- My mum is probably more like Lorraine.
We kind of can talk very honestly about a lot of stuff
which is such a relief.
Most parents have kind of, what's the word?
Love that's un?
- What's the, not unrequited, it would not be unrequited.
Unconditional, unconditional love.
That's the word.
- That's the word.
- I don't think it was unrequited love with your parents.
(laughing)
Daisy, did you feel a lot of pressure
living up to the novel?
- Yes (laughs) I did, I did.
I felt such an amount of pressure.
I think, you know she's, just like you,
we are so in love with those characters
and we care so much about them
and are such big fans of the book,
so I definitely felt a lot of pressure to
try and get that character right
because I think Marianne is
quite a complicated person and very nuanced
and there's a large amount of her that I really,
completely connect with and can completely understand,
and there's a large amount of her that I just
(laughs) haven't got access to.
So I did feel a lot of pressure.
What about you?
- The exact same.
Like I think when a book is that popular
you're automatically going to feel that pressure
and when the book is popular because
at the center point of the novel is
both Connell and Marianne
I think it would be insane not to feel
that kind of pressure.
- How would you describe Marianne and Connell's relationship
and also, did you have any reference to
any kinda pop culture or anything similar to the characters
when you were exploring them?
- I would describe them as
two incredibly bright, clever individuals.
I'd describe them as incredibly frustrating.
But ultimately, two people that just really fit together.
Not always in the stereotypical sense of the word but
if soul mates existed,
I think that they probably are a version of that.
I actually don't think I could equate Connell and Marianne
to anybody out there in pop culture.
What about you?
- I think it's such a unique thing when you read the book
it feels very, sort of,
unique, that sort of relationship.
I think afterwards having watched stuff,
like when I watched 'Blue Valentine'
sort of similar in the way that it displays a relationship
both at its ultimate best but also at its ultimate worst.
And I think Marianne and Connell's relationship
goes through all of that kind is tumultuousness
over those years.
So I'd say, yeah that was something I kind of was like,
oh I see quite a lot of them in that relationship.
But yeah, not before hand.
- Daisy, do you think that, obviously Connell and Marianne
struggle with their identity,
but you think that's something that's specific to
their age demographic or like,
where they're from or where they live?
- I'd say that's why the book is so,
and the story is so popular with people
because I think it's such a truthful depiction
of that kind of struggle with identity
that everyone goes through from 18 -22.
Like, when we first meet them,
they're in school and they're very young
and Connell is accepted by his peers
and Marianne really isn't
and then as they grow up, that starts to change.
But I think, even though Marianne sort of appears
to be very comfortable and settled when she goes to Trinity
I think she's still massively struggling with her
inner identity and I think that's a massive thing of
being a young person, you know because,
especially maybe now, with the fact that we have
social media and Instagram and things like that,
there's this perceived sort of concept of FOMO
and for me that kind of feels like there's this
particular way of living life that
we should be doing to be ultimately happy
and I think Instagram and social media creates that
because all we see is this perfect way of living
and you know, when you're sat at home
and you haven't got much on,
all you think is,
oh, all my friends are doing stuff
and I'm not living life right.
And I think, that's something that comes with being
a young person and sort of being comfortable
with the way you're doing things and who you are
is something that you sort of,
you have to find out as you grow up.
What about you?
- Like, I'm always jealous of say, my parents for example
who like, they care less about what other people think
and I don't think Connell or Marianne or even myself
are at that point in their life yet.
But I also just think,
it's a really rich period in someone's life to write about
because they're figuring themselves out.
So, yeah, I definitely feel like
identity and wrestling with that idea is
really present in the novel.
- So what other kind of, themes or experiences
about being that age do you think
the story really gets right and really nails?
- It gets the first person that you're obsessed with
or you're in love with really, really right.
Like I always describe it as like,
I think Connell and Marianne,
I don't know if you felt this but
do you remember the first person that you ever fancied
or you were in love with?
You could always tell where that person is in the room.
And I think Lenny gets that really right
and the kinda school stuff like,
you always feel the absence or the presence of each other
in the scenes.
And I think that kind of intoxicating time
when you just want to absorb the other person,
I think the show gets it really right.
You?
- I completely agree.
I'd say it is that, isn't it?
It's the kind of,
it's the first flush of love
and the slightly hysterical (laughs) like excitement.
- Yep.
- Marianne especially, I think when we first meet her
she has this quite low opinion of herself.
She sort of feels she's someone who's not worthy of love,
and I think there's a wonderful, kind of, limbo period
where they're first together where she starts to imagine
that maybe she could fit in and be accepted
and I think that's something I relate to
when you know someone loves you who you think's amazing,
suddenly you're like, well maybe I,
maybe I'm all good. - Yeah.
(laughing)
- So Dais, what do you think is unique about this show
in terms of how it portrays intimacy and love
between two young people?
- I would say it's unique because I think,
I guess particularly with the intimacy part of it
there is no kind of, attempt to
shine a soft, glowing, golden light on it.
It's very, kind of raw (laughs) and realistic
and quite messy and awkward at times
and I think it's a really healthy depiction of
what intimacy between two people looks like,
'cause often when we watch TV and film, or even read stories
it's these massive dramatic moments that feel
very unrelatable to what the reality is.
And it's really refreshing to see, for example,
their first time together scene,
that it is incredible awkward and a bit fumbly and giggly
and they both kind of (laughs)
aren't sort of smooth in the sense.
And as well, the way Connell treats Marianne, you know,
he makes sure that she feels safe
and she's comfortable with everything
and I think that's really healthy depiction of intimacy.
Also I'd say the fact that they aren't always perfect
and they really mess up
and their relationship can sometimes be quite flawed
and even though they can do wonderful things for each other
and communicate in this incredibly honest, clear way,
they can also really massively damage each other and
even if they don't mean to
and it usually comes form their own problems.
- So, Dais, would you recommend binging it
or watching it, like, drip feeding the series?
- I would say that
to get the full impact you need to binge, personally.
- Yeah.
- You'd agree, you'd need some tissues (laughs) nearby.
There's some crying.
- Yeah.
- You (laughing) need some food
like maybe some popcorn and maybe a heavy drink.
And then just, yeah, binge it in one big go
'cause I think they just come in such juicy nuggets
to get maximum impact.
- Juicy nuggets.
(laughter)
- What about you?
- Yeah, no I definitely think it has to be binged.
Like most people binged the book or the equivalent of it
so I think, yeah, sit down,
open up a bottle of wine
and hopefully enjoy.
(laughing)
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