The streaming landscape is about to witness a powerful reminder of why Paul Mescal became one of the most compelling actors of his generation. This August, Netflix will welcome NORMAL PEOPLE to its platform, bringing the acclaimed BBC adaptation back into the spotlight just as Mescal’s star continues its meteoric rise through Hollywood.
For those who discovered Mescal through his recent powerhouse performances in AFTERSUN and GLADIATOR II, NORMAL PEOPLE offers a fascinating glimpse into the raw talent that first captivated audiences worldwide. The series, which originally aired in 2020, showcases Mescal as Connell Waldron, a sensitive young man navigating the complexities of love, identity, and mental health alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones’s Marianne Sheridan.
The story unfolds across the landscapes of Ireland and beyond, following two souls bound by an inexplicable connection despite their vastly different social backgrounds. From the fictional town of Carricklea in County Sligo through the hallowed halls of Trinity College Dublin, we witness a relationship that shifts between friendship and romance, intimacy and distance, understanding and miscommunication. Their journey extends to Sweden during Marianne’s studies abroad and to a sun-drenched Italian villa, each location serving as a backdrop for their evolving dynamic.
What makes NORMAL PEOPLE particularly striking is how it captures the universal experience of young love while remaining deeply rooted in its Irish setting. The production team filmed extensively throughout Ireland, using Tubbercurry in County Sligo to represent Carricklea and capturing the wild beauty of Streedagh Point for the series’ memorable beach scenes. The authenticity extends to the university sequences, shot at the actual Trinity College Dublin with real students populating the background, lending an organic quality to the academic environment where much of Marianne and Connell’s relationship develops.
The series doesn’t shy away from difficult themes. As Marianne finds herself trapped in abusive relationships and Connell battles anxiety and depression, their connection becomes both a source of comfort and confusion. It’s this emotional honesty that allows NORMAL PEOPLE to transcend typical romantic drama, offering instead a meditation on how we shape and are shaped by the people we love.
For Mescal, NORMAL PEOPLE served as the launching pad for a career that has since seen him earn an Oscar nomination for AFTERSUN and take on the iconic role of Lucius in Ridley Scott’s GLADIATOR II. His portrayal of Connell revealed an actor capable of conveying profound vulnerability and strength, often within the same scene. The naturalistic performance style that would later make him such a compelling presence in A24’s intimate character study was already fully formed in this breakout role.
The series’ arrival on Netflix couldn’t be more perfectly timed. As Mescal continues to choose projects that challenge both himself and audiences, NORMAL PEOPLE reminds us of the foundation of emotional intelligence and authentic performance that underpins his most celebrated work. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or revisiting Marianne and Connell’s story, prepare for an experience that will leave you emotionally raw and deeply moved.
The production’s attention to detail extends even to the Italian sequences, where the villa Il Casale on Tenuta di Verzano in Lazio doubled for Marianne’s family retreat, creating a dreamlike escape that contrasts beautifully with the more grounded Irish settings. Every location choice serves the story’s emotional arc, creating a visual journey that mirrors the characters’ internal growth.
NORMAL PEOPLE stands as more than just the series that introduced Paul Mescal to the world. It’s a masterclass in adaptation, transforming Sally Rooney’s beloved novel into something that feels both literary and cinematic. As audiences prepare to fall in love with Marianne and Connell once again, they’ll also be witnessing the birth of one of contemporary cinema’s most exciting talents.
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