Warning: Some spoilers ahead.
Watching Hulu’s latest original series, Normal People, has been a colossal waste of time. Before starting the show, I had only heard about how wonderful it is from casual viewers and professional critics alike. Normal People is a drama centered around two characters in an on-again, off-again romance spanning several years. Since I normally enjoy shows and movies about love, I was expecting to join the enthusiastic critics and sing the praises of the new series. However, I came to despise nearly everything about it. Rather than writing an endless rant about the show, I’ll be focusing only on its most objectionable elements. But trust me, there’s plenty more where this came from.
INFURIATINGLY TOXIC ROMANCE
First of all, I can’t think of a more toxic pairing than the two lead characters, Connell and Marianne. Their story begins as a secret high school fling, kept under wraps to prevent misfit Marianne from tarnishing Connell’s popular status.
As if this teenage cliché wasn’t bad enough, the couple’s toxicity takes new forms in college. When Connell reunites with Marianne during their first year, she appears to be thriving, as suggested by her black eyeliner, cool earrings, and network of friends. Connell, on the other hand, struggles to adapt to university life. But of course, Marianne and Connell come together again and bring each other down in the process. Whether it’s Connell’s aversion to public affection, Marianne’s unhealthy relationships with other men, or both of their profound inability to communicate, the two are almost never content.
As a viewer, I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to be rooting for the couple. But since the show relies on my emotional investment, it’s probably a bad sign that I wanted to throw in the towel after every episode.
MORE TELLING THAN SHOWING
Second, it seems that the writers ignored elementary school teachers’ warnings to “show, not tell.” To demonstrate many major elements of the story, viewers have to just take the characters’ word for it.
For example, Marianne talks about how smart Connell is, and he’s constantly winning awards for his writing. However, Connell can’t seem to string together a coherent sentence in English class or join academic conversations with peers. I guess viewers are meant to believe he’s a secret genius, but I didn’t buy it.
Aside from my gripes about Connell’s supposed intelligence, the show also fails to display Connell and Marianne’s emotional chemistry. Instead, the two just talk about how powerful and telepathic their bond is, while rarely connecting on any level beyond physical. It becomes difficult to believe they’re meant to be if viewers never see it for themselves.
ENTIRELY UNADDRESSED PROBLEMS
Lastly, the two lead characters never truly work through their multitude of problems. The only time one of them seeks professional assistance is when Connell deals with a friend’s death in one of the last episodes.
Until that point, I had grown impatient with the characters’ completely unaddressed issues, but the agitation didn’t end once Connell sought guidance. Although Connell deals with his grieving process through counseling, there are plenty of underlying concerns he doesn’t handle. Even after Connell’s mental health improves from his stint at therapy, Marianne doesn’t think to try it herself. Marianne comes from an abusive household, but since she doesn’t see a counselor, she never addresses her deeper issues. Even if things seem fine for Marianne by the show’s end, I can’t help but worry when the unresolved problems will resurface.
I’m not saying every bit of trauma needs to be squared away. In fact, one could argue that the point of the unaddressed problems is to demonstrate how internal struggles can stick around to haunt you throughout your life — which is an accurate and powerful statement. Nonetheless, Connell and Marianne’s insufficient character arcs, even if meaningful, make the show frustrating and dissatisfying.
I really went into the series with an open mind. If anything, I tried giving it the benefit of the doubt considering it’s been so well-received. However, almost everything about the show is deeply flawed. From the toxic leads to the stagnant character progression, the series is thoroughly underwhelming. Maybe calling it a complete waste of time is a bit harsh, but I still resent spending six hours of my life waiting for the show to get better.