Normal People season 2: viewers have mixed reactions to BBC show’s second season

Normal People: the beach is in Sligo, Ireland

Credit: BBC

Under Her Eye


Normal People season 2: viewers have mixed reactions to BBC show’s second season

By Kayleigh Dray

5 years ago

Would you like to see a second season of Normal People, set 10 years in the future? 

Updated on 2 June: this article contains spoilers for Normal People, so proceed with caution if you haven’t seen all 12 episodes yet.

Normal People has proven itself to be one of the biggest TV shows of 2020, so it makes sense that there’s a lot of buzz around a possible season two.

While Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel isn’t part of a series, it’s been suggested that BBC bosses may follow in the footsteps of The Handmaid’s Tale producers and take viewers beyond the pages of the book.

So… will there be a Normal People season 2?

During an interview with the Radio Times, Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson said that he hopes to revisit Connell and Marianne in “10 years time”.

“I have a fantasy of doing a kind of 10-year seeing where they are in 10 years’ time sort of thing,” he said.

However, after the final episode of Normal People aired last night, it seems viewers are well and truly divided over the idea of more episodes.

What do viewers have to say about Normal People season 2?

Over on Twitter, some have expressed their hopes for a second season.

“I seriously hope they do another season of @NormalPeopleBBC… loved every episode I really want a season two,” tweeted one.

Another said: “You need to be back for season 2!”

“So I’m getting a season 2 of Normal People right?” asked another.

“Some love stories just directly hit into your heart and #normalpeople is one of them,” raved a fan of the show. “After watching it I realised that Connell and Marianne are the cutest couple! Just loved it and I hope season 2 will come soon.”

“All I want is season two of Normal People,” pleaded another.

And still one more said: “We need season 2 of Marianne and Connell. This can not be the end of their love story.”

However, there are also those who are firmly of the belief that a second season of Normal People would ruin the show forever.

“Does anybody understand the concept of a novel?” wrote one, reminding viewers that the show is based on a novel. “There’s no season 2 or series 2. It’s a novel portrayed on screen. It’s over. The end. Finito.”

Another added: “Just finished watching Normal People. I thought it was fantastic! So complex, frustrating, and great storytelling. Not sure I want a season 2 as season 1 was such a masterpiece.”

And still one more insisted: “As much as I absolutely adore Normal People, I really hope there isn’t a season 2. That ending was perfect. Sometimes less is more.”

What do Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones have to say about Normal People season 2?

As reported on 19 May: Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones have revealed where they would like to find their characters in a possible second season.

Speaking on The One Show, Edgar-Jones explained: “I hope that they remain that level of settled and happy that they get to by the end of the series.

“It’s wonderful that Marianne enables him to follow his dream as a writer in New York, so I really hope he sticks at it and carries on doing what he loves.”

Edgar-Jones added: “I kind of imagine that [Marianne] moves in with Lorraine [Connell’s mum] and they have quite a happy, little life together!”

Normal People: Marianne and Connell visit Italy.

Credit: BBC

Mescal, meanwhile, said that he believes Connell would want to leave New York early to see Marianne. 

And, in a separate interview with the Radio Times, he noted: “They’re still existing in the world somewhere… but I put my hand up and say I’d play Connell until the cows come home.”

Which cast members will return for Normal People season 2?

As mentioned, the second series has yet to be commissioned, so we have zero casting news to report. However, the show’s two leads, Edgar-Jones (Marianne) and Mescal (Connell), have made it abundantly clear that they’d be up for reprising their roles if season two does go ahead.

Depending on the story, we could also see the return of the characters’ families: Sarah Greene as Connell’s mum Lorraine; Aislín McGuckin as Marianne’s unsympathetic mum Denise; and Frank Blake as Marianne’s violent brother Alan.

What would be the plot of Normal People season 2?

Of course, there’s every possibility that Marianne and Connell could have drifted apart after his big move to NYC (don’t hate us, we’re just being pragmatic).

If this is the case, and the rumoured second season is set 10 years in the future, perhaps it will focus on the pair coming together after a decade and reflecting on the impact they had on each other.

And what about Sally Rooney’s other novel? Will we get an adaptation of that?

Season two or not, it was recently revealed that Rooney’s other novel, Conversations with Friends, will also be adapted into a series by the same team behind Normal People.

The show’s co-producer, Ed Guiney, said: “It’s the same basic team. Lenny’s [Abrahamson] going to direct it and is across it as an EP. And Alice Birch and all of us at Element Pictures. So, in a way, that’s what we’ll be turning our attention to next. But maybe down the line, we’ll come back to Connell and Marianne.

“I love Conversations with Friends, its depth, humour and freshness, and it’s an honour to be involved in bringing it to the screen.”

You can stream all 12 episodes of Normal People on BBC iPlayer now.

Images: BBC

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