--- title: "Normal People: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/normal-people/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/normal-people" critics_score: 82 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Normal People (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 82 from 13 reviews: 12 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews are almost entirely warm, and they agree on where the warmth belongs. Most critics single out Edgar-Jones and Mescal, whose performances as the two leads are described as vulnerable, closely observed and well matched. The sex scenes come up in nearly every review, and the consensus is that they are explicit without being gratuitous, with as much attention paid to awkwardness and consent as to desire. Readers of Sally Rooney’s novel find the adaptation faithful, and several critics think it captures the embarrassments of first love better than most television about teenagers manages. Reservations are few and small. Den of Geek notes the middle episodes drag, and the Evening Standard feels some of the book’s edge is lost to the slow-burn pace, even while counting that pace a strength. The one real dissent comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which finds the series handsome but muted, too anaesthetised to feel young. Otherwise the spread is narrow. ## Radio Times — Eleanor Bley Griffiths Rating 5/5. 21 April 2020. The adaptation captures the novel's emotional depth and complexity of the central relationship. The critic singles out the masterful direction, spot-on casting, music, and visuals for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/normal-people-review/) ## The Telegraph Rating 5/5. 28 April 2020. The TV drama is a rare treat that is even better than the book, thanks to its intimate and tender sex scenes and the way it captures first love and growing up. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2020/04/27/normal-people-review-rare-treat-tv-drama-better-book/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 April 2020. The adaptation is a near-perfect rendering of the on-again-off-again relationship, capturing the embarrassments, excitements and humiliations of first love through intimate direction and standout performances by the leads. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/26/normal-people-review-sally-rooney-bbc-hulu) ## Empire — Beth Webb Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 April 2020. The series is a refreshingly nuanced study of young love with two powerhouse performances. The critic praises the central performances of Edgar-Jones and Mescal and the careful adaptation that does justice to the source material. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/normal-people/) ## Evening Standard — Vicky Frost Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2020. The adaptation captures the heady, awkward rush of teenage feelings with compelling performances from the leads and a slow-burn pace that becomes a strength despite some loss of the book's edge. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/normal-people-bbc-three-review-a4423651.html) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 April 2020. The critic praises the series as an honest, absorbing love story that subverts typical teen romance tropes by delving into class, privilege, trauma, and the lasting impact of first love. It highlights the explicit yet tender sex scenes, strong chemistry between leads, and respectful treatment of the characters' emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/normal-people-hulu-review.html) ## Variety — Caroline Framke Rating Critic's Pick. 22 April 2020. The Hulu adaptation is a crushingly intimate and bleak take on the novel with excellent performances. The critic singles out the directing and acting for allowing the story's emotional weight to land effectively. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/normal-people-hulu-review-sally-rooney-1234587209/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Inkoo Kang Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 28 April 2020. The adaptation is handsome but disappointingly anesthetized and lacks youthfulness. The critic praises the faithful adaptation and chemistry between the leads while complaining about the overall muted tone. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/normal-people-review-1292180/) ## NME — Paul Bradshaw Rating 5/5. 22 April 2020. The adaptation is every bit as good as the book deserves, with strong performances from the leads and sensitive direction that avoids teen soap clichés. The chemistry between the two main characters keeps the heartfelt love story warm despite its raw emotion and underlying sadness. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/normal-people-review-sally-rooney-2651624) ## Paste — Ellen Johnson Rating 8.8/10. 1 May 2020. The series is an uninhibitedly horny yet deeply felt story of two Irish teens floating in and out of each other's lives, treated with delicacy and care in its small quiet moments. It stands out for its realistic sex scenes, focus on mutual pleasure and consent, and earnest portrait of both sexual and emotional intimacy. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/normal-people/normal-people-review) ## Digital Spy — Abby Robinson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2020. The critic describes the series as beautiful and perfectly cast, capturing the essence of the book through its all-encompassing love story and exceptional handling of intimate scenes. It singles out the tender, non-gratuitous treatment of nudity and sex as a standout strength. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a32253270/normal-people-review-nudity/) ## Den of Geek — Kayti Burt Rating 4/5. 22 April 2020. The critic calls it a vivid and intimate look at young, messy love, anchored by powerfully vulnerable performances from the leads and faithful to the source material. It notes some pacing issues in the middle episodes but overall delivers for fans and newcomers alike. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/normal-people-review-spoiler-free/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2020. The critic finds the adaptation faithful to Sally Rooney’s novel and authentic to the nuances of adolescent emotion and relationships. She praises how it captures the specific circumstances of the characters and their evolving bond through both intellectual and physical connections. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/04/29/tv/normal-people-hulu-bbc-sally-rooney) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/normal-people.md