Conversations with Friends

I eventually got around to watching "Normal People", like everyone else, a year to two ago and I enjoyed it. Conventional wisdom is, I think, that this adaptation of Sally Rooney's debut novel, from the same production team isn't quite as good - but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane) are best friends, formally a couple, who are studying in Dublin. They meet Melissa (Jemima Kirke) a published author and are drawn into her social circle. Melissa introduces them to Nick (Joe Alwyn), her husband, and Frances begins an affair with him. The relationships between all four are complicated and are worsened when Bobbi learns about the relationship.

I don't think I can defend the show from the accusation that it's pretty slow going. Not an awful lot actually happens over its 12 thirty-minute episodes, but there's lots of quiet longing, passive aggressiveness and people not explaining themselves. That lack of talking is what drives the plot, as you might imagine, as it a couple of reveals across the shows length that threaten to drive wedges between the relationships involved. I didn't mind it, but I can understand if the lack of momentum shook people off.

The performances are unquestionable good though. I've seen three of the central quartet before, but this is Alison Oliver's debut, and she does really well in a role that requires quite a bit of her. There are sex scenes, but I mean more in the sense that she has to keep an emotionally taut character on the right side of likeable and he manages it perfectly. All three of the other leads also manage to bring a level of human complexity to their otherwise disagreeable characters.

I'm not sure if the lukewarm response to this one means that Rooney-Mania is over, and we're not likely to see the same creative team do "Beautiful World, Where Are You", but I thought this follow up was an enjoyable enough watch.

There wasn't a massive storyline that kept me interested but I think it's the relationship between characters that kept me intrigued. I honestly don't know how I feel about the ending, but this was a good slow paced and calm show to watch.

After reading some of the reviews, I'm wondering why most Americans bother watching European films/series in which most of the focus is on the dialogue. No one is murdered, there are no frantic car chases. But what there is happening appears to be very beautiful, a look inside two young women, very different, who react in different ways to a charismatic couple who they get into a complicated relationship with at the beginning of the first series. For me its been absorbing, thoughtful, and therefore making me think too.

This is interesting that so many ppl can't stand watching awkwardness and shame! Which this series don't spare us from.

The protagonist is shy, introverted and has problems with understanding and sharing her emotions. This makes her confused and overwhelmed by events she found herself taking very first part. At the same time, she tries to feel more confident by degrading others and feeling superior intellectually. She is also envy of her bff's eloquence. Openness and charm.

Tbh i think her bff is very mature for her age, and I don't know how it is possible. In so young age she seems to read everyones minds, communicating her feelings perfectly and is very opinionated. I would give her 30. Mentally.

What i like in this series is that it shows so much vulnerability, shame, confusion and on the other hand, passion, love and friendship. Sometimes i felt this is so intimate, that i shouldn't watch it (and i skipped). At the same time maybe it is good for some young ppl to see what is real sex and intimacy (although i would put more attention on protection :).

Also I liked that polyamory was not idealized here. I do know some poly ppl, who thinks it is just superior to monogamy. It isn't, it is very difficult, painful and trigger alot of wounds. But also it can be beautiful probably.

Male protagonist is really sympathetic, although pretty one-dimensional. He is so mellow and kind, that i find this character unrealistic.

Still, I took sth from this series: that u can learn communicating your feelings, that it can spare u from a lot of suffering and harm; your acts have consequences that should be talked trough. And the most important: we are so subjective in our perspectives and (self)judgements. And it is so refreshing and freeing to share these perspectives, as we can see their utmost subjectivity. And thus, we can stop being our own priosoners.

It is a wonderful love story with some very clever dialogue and fantastic juxtaposition.

It shows ordinary people in ordinary families doing ordinary things with the usual spectacular failure to communicate well resulting in a bunch of things that don't go well.

Sally Rooney has the ability to portray the introverts amongst us with hugely human hearts and desires resulting in endings we support with all our being because we wish they happened to us.

I love the way no-one in these shows is your traditionally beautiful wonder however they are fantastically human, loving and lovable (apart from the bad ones..)

Give it a go - I loved Normal People and Heartstopper give me a love story any time especially one with life-like people.