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Cinema and Series like to romanticize love, loading it with grand acts, cheesy comedy and a questionable message. Sure, some of them have an original take on the rom-com trope but most of them are stale. This is why the genre is stale and it seems so distant from our cynical and nihilistic society. That's why a show like Normal People has been praised a lot, because it goes against the genre's tropes and tries to ground the story in reality. That's why I wanted to cover it, because it's a story which needs to be told.
PLOT
"Follows Marianne and Connell, from different backgrounds but the same small town in Ireland, as they weave in and out of each other's romantic lives" or "It's the will they won't they amped to the maximum".
SCRIPT
This is a deep character study of two kids who grow up, through hardship and joy, doing a back and forth with their complicate relation. They are heavily characterized and you'll find easy to consider them real people. We understand their interests, their fears, their desires and their goals. They present a strong, defined story arch which is left pending in the last episode. A choice which is good, because life isn't made of easy resolutions, but bad from a storytelling point because makes it inconclusive. The people around them aren't explored as much as them because they're here just to change and propell the characters journey. A lot of contemporary themes are on display here, like bullying, women objectification, depression, loneliness, the trouble's in finding a job, perversions and how family affects our lives. The story's pace is slow and quiet and it takes a lot of time to make you care about the characters and their struggles. Empathy is the main idea and tenet which is set as the basis of the series. Empathy, a word so simple but so hard to understand. Empathy is a strong message in a society which is losing touch with emotions.
Script: 9/10
ACTING
Even though the main actors are newcomers, their acting is good and the script allows them to show a large set of emotions. They're also able to act as people younger or older their age to give their characters an organic growth, which is visible through their manners and appearances. You'll be moved by their portrayal of young adults, you'll feel for them and be with them in their pain. This is marvellous, especially for a show that has been under the radar for a long time.
There's so little about the others that it isn't enough to say if they're good or bad.
Acting: 9/10
PHOTOGRAPHY
There're some beautiful shots here, which allows you to appreciate the Irish landscape and its moors. Shades and lights are used mildly to create a more dramatic feeling and counter oppose the joyous and sad sensations. It's just that because it doesn't take a lot of visual risks, and it doesn't have to. I could say that the pictures fit perfectly the show's tone.
Photography: 6/10
EDITING
This is the weakest section. Well, there're some slow motions scenes, just a few, but it's shot in a scholastic way, without inventiveness. It doesn't hurt the series but it lowers its originality.
Editing: 5/10
SPECIAL EFFECTS
None. This makes the series as genuine and realistic as possible. You could feel the heat of the sun, the gentle breeze of tender rain and the sweet song of ocean's waves. It's beautiful in its neatlessness.
Special Effects: 7/10
SOUNDTRACK
It easily passes under the radar most of the time. It's peaceful and dim with occasional spikes during moments of higher pathos and drama or moments where the characters find themselves on louds party and such.
Soundtrack: 6/10
COSTUMES
Nothing exceptional about them. These are used to shows the character's growth from teens to adulthood. There's nothing symbolic or deep about it but they fit the universe they're set in and are consistent with the series setting.
Costumes: 5/10
CONCLUSION
Script: 9/10
Acting: 9/10
Photography: 6/10
Editing: 5/10
Special Effects: 7/10
Soundtrack: 6/10
Costumes: 5/10
AVERAGE: 6,71
It's a beautiful show with a mature script and high levels of acting. It manages to do a good social commentary while representing a genuine relationship between two characters. The pacing could be a little off sometimes, making it seems like the show's dragging, but you could appreciate it after a while. It's extremely tender and handles beautifully human emotions. After all this show is about human love and emotions. This series could change your perspective about a lot of things and let you embrace empathy, something that we're losing day after day to avoid being sad about what's happening in our life. Be your emotions.
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9/10.
I loved Sally Rooney’s book, but i was skeptical about this series. You’d actually have to cast the central characters to perfection to succeed.
And they did. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal are perfect playing two outsiders falling love.
Their journey of doubt, intimacy, struggle is portrayed with such care, it makes the eventual outcome all the more impactful.
Literary adaptation are always tricky, but they really nail the tone of the book making it almost flawless.
It drags a bit and the overall tempo is a bit slow. But that does give the characters time to develop.
Hollywood, this is how you do a convincing love story.
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Director: Lenny Abrahamson, Hettie Macdonald
Screenplay: Sally Rooney, Alice Birch
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal
Soundtrack: Stephen Rennicks
Cinematography: Suzie Lavelle, Kate McCullough
Running Time: 25 minutes
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