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Conversations with Friends (TV series)

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Conversations with Friends
Based onConversations with Friends
by Sally Rooney
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Country of origin
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Catherine Magee
  • Jeanie Igoe
Running time25–31 minutes
Production company
Original release
Network
Release15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)
Related
Normal People

Conversations with Friends is an Irish television serial based on the 2017 novel of the same name by the Irish author Sally Rooney. Developed by Element Pictures for BBC Three and Hulu in association with RTÉ,[1] it is the second adaptation by this crew of a Rooney novel after Normal People in 2020. Conversations with Friends was first broadcast on 15 May 2022. The series received mixed reviews with praise for the performance of lead cast and aesthetics.

Cast

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Main

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Supporting

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  • Alex Murphy as Philip, Frances and Bobbi's friend
  • Caoimhe Coburn Gray as Aideen, Frances and Bobbi's friend
  • Justine Mitchell as Paula Flynn, Frances' mother
  • Tommy Tiernan as Dennis Flynn, Frances' alcoholic father
  • Kerry Fox as Valerie Taylor-Gates, Melissa's agent
  • Tadhg Murphy as Derek, a long time friend of Nick and Melissa
  • Sallay Garnett as Evelyn, Melissa and Nick's friend
  • Emmanuel Okoye as Andrew, Aideen's boyfriend

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Lenny AbrahamsonAlice Birch15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
While performing spoken word poetry at an open mic in Dublin, college students Frances and her best friend and ex-girlfriend Bobbi cross paths with Melissa, a writer in her late 30s. Melissa invites the pair to her house for dinner where they meet her husband Nick, an actor. Their lives become increasingly intertwined as Bobbi and Melissa strike up a friendship and Frances develops a crush on Nick.
2"Episode 2"Lenny AbrahamsonMark O'Halloran15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
Melissa invites the friends to her birthday party. Frances kisses Nick. Later Nick invites Frances to come over while Melissa is away. The next day, Frances visits her parents in the country.
3"Episode 3"Lenny AbrahamsonMark O'Halloran15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
Frances and Nick have sex for the first time. They get to know each other, and Nick confides in her that Melissa had cheated on him in the past. Melissa invites the girls to a holiday in Croatia.
4"Episode 4"Lenny AbrahamsonMeadhbh McHugh and Susan Soon He Stanton15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
The girls arrive in Croatia. They eat, drink and explore the town and countryside. At night, Nick comes to Frances' room and the two sleep together again.
5"Episode 5"Lenny AbrahamsonMeadhbh McHugh and Susan Soon He Stanton15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
Melissa is on-edge after a visit from her agent, Valerie. After a boozy dinner Nick comes to Frances' room but is interrupted by Bobbi. Tensions rise as Bobbi grows frustrated with Frances's reluctance to talk about Nick's attraction to her.
6"Episode 6"Leanne WelhamMeadhbh McHugh15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
After the holiday, Frances goes to see her mother. She ends up in the hospital with severe abdominal pain after getting her period. After being discharged from the hospital she visits her father, confronted by his worsening alcoholism. She returns to Dublin and tries to make amends with Bobbi.
7"Episode 7"Leanne WelhamMeadhbh McHugh15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
In need of a new roommate, Frances asks Bobbi to move in with her. Nick returns from Croatia and starts coming round to Frances' flat. He wants to tell Melissa about the affair.
8"Episode 8"Leanne WelhamMeadhbh McHugh15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
At Melissa's book launch, Frances is overcome with jealousy after seeing Nick and Melissa together. She goes on a Tinder date but seems uninterested. Nick invites her over. She says she loves him then leaves. Meanwhile Bobbi begins to grow frustrated with Frances's jealousy
9"Episode 9"Leanne WelhamMark O'Halloran15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
After learning that Melissa’s agent wants to see some of Frances' work, she writes a short story reflecting on her relationship with Bobbi. Frances collapses and is helped home by Bobbi. Nick comes to see her and tells her he loves her.
10"Episode 10"Leanne WelhamAlice Birch15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
Melissa tells Frances she wants to work out a way for Nick to be with both of them. Valerie decides to publish Frances's short story. While out shopping, Frances gets a concerning voicemail from her father.
11"Episode 11"Lenny AbrahamsonAlice Birch15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
Nick had a breakdown. Frances is diagnosed with endometriosis. Nick says he slept with Melissa. The friends go to Nick's birthday party but Frances leaves. Bobbi, angry after discovering the short story Frances wrote, decides to move out.
12"Episode 12"Lenny AbrahamsonAlice Birch15 May 2022 (2022-05-15)N/A
Frances calls Melissa and realises the damage she has done to other people. She apologises to Bobbi and says she loves her. They get back together again. Nick (accidentally) calls her. He misses her. She says "come and get me".

Production

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Development

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In February 2020, it was announced that Conversations with Friends would be made into a 12-episode miniseries,[2][3] and that most of the creative team behind the adaptation of Rooney's second novel, Normal People, including Element Pictures, director Lenny Abrahamson, and co-writer Alice Birch, would be returning for this adaptation.[4][5] Mark O'Halloran, Meadhbh McHugh, and Susan Soon He Stanton were added as writers, and Leanne Welham was added as a director.[6]

Casting

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The cast was announced in February 2021, with Joe Alwyn, Jemima Kirke, Sasha Lane, and Alison Oliver as the book's main quartet.[6]

Filming

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Principal photography began in April 2021, in Northern Ireland. Locations include Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Hvar, Croatia.[7] Cast and crew were on set in Bray, County Wicklow that July.[8] The production included an intimacy coordinator, Ita O'Brien.[9]

Release

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The series premiered/released on 15 May 2022, on BBC Three and Hulu.[10] It premiered on RTÉ One on Wednesday May 18 with a feature-length episode.[11] Endeavor Content will distribute the series internationally.[6]

As of May 30, 2023, the series was removed from the Hulu streaming platform.[12]

Reception

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On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the limited series holds a 60% approval rating based on 58 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "'While the characters are unevenly compelling and the overlong plotting makes these Conversations often go in circles, this adaptation retains some of the observant wisdom that made Sally Rooney's novel shine."[13] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 65 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Watch the first trailer for Conversations with Friends". RTÉ.ie. 8 February 2022.
  2. ^ "BBC announces adaptation of Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends, reuniting Lenny Abrahamson and Element Pictures". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  3. ^ Sampson, Annabel (5 May 2020). "Everything you need to know about Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends TV adaptation". Tatler. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ^ Specter, Emma (12 May 2020). "Everything We Know So Far About the Conversations With Friends TV Series". Vogue. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  5. ^ Lindsay, Kathryn (12 May 2020). "Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends Is Following In Normal People's TV Footsteps". Refinery 29. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Kanter, Jake (17 February 2021). "'Conversations With Friends': Joe Alwyn, Jemima Kirke Join Cast For BBC/Hulu Follow-Up To 'Normal People'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  7. ^ Cunningham, Ed (17 May 2022). "Where was 'Conversations With Friends' filmed?". Time Out. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  8. ^ McGoldrick, Debbie (8 July 2021). "Sally Rooney's "Conversations with Friends" begins filming in Ireland". Irish Central. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  9. ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (30 April 2022). "Joe Alwyn on Conversations With Friends and sex scenes: 'They're like filming fights – quite mechanical'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  10. ^ Rankin, Seija (12 April 2022). "Hulu Releases Extended 'Conversations With Friends' Trailer, Sets Premiere Date (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  11. ^ "RTÉ announces release date for Sally Rooney's 'Conversations with Friends'". 30 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Streaming services are removing tons of movies and shows — it's not personal, it's strictly business". CNBC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Conversations with Friends: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Conversations with Friends: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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