[PREVIEW] 'Conversations With Friends' Has Questions About Intimacy

“Normal People” was the first Sally Rooney streaming series to enrapture the viewing public, with Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones bringing sensitive jock Connell and snooty social outcast Marianne to life onscreen. But “Conversations With Friends” is the original Rooney, the debut novel that launched the Irish writer to such massive fame and acclaim that her public persona now primarily revolves around her discomfort with being so famous and acclaimed. This spring, the team that adapted “Normal People” for Hulu worked backwards to adapt her first novel, also for Hulu.

Whereas “Normal People” is a fairly straightforward romance, “Conversations With Friends” takes on a more complex relationship: a foursome made up of Frances and Bobbi, two university students/ex-girlfriends/best friends/creative partners; and Melissa and Nick, a 36-year-old successful writer and her 32-year-old husband, an actor. The two dyads become entangled when Melissa (Jemima Kirke) sees Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane) performing spoken word together and initiates a friendship. She and Bobbi, the gregarious sides of their respective couples, are drawn together; Frances and Nick (Joe Alwyn) find solace with each other and soon embark on an affair. Frances, whose perspective the audience takes throughout, tries to sort through her feelings for Nick and Bobbi, and even Melissa, while each relationship affects the group dynamic and sends other relationships twirling in different directions.

In this episode, we have a friendly conversation about this adaptation, the performances of Mr. Taylor Swift and Jessa from “Girls” (so sorry, guys) as well as their younger costars, and what the book/show have to say about ethical and unethical non-monogamy, marriage, generational conflict, and power. Hope you enjoy!

We’ve been reading…

Finally finished “The Candy House,” which did absolutely stick the landing, and have moved onto some lighter summer fare, by way of Emily Henry’s “Book Lovers.” I am loving the way that this novel plays with the Hallmark/Lifetime movie tropes about sad career women and small town hunks. It’s a delight! -Emma

I wanted to read Elif Batuman’s “Either/Or,” and then realized I couldn’t remember “The Idiot” (like, at all? This book came out in 2017. Help). So I’m rereading “The Idiot,” and maybe it’s that I no longer feel suffocated by the cloud of rhapsodic buzz that hovered over its initial release, but it’s so much funnier and more absorbing than I remembered. It’s a bit like Sally Rooney in the polished remoteness of its prose, but nerdier, denser, and more packed with dry-as-the-Sahara wit. -Claire

We’ve been listening to…

Maintenance Phase’s incredibly informative episode on calories. As someone who has spent years trying to develop a better relationship with my body and food, as well as challenge my own internalized fatphobia, I find Maintenance Phase to be an incredible resource, but this episode in particular was so helpful in challenging ideas we tend to assume as nutritional ~truths~ — like the simple maxim “calories in, calories out.” I have sent this episode to at least 3 friends because it’s so good. -Emma

Not to recommend another Michael Hobbes joint, but he guested on Kaitlyn Burns and Oliver Ash-Kleine’s podcast, “Cancel Me, Daddy,” to talk about the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial. In it, he talks about his initial disinclination to pay attention to the trial (relatable) and his realization that because so many left/liberal commentators and journalists felt exactly the same, right-wing commentators and TikTok stans were able to control the public narrative. I will cop to having ignored the trial myself, and to having had my vague opinions influenced by the balance of what people seemed to be thinking at first; in a society that is not only incredibly misogynistic but in the midst of an active backlash to feminist activism, that is a recipe for having your brain poisoned by the right.

Speaking of brain-poisoning on the right, I also really appreciated a crossover ep from two of my favorite pods: the hosts of Five Four appeared on Know Your Enemy this week to talk through the legal history and implications of the impending Supreme Court decision overturning Roe. -Claire

We’ve been watching…

Besides binging all 12 episodes of “Conversations With Friends” in succession, I’ve also been watching “Under The Banner of Heaven,” the FX show based on John Krakauer’s 2003 nonfiction book of the same name. It follows the history of Mormonism intercut with some very disturbing true crime, and explores the perils of religious extremism. Plus, Andrew Garfield and “Normal People’s” Daisy Edgar-Jones. -Emma

Greg and I have started the latest season of “Breeders,” Martin Freeman’s FX dark comedy about a London-dwelling couple who are struggling with the travails of parenting. Both of their children are adolescents by this season, and Freeman’s character, a dad with serious anger issues, has nearly destroyed his relationship with his teenage son through his bouts of rage. It’s still funny, but often pretty sobering; like “Workin’ Moms,” it started out as a charmingly unsentimental comedy about loving parents who have rougher edges than the idealized sitcom mom or dad, but evolved into a sometimes bleak look at how those rough edges — especially an uncontrolled temper — can have more profound consequences than scandalizing pearl-clutching moms at playgroup. Anyway, lots of therapy for me, just in case! -Claire

We’ve been buying…

I mean… I went a little crazy during the Nap Dress Summer Hill House drop. (Is it an illness? Yes! Obviously!) Some of the pieces I’m most excited about (all still in stock!) are this sweet pink lace Ellie, the Ophelia dress in Rose poplin, the Alexa top (loving both patterns in this one and its adjustable neckline), the Lucia dress in cotton voile, and for extra funsies/sun protection, this Rose Sun Hat. Can’t wait to wear some of these this summer as I pretend to be a fancy lady of leisure. -Emma

It probably goes without saying that I also have a new summer nap dress or two headed my way (the lilac stripe linen Ellie will probably be the more practical choice but I couldn’t resist trying on the pink roses Ellie too). But I also decided that I have reached the wide linen trousers stage of my life, and to start the transition, I ordered these Tradlands trousers in sienna. They are so soft, can be worn the way I like (very high-waisted), and look great with a basic tank. (They’re an ethical brand, aka pricey, but I do have a referral link for a lil discount!) -Claire -Claire