The Internet is thirsty for Connell’s chain on ‘Normal People’

If you’re reading this, there’s a 90% chance that you, too, have binge-watched Normal People. The BBC adaption of Sally Rooney’s 2018 book club favourite dropped in late April and has already become a lockdown favourite thanks to the fact that we’re all pretty horny right now and the show is so raunchy that it provoked 37 informal complaints to Irish broadcaster RTÉ .

The drama’s handling of themes such as consent, contraception and kink feel relevant and necessary, sure. But the fact is, most of us are watching for the unnecessary sexual interludes and the oddly erotic quality of Marianne’s “not like the other posh girls” charm (maybe that last one’s just me). And as casual hookups become a distant memory, viewers have become particularly enamoured with one little detail about male lead Connell, played by Paul Mescal.

Nope, it’s not his sheepish grin, but rather the tiny silver chain that the character wears throughout the series. Glistening like a micro suit of armour, the Internet has expressed its admiration for the accessory loud and clear, with one Twitter user writing “You’re lying if Connell’s chain from Normal People didn’t make you feel a certain way” to the tune of 1200 likes.

And now, as with anything tapping into the zeitgeist, an Instagram dedicated to Connell’s chain has been created. Posting pictures of The Chain alongside understandably thirsty captions,@connellschain has racked up nearly 19,000 followers since being created on Saturday (2 May). In the interest of serious investigative journalism, we reached out to its founders via Instagram DM but sadly have yet to receive a response. 

Now that we’ve all realised that chains automatically make men more attractive, searches for the item have reportedly surged by 130 per cent on ASOS alone: making Connell this spring’s unexpected fashion icon.