Normal People
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But first, back to the beginning of the episode.
Connell was seeing Teresa, and Marianne had Gareth the boyfriend, and we were all much younger then.
Good on you, Connell.
Connell never made any effort to integrate Marianne into his high-school world.
Probably it wouldnt have gone well.
Mariannes attempt to bring Connell into the fold goes, I think, okay?
Joanna, the best of the crew, is super welcoming and gracious and lovely.
But these kids just ooze affluence, the sort of upper-tax-bracketfauxsophistication that Connell lacks.
Everything about her life here is so fuzzy and cozy and warm, all soft textiles and comfort.
Marianne defends Connell, improbably, as actually the smartest person Ive ever met.
Hot tip: Never start a compliment with actually.
Unlike Jamie, Marianne knows that Connell is killing it in school.
Youre like this star, she says, not without some jealousy.
They compensate with arrogance, riffing on books they havent even read.
(I mean … sometimes that works though!)
Connell is perpetually second-guessing himself and keeps trying on new identities, waiting to see which one fits.
I am not surprised to hear Marianne say she has not told her friends about her relationship with Connell.
Is there a way to do it that doesnt make her look bad?
Or make him look bad?
Probably not, and anyway, shes trying to be cool here!
She admits she would be embarrassed if they found out.
Because it was humiliating … just the fact that I put up with it.
He tells Marianne that it wouldnt have mattered if theyd been out as a couple.
Because everybody knew, and nobody cared.This is useful life advice from Alexis Rose that we should all follow!
I have to say that Connells apology here is genuine and very good.
I do not feel like Marianne is just caving when she accepts it.
Obviously the next time we see her, she is dumping Gareth.
She is not especially kind about it.
Godspeed on that neo-Nazi debate.
Time to go to a party.
I feel absolutely fine, she reports.
Her friends are very supportive of the breakup.
Theyre at this girl Sophies house and its all very extravagant.
Connell, not a scumbag, says she is too drunk for them to have sex.
But they do kiss (!)
When theyre done, Connell is lying there (full-frontal nudity on Hulu?
I think well be fine, he says, so …
I have a feeling they wont be.
