Normal People

In a school in small-town west of Ireland, Connell (Paul Mescal) is a well-liked, good looking and athletic student. Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a proud, intimidating and unpopular loner who actively avoids her classmates and questions her teachers' authority. An attraction sparks between them when Connell comes to collect his mother Lorraine (Sarah Greene) who works at Marianne's house. A deep connection grows between the two teenagers - one they cannot stop but that they are determined to conceal from their peers.

Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne's (Daisy Edgar-Jones) relationship continues in secret and they sleep together for the first time. At school, Connell makes excuses for why he didn't see his friends at the weekend and evades questions on his mother's job at Marianne's house. A girl in his friendship group, Rachel (Leah McNamara), gets impatient with Connell's lack of interest and tensions build for Connell. Meanwhile, Marianne must find a way to explain her unplanned absences to her prying brother Alan (Frank Blake).

Connell betrays Marianne by making a cowardly choice. Marianne withdraws from school, causing Connell intense guilt.

Months later, school has finished and Connell (Paul Mescal) arrives at Trinity College, Dublin. He has found a room in a house-share and meets his new housemate Niall (Desmond Eastwood). Despite his efforts, he feels out of place and struggles to articulate himself when surrounded by his eloquent and wealthy peers. Connell reluctantly accepts a party invite from new classmate Gareth (Sebastian De Souza). Feeling intimidated by the fashionable crowd in attendance, Gareth offers to introduce him to someone else he knows from Sligo and so he comes face-to-face with an unexpected guest.

Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) start socialising as friends in Dublin. She introduces Connell to her group and one of her friends, Teresa (Lauryn Canny) is interested in him. Marianne is still dating Gareth (Sebastian De Souza), but her interest in the relationship is starting to fade. Marianne eventually finishes things with Gareth and makes a drunken pass at Connell.

Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne are back together. Connell (Paul Mescal) has gained confidence in college; giving presentations in class and getting good grades but is reluctant to show Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) affection in front of her friends. Will the two be able to admit that they are together? Things take a negative turn when Marianne goes home and argues with her brother Alan (Frank Blake) and Connell loses the part-time restaurant job that funds his life in Dublin. Connell is torn when Marianne returns to Dublin distant and distracted, and finds himself once again, unable to share his worries.