‘Normal People’ Season 2: Will There Be a Sequel?
One of the side effects of COVID-19 and social distancing is that many of us are finding and falling in love with shows we hadn’t watched before the pandemic. Thanks to isolation, we’ve fallen hard for characters on shows such as Hulu’s Normal People. When the show reaches its conclusion, it’s only natural that we worry about what the future looks like for the characters. Most importantly, we want to know if the characters have a future, and if fans will get to see them again.
What has happened so far on ‘Normal People’
The will-they-won’t-they dynamic is so strange. In a real-life relationship, it’s maddening and stressful. In television, it’s often the reason viewers keep tuning in.
Establishing a will-they-won’t-they relationship has been vital to many shows, including Bones, The X-Files, The Office, Scrubs, Moonlighting, and The New Girl. What makes the dynamic different in Normal People is that the relationship is the central plot, not a relatively minor sub-plot.
Normal People is the story of two young lovers who are obviously made for one another. There’s just one problem: It’s a secret romance and keeping the relationship secret, while exciting and sexy, is also playing havoc on the emotional connection. Fans of the show held their breath and watched, spellbound, as they waited to see how Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar Jones) navigated the situation.
In real life, the type of relationship Connell and Marianne embark on is often considered toxic. Studies show that it can have a detrimental impact on the lovers’ mental health, and often ends in heartbreak. However, when two characters have chemistry and the story is well-told, the type of toxic relationship that’s bad for us is perfect for binge-watching.
There’s something about Connell and Marianne’s back and forth love story that makes viewers feel that no matter what hardships the couple faces, true love will always endure. It’s exactly the type of show that’s perfect during a pandemic when the future seems bleak.
Can there be a ‘Normal People’ sequel?
Fans who have caught up with Normal People find themselves in a bind. While the show had a lovely and organic ending, they want more. Yes, the show wrapped up the current arc of Connell and Marianne, but most fans feel that there is still a great deal of story left to tell. Many feel a season two should happen.
There’s just one problem.
Unlike most television shows which are designed to run for multiple seasons, Normal People is based on a book Sally Rooney wrote by the same name. The book doesn’t have a sequel, so should the show create one? During a Radio Times interview, director Lenny Abrahamson confessed that he wants to know more about the couple and that he isn’t opposed to diving back into their lives.
“I have a fantasy of doing a kind of 10-year seeing where they are in 10 years’ time sort of thing,” Abrahamson said, “if I’m not too decrepit at that point.”-Radio Times
While the idea of a sequel has fans rejoice, few are enthused about having to wait a full ten years before they get to spend more time with Connell and Marianne. They would likely prefer to see Hulu use makeup and CGI technology to age the actors so they could start filming the sequel tomorrow.
So far, Hulu hasn’t stated if they’re considering a way to put together a sequel. Sally Rooney doesn’t plan on writing a sequel to her book.
How to catch up on ‘Normal People’
It’s worth noting that fans are split on the ending. Some feel that it was organic and very true to how real life works. Those fans are happy to let their imagination work out Connell and Marianne’s future. Other fans are demanding a sequel. After all, the ending wraps up a story but doesn’t leave off in a place where there couldn’t feasibly be a second season. You can watch Normal People on Hulu and decide for yourself if the show should carry on.
