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★★★★½ (4.5/5) – Essential, excruciating television. Episode 6 is the dark heart of Normal People . It refuses to romanticize the couple’s reunion, instead showing how the ghosts of class and self-worth can poison even the deepest connection. You’ll want to look away. You won’t be able to.
“I’m not a religious person, but I do sometimes think God made you for me.” – Connell (a line that, in context, lands like a knife wrapped in velvet.) Watch if you like: Blue Valentine , Edward Hopper’s paintings of lonely rooms, the feeling of apologizing for being yourself. Normal People Miniseries - Episode 6
Connell and Marianne are officially together again after his move to Trinity. But in classic Normal People fashion, happiness is a prelude to anguish. They join Marianne’s boorish, wealthy friends—including her cruel boyfriend, Jamie—for a summer holiday. The group’s wealth and confidence instantly alienate Connell, who is working a low-wage job and struggling with social alienation. ★★★★½ (4