Shweta Chaurasia

Just finished watching Normal People and I’m left with this quiet ache—like the kind you feel when you remember something beautiful and broken at the same time. The characters, Marianne and Connell, were portrayed so intimately that it didn’t feel like I was watching a show—it felt like I was watching two real people navigate the raw, unfiltered mess of love, trauma, and identity. What struck me the most was the emotional detailing—Marianne’s insecurity about her body, the way she shrinks in her own home, how deeply internalized her pain is. You can sense that there’s a deeper story with her father that the series only hints at—but even that little glimpse is enough to understand the kind of violence she’s been shaped by. The way she tells Connell not to become like her dad, and yet later ends up asking Jamie and Lukas to hurt her… that destroyed me. It’s heartbreaking to witness how trauma teaches women—especially women like Marianne—that pain is a form of attention, and attention a form of love. Her relationship with her family is disturbing. Her brother is emotionally violent. Her mother is cold and dismissive. It’s not just neglect—it’s like she’s punished for existing. And the show never offers closure there, which in a strange way, makes it more real. Some of us never get apologies or answers—we just learn to breathe around the silence. Then there's Connell—quiet, kind, and deeply repressed. He’s not toxic or cruel, but he’s also not emotionally equipped to handle the weight of love. His depression was portrayed so well—subtle, hollow, and very real. That therapy scene hit me hard, especially when he says he feels like he’s not a real person. It’s rare to see male vulnerability shown with that much softness. Their relationship is built on love—but also fear, missed chances, and unspoken words. They see each other more clearly than anyone else ever does, but their inner wounds keep pulling them apart. Still, the tenderness between them is something sacred. It’s not always romantic, but it’s profoundly human. And Lorraine—Connell’s mom—is one of the most grounded, emotionally intelligent characters I’ve ever seen. The way she supports both her son and Marianne with quiet dignity is beautiful. Normal People is slow. It’s not for those seeking action or dramatic plot twists. But if you’re in an emotional state, if you’ve loved someone you couldn’t hold onto, or if you’ve lived through silence, shame, or self-abandonment—this series will reach into you. It’s not a happy ending, but it’s a healing one. Sometimes, that’s all we need.