The acting is brilliant. Visually, it looks good. Soundtrack and score is compatible. Overall, it's well made. But, there are 2 things that makes Normal People different from any shows i've seen.

1. The Writing and Directing
Marrianne and Connel 's character is unlike any character i have ever seen before. They doesn't have "strong personalities" which most main character of a show usually is. They're just like .... Normal People (HA!).
-There's little to almost no background of the main character. They way it was written, almost like they just shows a collection of scene of the main characters life, which made it more "realistic" (The point i'm trying to make is it'd written like Buambach's Marriage Story style). -The writing is kinda "bland". The storyline progress fast and nicely, but the way it was written is really flat, the conversation between the characters (at least the "tone" of it) .... almost boring, even. I think they do it on purpose to make it more realistic.

2. The Pacing


I guess overall, the way it was written is "risky" since it has so much potential to be boring but they managed to done it really well. Kudos to the director, editor and the actors that in my opinion stands out the mot.