‘Deeply moving’ TV show that will break your heart lands on Netflix

BBC drama Normal People has just arrived on Netflix, and people are warning new viewers to ‘grab your tissues’.

The widely acclaimed adaptation of Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel of the same name made waves when it first came out in 2020 on BBC Three – leaving a trail of broken hearts in its wake.

The Ireland-based story follows Connell and Marianne from their late teens through to their early 20s as they navigate love, loss and all the ways your first love can haunt you.

Portrayed by Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the roles not only catapulted them into global fame but the show landed seven Bafta nominations, including a win for Paul as lead actor.

The show has touched several lives for its portrait of the complex relationship our star-crossed lovers share – from their school days when Marianne felt socially rejected by Paul through their early adulthood as they both grow into themselves, and must navigate their own traumas.

Set across 12 episodes, it has topped the list of people’s favourite TV shows and amassed a loyal fanbase.

‘Deeply moving. Lives long in the memory after watching,’ Dermot M wrote on Rotten Tomatoes where it enjoys an outstanding 91% score.

‘Powerful Perfection. Doesn’t get any better than this. Literally my favorite series to ever been made. No flaws from me. Will re-watch again and again. Have the tissues ready every time,’ Jackie H said.

I have never experienced such a variety of feelings during a show. I was happy, sad, laughed, cried and at some point felt an immense anguish. That’s how well these actors performed,’ Jerry F declared.

Over on Google Reviews, Noel Woodward described it as ‘wondrous, magical, messy, complicated and oh so relatable’.

‘A beautiful, patient, poetic series about messy love between two damaged, self-loathing people who find meaning and transcendence in a relationship despite their mistakes and inability to quiet the noise in their heads,’ Michael Duran echoed.

Adeline Jugler called it ‘exquisite’ while Andy David called it ‘painfully beautiful in every possible way’.

Last year, Twisters star Daisy told the BBC she ‘loves those characters [and] would be wonderful to explore them again.’

She added: ‘Normal People was a series that was such a lockdown phenomenon. I think it introduced Paul and I to a lot of people and film-makers.’

Since the show both have seen huge success in their careers with Paul landing an Oscar nomination for Aftersun and featuring in the blockbuster sequel Gladiator II.

Meanwhile, Daisy has starred as the lead in another hit book adaptation, Where the Crawdads Sing, and is set to lead the remake of the classic novel Sense and Sensibility.

So whether it is your 10,000th time rewatching or you have been putting it off for five years, this is your sign to grab a tub of ice cream and click play on Normal People episode one.

Normal People is available to stream on Netflix in the UK now.

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