The cut to the back of Connell’s head with the train pulling out at 1:13 is absolutely devastating. I think it's the buildup that makes it so good. Marianne's monologue is so raw, and the camera angles so intimate, that we are totally drawn into her words and emotions. Then, as the music builds up, she ends with the question “and how are you?” Even without seeing his face or hearing him say anything in response, we know him well enough to know what he is thinking. Then the jarring cut to the platform, where we adopt Connell's perspective, reveals that thoughts are racing through his mind just like the train literally races past his head. This cut also gives us the sense that he was so distraught after hearing about Jamie and Marianne’s relationship that he couldn’t process anything else in the conversation. Once we do see his face, the blank expression staring at the ground confirms that he is totally affected by the conversation. Truly amazing how the cinematic choices give the viewer a sense for what characters are thinking without actually narrating their individual thoughts (which is something the novel does so well but is hard to do on tv).
Also, even the little scene were Marianne is picking at her thumb nervously parallels her relationship with Jamie; she is hurting herself but still feels compelled to do it. This show is brilliant honestly.
