Binged Normal People? Here's what to watch next…

If you’ve raced through Marianne and Connell’s millennial love story, we’ve got you covered
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Kimberley Bond1 June 2020

Normal People has firmly established itself as one of 2020’s best dramas and, with the series coming to a close on BBC One, viewers are looking for their next hit.

With breath-taking performances from stars including Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, gorgeous cinematography and an electrifying soundtrack, the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s beloved novel has tapped into the millennial zeitgeist while also covering themes that appeal across generations.

If you’ve been left wondering what else to watch next, look no further...

If you want another coming of age drama…

Never Have I Ever follows Devi as she tries to make herself more popular
Netflix

Normal People follows Marianne and Connell throughout school and as they become accustomed to university life – with Marianne becoming popular while Connell struggles. For those of you looking for a drama about the trials and tribulations of teen life, Netflix’s fresh offering Never Have I Ever tackles many of the same themes albeit with a very different tone. The Mindy Kaling-created series centres around 15-year-old Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), who tries to make herself more popular at school – with mixed results.

If you want to really immerse yourself in the light and the shade of teenage life – from the highs of drug-fuelled parties to the lows of having your mate die of a brain tumour (it gets bleak, OK?), than Channel 4 series Skins (Netflix) is a fair choice.

The first two series are by far the most superior of the drama, following borderline sociopath Tony Stonem (Nicholas Holt) and his friends while in sixth form college.

If you’re watching Normal People and reminiscing about your own time at university, Fresh Meat (All 4) is another solid choice – following a house of students living off-campus as they get to grips with university life.

If you need a good cry…

Going strong: Kerry Godliman and Ricky Gervais in season two of After Life, Netflix’s second most watched show of 2019

Normal People wasn’t without its tear-jerking moments, with many fans finding themselves getting weepy when Connell didn't ask Marianne to the Debs or when he unexpectedly dumped her to hide his money struggles. Ricky Gervais’s tragi-comedy After Life (Netflix) is similarly emotional, as it follows acerbic and at times suicidal journalist Tony who struggles to get to grips with the death of his wife.

This is Us (Amazon Prime) is also known for making its fans dissolve into tears. The drama, made by the team behind 2011 film Crazy Stupid Love, follows the lives of two parents and three children, and explores love and relationships in a similar manner to Normal People.

A more left-field choice to sink your teeth into is BoJack Horseman – a show about a cartoon horse may seem to bear little resemblance to Sally Rooney’s romantic second novel, but the powerful themes of addiction, friendship and grappling with your mental health are all explored in great and touching detail in the Netflix animated series.

If you want a great love story…

Marianne and Connell may seem like an ideal fit, but their relationship is persistently hampered by their own anxieties and perceived differences.

Netflix's three-part series Love, which follows nice guy Gus (Paul Rust) as he moves into a new flat complex, explores similar themes of opposites attracting. Meek Gus finds himself increasingly attracted to the rebellious Mickey (Gillian Jacobs), with the two finding themselves discovering just what love is together.

British sitcom Lovesick (also Netflix) is a fresh take on love and romance. Following a group of friends living in Glasgow, the show (fuelled by its own cheekiness) follows Dylan (Johnny Flynn) as he tries to get back in touch with all his sexual conquests after he discovers he’s contracted chlamydia.

Catastrophe (All 4) is another great love story worth investing your time in – although it’s not necessarily as romantic as Normal People. When Sharon (Sharon Horgan) meets Rob (Rob Delaney) on a night out, the pair’s incredible chemistry leads to an unexpected pregnancy, seeing them fall into some sort of relationship. The late Carrie Fisher's glorious star turn as Rob's mother is well worth tuning in for.

If you want to tune into a good soundtrack…

Stranger Things season three: brand new teaser images released

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As well as its fantastic depiction of love, Normal People overjoyed viewers with its stellar soundtrack, featuring an eclectic mix of Elliot Smith, Nick Drake and Carly Rae Jepsen. For those wanting to watch a show which has its best moments punctuated by punchy beats, look no further than Stranger Things (Netflix) which features Duran Duran, The Clash and Tears for Fears amongst its paranormal activities.

GLOW (also Netflix) has a superb track list from the 80s, with Madonna, Earth, Wind and Fire and Cyndi Lauper all bringing bangers to this female-wrestling comedy drama from the Orange is the New Black team.

A more subdued, but equally as listenable, offering is Peaky Blinders (BBC iPlayer) featuring Joy Division, David Bowie and The White Stripes.

If you fancy another literary adaptation…

Books similar to Normal People by Sally Rooney - in pictures

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Books have always been ripe for televisual adaptations, but more recent years have seen books become the basis for some of television’s best dramas. The high-concept Westworld (Amazon Prime) which features an all-star cast, was originally based on Michael Crichton’s novel which depicts how the rich develop a technologically advanced, Western-themed amusement park which soon goes horribly wrong.

The dystopian classic The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Attwood, sees women subjugated in a patriarchal society forced to bear children. Elizabeth Moss stars as June in the Golden Globe-winning series (All 4).

A more radical adaptation comes in the form of Masters of Sex, which is based on a biography of Thomas Maiers. Starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, the series follows William Masters as he engages in sexual experiments with Virginia Johnson.

Normal People is available to watch on BBC Three and a double bill airs every Monday from 9pm on BBC One

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