Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn star in the 2022 drama, Conversations with Friends, based on the debut novel of Normal People author Sally Rooney

he BBC’s brilliant drama, Conversations with Friends, based on the 2017 novel by Normal People author Sally Rooney, is coming to Netflix this week – and it could just be your next TV binge.

The 12-part Dublin-set series, which is billed as a “seductive” love story, follows the lives of friends and exes, Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane), who cross paths with married writer Melissa (Jemima Kirke) and her husband, Nick (Joe Alwyn). What follows is an intense story of love and infidelity.

While it might be a slow-burn, this beautifully shot and compelling tale of tangled relationships is brilliantly portrayed by its impressive cast of stars. It marks the TV debut of Irish actress Alison Oliver, who has since starred in Saltburn, Wuthering Heights and acclaimed crime drama Task. Hamnet actor Joe Alwyn also stars, alongside Girls‘ Jemima Kirke and Loki‘s Sasha Lane.

Although it’s hard to match the electric chemistry between Paul Mescal’s Connell and Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Marianne in Normal People, viewers can expect the same slow pacing, intensity and attention to detail. If you like character-driven stories about messy millennials and their complicated romantic relationships, then it’s worth checking out Conversations with Friends. Keep reading to find out more…

Alison Oliver stars as Frances

What is Conversations with Friends about?

The story follows Frances and Bobbi, two best friends and exes who are students at Trinity College in Dublin. While they broke up three years ago, they are still inseparable and perform spoken-word poetry together. At one of their shows, they meet Melissa, an older writer, who is fascinated by them.

The synopsis continues: “Bobbi and Frances start to spend time with Melissa and her husband, Nick (Joe Alwyn), a handsome but reserved actor. While Melissa and Bobbi flirt with each other openly, Nick and Frances embark on an intense, secret affair that is surprising to them both.

“Soon the affair begins to test the bond between Frances and Bobbi, forcing Frances to reconsider her sense of self, and the friendship she holds so dear.”

The series has been hailed as “brilliant” by viewers

What have viewers said about the show?

Upon its release in 2022, viewers hailed the show as “brilliant” and “emotional”. One person penned: “Brilliant, beautiful, thoughtful series. Loved it even more than Normal People,” while another added: “8 episodes into #ConversationswithFriends. Wow! Omg! Can’t wait to binge the rest. Brilliant!”

A third viewer said the show was “perfectly cast”, adding: “Conversations With Friends the TV adaptation is a phenomenal success and I loved every moment of it. I may even re-watch.”

The series received mixed reviews from critics

What have critics said about the series?

The series was met with mixed reviews from critics, with The Times hailing the drama as “earnest, extremely slow and exquisitely done” in its four-star review.

Meanwhile, The Guardian handed out three stars, describing the show as “imperfect and at times unwieldy, sometimes working and sometimes not,” while The Independent said of the series in its two-star review: “[It’s slow, solipsistic and self-satisfied – but it has a sort of ambient appeal”.

The series is coming to Netflix this week

How to watch Conversations with Friends

The series arrives on Netflix on Sunday 22 February. All 12 episodes are also available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.