Critical praise for Normal People in advance of April 26th release
Posted: 23rd April 2020
Normal People, the Element Pictures-produced adaptation of Sally Rooney's bestselling novel, is garnering strong critical acclaim in advance of its release online on BBC3 this Sunday, April 26th.
The series, which is directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie McDonald, and was adapted by Sally Rooney, Alice Birch and Mark O'Rowe for the screen, is supported by Screen Ireland's inaugural TV Drama Production fund, and is Screen Ireland's first indigenous high-end TV drama. Normal People will premiere on Irish television on Tuesday, April 28th at 10.15pm on RTÉ One, and in the US on Hulu on Wednesday, April 29th.
Critical praise for the writing, direction and the lead performances have been features of press coverage for the series in recent days, with Screen Daily and Little White Lies calling Paul Mescal's performance "a revelation".
"A beautifully-judged adaptation" - Fionnuala Halligan, Screen Daily
"This is television drama done properly, thoughtfully, and tenderly" - Eleanor Bley Griffiths, Radio Times
"Paul Mescal is a revelation as Connell, depicting the character’s emotional struggles with great sensitivity." - Emma Fraser, Little White Lies
"Presents a millennial love story for the ages" - Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
"A beautiful, pitch-perfect adaptation" - Ed Cumming, The Independent
"Normal People is not only a worthy retelling of a great book; it’s a remarkable love story, both epic and intimate." - Ben Travers, IndieWire
"Most of all, Abrahamson understands the honesty at the heart of Rooney’s work." - Sarah Hughes, BBC Culture
"Intimate and stark directing from Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald" - Caroline Framke, Variety