Common People. 1.01 “Now We’re Sucking Diesel”

Set in contemporary Northern Ireland, Common People is set against the backdrop of intergenerational conflict, a lack of social cohesion, and diversity. Eoghan and Maeve fall for each other despite coming from two opposing communities. This causes tension between their families, as does the decision by the local authority to merge both their schools. Least happy about this decision is Eoghan’s granny Mary. A tough old battle axe, Mary has been involved in Irish politics for over 40 years. However, as Mary’s party begin to mark a break with their past and plan for the future she soon finds out she is not part of those plans. Mary is married to Shanto (Eoghan’s granda) who is the heart of the family but also the doormat. He supports his wife as she adapts to a mundane and “pointless” existence outside of politics. Clare is mother to both Eoghan and his three year old Brother (Oísín). A single parent since Eoghan’s alcoholic father was arrested for drink driving. Colm is Eoghan’s best friend and in a relationship with Maeve’s best friend Jenny. However, his relationships with both his friends and Jenny are destroyed when she finds out that he’s saved private images of her which accidentally are shared with someone else.Patrick and Danny complete Eoghan’s friendship group. Danny is a hothead from a deeply religious family who is struggling with the fact that he is gay. Fully comfortable with his own bisexuality, Patrick is no longer willing to wait to begin living his life as Danny begs him to keep their relationship a secret. As the pair split up Danny soon realises just what he is missing but he may be too late as Patrick starts seeing another boy before being put into a coma after a gay-bashing. Maeve is a confident and intelligent girl, who is drawn to Eoghan’s coy nature. Her struggles to support her friend and navigate her new relationship becomes the least of her worries as she falls pregnant. Both families must come to terms with the fact that Eoghan and Maeve’s relationship might be more permanent than they expected. The decision of the education authority to begin merging Catholic and Protestant schools awakens forces from the past as paramilitaries return to the streets of Belfast.