, it is raw, gentle, and affectionate. Consent is discussed in such a beautiful way, Connell makes it clear that they can stop at any time, and that is very rarely seen on TV. This positive depiction of consent continues throughout the show as Connell refuses to have sex with Marianne as she is too drunk. It is reassuring to see this and refreshing. Furthermore, there is visible condom use, also something rare to see in TV. The sex scenes in Normal People are so loving and affectionate, they are beautiful in a way I cannot describe. Sex should be about consent, normalising and portraying this is so important.

Despite the fact I have so many positive things to say about the sex scenes in Normal People I do have to critique the portrayal of Kink. Later on, in the series Marianne gets a new boyfriend and starts to experiment with kink and sex. This experimentation seems to be a form of self-harm for Marianne which makes sense for the portrayal of mental health and the plot. however, Kink is so rarely explored in the media that it needs to be shown as something that can be good and fun and give it a well-rounded portrayal. the exploration of kink also exists in an abusive relationship; kink can be explored in a healthy way without further contributing to a stigma.

Connection

A few reviews I have read express the opinion that the title 'Normal People' doesn't reflect the characters, however I disagree, Normal People is about people who have a connection but struggle to communicate their wants and needs, and this causes problem. this novel and TV show reflects modern relationships, in modern times. This show reflects a real love, despite the struggle of growing up, class confrontation, and general struggles of modern life. the love in normal people is in no way romanticised, and it isn't smooth sailing, but is one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever seen. this love seems real.

Mental Health

Normal People doesn't shy away from difficult topics. Marianne's character comes from a household where abuse is normalised. One of the things that has really struck me after re-watching the series is just how vulnerable and realistic Marianne's character is to many teenage girls. She arguably loves too hard (even if fundamentally disagree this can be a thing) and this causes damage as she is also portrayed as believing she is unlovable. As someone who also encounters this feeling, she is in a constant battle of being broken by love. like many people in the modern world, she has never experienced healthy love. Love is portrayed as something that is hard, especially for teenagers as they encounter these feelings for the first time, however, it is also so rewarding. Love seems to offer vitality to the characters, and a purpose when everything else in their world feels volatile. Connell also experiences depression in the show, and seeing his struggles is very emotive. Both the characters struggles seem to drive many other people away but through it all the protagonist's relationship remains a constant, which as something to say about the type of connection Sally Rooney has created.

Normal People is one of the most beautiful shows I have seen, it deals with raw emotions in relationships. It depicts the volatile nature of social classes during a financial crisis. It is stunning and shows that teenagers are subject to real love and real emotions, when most of the world denies this and labels them as fickle.