Paul Mescal has said the finale episode of Normal People is a ‘really good barometer of where you’re at in life’ as he admitted he jumps around on his feelings about how the show ended.
The soul-crushing TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name hit TV screens in 2020, leaving us all nursing broken hearts as we watched Connell and Marianne navigate their relationship.
Maynooth native Paul landed the role of heart-throb Connell Waldron, with his performance catapulting him to major success. He co-starred alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, with the pair still being great pals.
On screen, however, the final episode of the show had viewers in devastation as the Will-they-or-won’t-they narrative came to an end.
It really felt like Connell and Marianne had finally found common ground and were set to make a go of their tender relationship.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Connell took up a creative writing gig in New York City, while Marianne made the gut-wrenching decision to stay in Dublin.
@rollingstone absolutely devastating watch #paulmescal #normalpeople #marianneandconnell #fyp #paulmescaledit ♬ original sound – Rolling Stone
A new interview with Rolling Stone sees Paul share his thoughts on the ending, admitting: ‘I kind of jump around the map with how I feel about it.’
He explained: ‘I think it’s a really good barometer of where you’re at in your life if you’re looking at the last episode. Sometimes I’m like, “God, I wish she just came to New York with him,” or: “I’m grateful for the fact that they’re splitting.”‘
Paul went on to note, ‘it’s kind of indicative of where you’re at in your headspace.’
‘What happens to Connell and Marianne is probably more indicative of like, a healthy relationship, where it’s like you can’t really support an ecosystem of a relationship unless you’re willing to be autonomous and willing to look after your own plot of land before you can tend to the broader context of a relationship, I think,’ he concluded.
Normal People fans took to the comments to express their long-standing devastation over the ending, while others could see the points Paul was making.
One wrote: ‘It ruined my life it’s okay we’re fine!!!!!’
Another said: ‘I like what he’s saying. It’s healthy to have a life of your own, even in a relationship. Connell needed to follow his new opportunity and Marianne needed the stability she had finally created in Dublin.’
A third commented: ‘I think they found each other in the end. They needed to live apart but stay in touch and make it work.’
A fourth echoed: ‘They get back together in my mind.’
