How to Get to Heaven From Belfast Review: A Bonkers, Brilliant Return from Derry Girls Creator
Lisa McGee, the mastermind behind the beloved series Derry Girls, makes a triumphant return with her new Netflix show, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast. This eight-part series, which follows a trio of thirtysomething friends as they grapple with careers, motherhood, and the sudden death of a schoolfriend, is refreshingly idiosyncratic and brilliantly executed.
From Derry Girls to a New Chapter
How do you follow up a phenomenon like Derry Girls? McGee's previous comedy, set in her hometown during the Troubles, evolved from a cult Channel 4 favourite to a global Netflix sensation. The characters became so iconic they now adorn a mural near Derry's city walls. For her next act, McGee shifts focus about 70 miles down the road to Belfast, while still exploring the complexities of female friendship with her signature wit.
Though the new series shares some thematic concerns with Derry Girls, tonally it's a distinct departure. Where Derry Girls was a straightforward half-hour sitcom, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast defies easy categorization, blending dark comedy, kitsch adventure, and action thriller elements into a unique whole.
A Trio of Compelling Characters
McGee demonstrates her knack for creating authentic platonic bonds through three central characters who have maintained their friendship since secondary school. Saoirse, played by Roisin Gallagher, is a successful TV crime writer who appears to despise both her fiancé and her leading lady. Robyn, portrayed by Sinéad Keenan, is a glamorous but overwhelmed mother of three young boys. Dara, brought to life by Caoilfhionn Dunne, has put her own life on hold to care for her ageing mother.
The story kicks into gear when all three receive an email inviting them to the wake of their friend Greta, once the fourth member of their teenage gang. Upon arrival, they discover troubling questions surrounding Greta's untimely death, plunging them into a madcap mystery that forces them to confront a long-buried event from their adolescence.
A Genre-Defying Joyride
How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is best described as a caper that veers delightfully between tones. It creates a world that feels both entirely recognizable in its depiction of shifting friendship dynamics and external pressures, and wonderfully surreal with its eccentric supporting characters. A standout example is a biker priest who refuses to take confession outside office hours, quipping about Rome encouraging work-life balance.
The series features cameos from Derry Girls alumni, including Art Campion as Robyn's underwhelming husband and Saoirse-Monica Jackson in a flamboyant purple wig. While Derry Girls celebrated Nineties nostalgia, this new show revels in Noughties pop, with tracks like "The Ketchup Song," "Whole Again," and Girls Aloud hits creating a millennial-friendly soundtrack.
Conclusion: Bonkers but Brilliant
The overall effect is exactly as described: bonkers but brilliant. In a television landscape often filled with formulaic content designed for distracted viewing, McGee's series stands out as a joyful, inventive creation. It's a genuine treat to witness a writer having this much fun while delivering sharp observations about friendship, adulthood, and the mysteries we carry from youth. How to Get to Heaven From Belfast proves McGee's voice remains as distinctive and compelling as ever.
