'Normal People' on Hulu, Episodes 3-5: Adaptation of the novel by Sally Rooney

Published: April 30, 2020, 11 a.m.

b'

Carinn sighs with relief as the show hits its stride and Kate wonders what took her so long. We are both in the flow with Marianne and Connell, the tension between what they say and don\'t say, the yin and yang of their own personalities and the push and pull of their dynamic. It\'s everything.

Episodes 3-5 have a nice little arc from the end of their relationship in high school, to the re-establishment of their connection at Trinity, to their OMFG sex reunion.

*** Episode 3 starts off strong by bringing us back to high school as we watch Marianne and Connell navigate a nightclub scene and the aftermath of Marianne being groped. (4:40)

*** Carinn and Kate both love the scene in bed when Marianne asks \\u201cwho is that obvious to?\\u201d when Connell suggests his feelings for her are obvious. But this scene had more nuance in the book for us. (9:24)

*** Connell\\u2019s panic attack is a new scene and it\\u2019s working so well for us in terms of insights into Connell and his actions thereafter. (12:48)

*** We love Connell\\u2019s mother, Lorraine, even more than in the book (and we already loved her). She puts Connell in his place and calls him on his behavior, but is comforting Marianne a little much? (16:29)

*** The \\u201cDebs\\u201d is a rough night for Connell and by the end we feel his torture deeply. (21:20)

*** Episode 4 starts slow setting the scene for Connell at Trinity. Connell is struggling while Marianne is thriving so the tables are clearly turned. We also meet the cast of friends characters, which Kate thinks come to life better on the screen and Carinn preferred in the book. (23:45)

*** Marianne and Connell are reunited at a party for one of our favorite scenes, but it\'s a mixed bag for us in the series vs the book. We agree, however, that it is definitely a moment. (29:30)

*** Carinn loves the scene where Marianne and her friend discuss wanting a normal life, which reveals Marianne\\u2019s constant inner conflict. Kate is starting to want to actually hang out with Marianne. (35:50)

*** Episode 5 begins and ends in the bedroom. Marianne reaches out to Connell because she wants him back in her life and Connell\\u2019s relief and happiness is written all over Paul Mescal\\u2019s beautiful face. (40:47)

*** We love when Connell opens up to Marianne about his insecurity and inability to connect his college life with home and how to make it all fit. He finally apologizes to Marianne and she forgives him. The honesty and vulnerability hits us hard. (43:20)

*** Marianne breaks up with Gareth, who Kate saw as a roadblock to Connell and Carinn always knew never stood a chance with Marianne. But it leads to one of our favorites scenes at the party where she gets drunk and high and hits on Connell. (49:46)

*** Carinn has more thoughts on time and music choices, including a fun segment of what movie is the final moments of this show evoking with this song? She\'s trying to make light of something she does not understand, while Kate still doesn\'t care (61:04)

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com

Stay Complicated!!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'