“Normal People” is a 2020 television series based on the critically acclaimed novel by Irish author Sally Rooney. The show has been critically acclaimed due to its honest portrayal of love stories in general. It is centered around the relationship between Marianne and Connell two as they navigate their feelings for each other in light of their contrasting social standings.
If you are here to find out where to watch Normal People in the US and Canada, read this guide to the end.
How to watch Normal People on BBC iPlayer in the United States and Canada
Normal People season 1 is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK. If you are in the UK, you need an active iPlayer account, and you are good to go. If you are in the US, then follow these steps to watch Normal People on BBC iPlayer:
1- Get ExpressVPN for BBC iPlayer (12+3 month free special deal)
2- Download the VPN app on your preferred device
3- Select a British IP address from the country list
4- Now open BBC.com/iplayer on your browser
5- Search Normal People on iPlayer from the United States
6- Enjoy the series
How to get a BBC iPlayer account in the US & Canada
Unfortunately, BBC iPlayer is restricted to the UK only. You can not stream it from outside the UK, but that does not mean you can not have an iPlayer account from the US and Canada. Follow these steps to get a BBC iPlayer account from outside the UK:
- Get ExpressVPN for BBC iPlayer (30-day money-back guarantee)
- Connect to a British IP address (UK – Dockland)
- Open BBC.co.uk in your browser or click here
- Click on Sign in, which is located in the top left corner
- It will redirect you to another page now click on register now
- Select your age (Below 16 or Above 16)
- Add your date of birth, email ID, and password
- Select the United Kingdom as your country and add “E16 1AD or E16 2AF” as the postal code for Dockland
- Verify your email address
- Done! Now you have access to BBC iPlayer in the US and Canada
Normal People- Release date
Normal People is a romance drama mini-series consisting of a single season only. It was released on BBC Three for the first time on 26th April 2020. The series consists of 12 episodes, and it was an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Sally Rooney. Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald direct Normal People.
The series was praised by viewers and critics and received nominations for four awards, including Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Lead Actor. If you like watching British shows, watch Great Expectations, The Capture, Rain Dogs, Hidden (2018), and Wreck on BBC.
Normal People- Trailer
Normal People- Plot
Set in the small Irish town of Carricklea, Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron get into a secret relationship that ends because Connell doesn’t want to acknowledge her because she’s not very popular in school. Their social standings are quite contrasting given that Marianne is an intelligent, smart but reserved girl from a wealthy family, whereas Connell is the school’s popular jock whose mother works as a cleaner at Marianne’s house.
Navigating Social Dynamics
The show lays emphasis on the social dynamics of small communities, where people have a severely limited mindset and are judgemental. Where the typical romance trope is a popular rich kid and an alienated poor kid falling in love, in this case, it’s quite the opposite. Marianne’s privileged background and introverted personality lead to her feeling like a pariah, on the other hand, Connell despite his poor background is the mainstay of the popular kids’ group and at the center of attention.
But as soon as they move out from Carricklea to Dublin, a place where ideas and mindsets are much more free and unrestrained, their social positions are reversed. This was quite aptly done as it puts Connell in Marianne’s shoes and as he struggles to carve out his niche in an unfamiliar world, he begins to empathize with her.
Love as a Complex Emotion
The show revolves around the painfully obvious sexual tension between Marianne and Connell, and their unfortunate circumstances that constantly keep them near but not together. It’s at its core a story of two people completely and irrevocably in love with each other who keep fighting society and circumstances to find their way to each other. The writing and the acting work seamlessly to portray the complexity of love, and the misunderstandings, and miscommunications that come with it.
Normal People- Ratings
The show received a lot of critical appreciation, and the audience liked it. Normal People rated 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb and 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Normal People- Cast
The cast of “Normal People” is exceptional, with both leads giving standout performances. Daisy Edgar-Jones is exceptional as Marianne, while Paul Mescal brings a quiet intensity as Connell. But more than their individual performances, it’s their chemistry that steals the show.
The supporting cast is equally strong, with Sarah Greene as Connell’s mother, Lorraine and India Mullen as Connell’s college girlfriend, Helen.
Here is the list of cast members in Normal People:
- Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne Sheridan
- Paul Mescal as Connell Waldron
- Sarah Greene as Lorraine Waldron
- Aislín McGuckin as Denise Sheridan
- Éanna Hardwicke as Rob Hegarty
- Eliot Salt as Joanna
- India Mullen as Peggy
- Desmond Eastwood as Niall
- Sebastian de Souza as Gareth
- Fionn O’Shea as Jamie
- Leah McNamara as Rachel Moran
- Seán Doyle as Eric
- Niamh Lynch as Karen
- Kwaku Fortune as Philip
- Clinton Liberty as Kiernan
- Aoife Hinds as Helen Brophy
- Lancelot Ncube as Lukas
What else can you watch with a VPN?
Here is a list of popular movies and tv series on BBC iPlayer, which you can watch from the US for free with ExpressVPN:
- His Dark Materials
- Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration
- You Don’t Know Me
- Industry
- A Very British Scandal
- Thirteen
- Prime Suspect
- Mayans M.C
- Time
- Happy Valley
- Call the Mid Wife
- Small Axe
- Noughts + Crosses
- Industry
- Others
Wrap Up
This series is the best you can get if you are into the romantic genre. Watch Normal People from the United States and Canada for Free on BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN.
We have tested ExpressVPN to unblock streaming services, including Hulu in Israel, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, etc, and it worked flawlessly. Therefore we highly recommend an ExpressVPN subscription to watch BBC iPlayer from USA and all your favorite movies and TV shows.