TV Review: Conversations with Friends (2022). Hulu.

This is the second mini-series on Hulu based on a novel by Sally Rooney. I previously did a brief review of the mini-series Normal People, based on Rooney's second novel, which follows a bright young woman and her sometimes boyfriend in Ireland as they find their way through an emotional and sexual journey of discovery at the end of high school, and then through their university years together and apart.

Conversations with Friends is based on Rooney’s first novel of the same name, and follows two young women at the university in Dublin (nicely played by Alison Oliver and Sasha Lane), who share interests and affection for each other, and who were previously lovers but are now just close friends. Like most young people, they are making mistakes, trying things out, and attempting to discover who they are and what they want to do, while dealing with the usual family, school and roommate challenges that are typical of this early adult stage of life.

Into the mix comes a sophisticated somewhat older married couple, a successful writer (Jemima Kirke) and her handsome but introverted actor husband (Joe Alwyn), who befriend the pair, hosting them at parties and taking them on an exotic vacation. What could possibly go wrong? Of course, there are new attractions in the quartet, and an affair, and a lot of complex emotions to be experienced and resolved.

I’m pretty sure this is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it an intriguing look into the challenges of being a young adult in this era. It sensitively explores issues of complicated sexual identity and attractions for young women, the appeal but also the problems with polyamory, the emotional risks inherent in ubiquitous electronic communications, and the challenges of maintaining friendships when sexual feelings and jealousies cloud the relationships.

The story is slow-moving, and all the characters seem on some level to be struggling with depression, and a perceived lack of fulfillment in their existing life situations, despite some measures of success and recognition in their personal and professional lives. But it’s all still interesting, and very easy to relate to experiences and feelings most of us had when we were young adults, or at least to stories of people we’ve known. Recommended.