Normal People Episode 3 EXTRA Early Access/Watchalong

Jamie

The phone call scene at the end. is when I knew, without a doubt, that Paul Mescal was going one of my favourite actors ever. It always breaks me. You can really feel how much Connell rejects his actions and how much it’s eating him up that he hurt Marianne when he does love her.

Reel Time

we should be watching it right away!

Kamdin Holley

Will y’all be reacting to OBX season 3 when it comes out this week or will y’all wait a few weeks to start it?

You should watch Where the Crawdags Sing, it has Marianne (Daisy Edgar Jones) in it. It’s really good.

Jettah

Seriously though, I think you said it perfectly that it was all for nothing, I think that’s the saddest part

Terri

The main thing about this series is you sometimes have to look past what the characters say and instead focus on their actions. A lot of the time they say things they don't really mean just because they think they should. Just like Marianne agreeing to keep them a secret. It was obvious by all the questions she was asking him (about his feelings/if he wanted other girls) that she wanted more. She was basically hoping he'd develop feelings and then not care what his friends thought and make things public. Instead, he did the opposite. Also, his friends were making fun of him about driving her home and then he has the panic attack in the bathroom. After, he immediately asks out the other girl. Basically to throw his friends off the thought that there was something going on there. That is why he did it. Then he just hoped Marianne would be fine with it because she had said they could keep things secret. Though, she knew he'd never enter into the relationship at all if she hadn't told him that she'd be fine with keeping them secret. Basically, it's a big complicated mess and a lot of the time they say things that contradict what they both want. Also, your theory about her wanting to watch him with another girl isn't really true. She's just REALLY awkward and new to sex/relationships, so the way she words things isn't the best. When she said she'd imagined watching him have sex it was her just telling him she was attracted to him. When she imagined that (while he was playing the game) she didn't think she'd ever have a chance to actually have sex with him. So she just thought about what he'd look like in that moment. You can see how she responds to him asking another girl to the Debs. She doesn't actually want to see him with anyone else. Also, I love his mom's reaction!! She saw him messing up and tried to warn him and tell him he was in the wrong.

Cindy S.

Lorraine is definitely the MVP of this episode. I'm so glad she didn't side with Connell and called him out on his shitty behavior. And that last scene with him in anguish after coming to terms with the fact that he fucked up royally is gut-wrenching. He told her he would never hurt her but did exactly that, and it was all for nothing given that his friends knew about him and Marianne and barely cared.

Jettah

Shoutout to Connell’s mom for going at him in the car, Connell really needed to hear that. And Paul Mescal is truly a great actor, I definitely cried watching him leave Marianne that voicemail. This show is so painfully sad but so beautiful.

Lorena Oliveira

Paul Mescal is such a phenomenal actor! That last scene always gets me 😩

Kiana

Not Connell making me cry at the end of the episode! That voicemail literally broke me!! 😭💔 Paul Mescal’s acting during that entire scene was phenomenal!! I'm also watching the show for the first time with you guys, and I can already tell it's going to be a roller coaster of emotions!! 😭

kcat

it wasn't Marianne's idea for them to be a secret, Connell implied it and Marianne went along with it out of desperation and to please his wants basically-- it wasn't really a proper agreement

Jude G

I love that Connell has a panic attack and breaks down at the end because it shows that although Marianne’s pain/trauma is obvious but since Connell is so closed off his is hidden

k

also connell and marianne are like the miscommunication trope personified LMAOO so strap in !

k

its like when connell found out that they all knew him and marianne were together anyway, he realized all the ignoring and bystanding he did was for nothing. that mustve felt horrible, knowing he loves her and the excuse he hid behind for hurting her was all for nothing, but im glad he knows now. it was the reality check he needed

Tia Lily

been waiting all day for this, can't express how mad i was when i first watched this episode and connell pulled up with the "so i asked rachel to the debs🥴" like bro😭