Ep 1. Episode 1

Marianne and Connell are two high school students in a small town in Ireland. They come from very different backgrounds - Connell is popular and well-liked, playing on the school's football team and coming from a well-to-do family, while Marianne is seen as strange, solitary, and from a wealthy but emotionally distant family.

Despite these differences, the two become closer when Connell comes to Marianne's house to pick up his mother, who is a cleaner for Marianne's family. They strike up a conversation, and Connell is struck by Marianne's intelligence and independence. They begin a secret friends-with-benefits relationship, with Connell worried about appearing less masculine if their classmates found out.

As their relationship progresses, Connell is offered an opportunity to study at Trinity College in Dublin, which he accepts. Marianne is left behind and moves on with her life, while Connell struggles to adjust to the strange new world of university and make new friends. When they meet again during a visit home, the dynamics of their relationship have shifted, and they must confront their feelings and the realities of their differences.

Throughout the episode, the tension and chemistry between Marianne and Connell are palpable, showcasing the subtle power dynamics and complexities of their relationship. Themes of societal expectations, class differences, and the sometimes uneasy balance between love and friendship are explored in this first episode of Normal People.