created by Lisa McGee, 2018-2022
I was putting off writing this post about Derry Girls because I couldn't quite articulate how perfect it is. However, the day I’m writing this (Jan 5th) is the five-year anniversary of the day Derry Girls premiered in the UK. I can put this off no longer!
If you have never watched Derry Girls, you are missing out on something brilliant. It’s a series about five teenagers going to school in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. For those of you that aren’t aware, The Troubles were a time, culminating in the 1990s, when Ireland was facing massive internal conflict between those that identified as British (usually Protestant) and those that identified as Irish (usually Catholic). It was a violent and disruptive period in Irish and UK history. Despite the heavy time period in which it’s set, this series is incredibly goofy, charming, and funny. This is because it focuses on the daily lives of the characters, and their incredibly average teenage struggles: boys, dances, concerts, and test scores.
Derry Girls centers on Erin, Claire, Michelle, Orla, and James: five friends living in Derry and attending a Catholic all-girls school (James attends there because he would get beaten to a pulp at a boys school on account of his being English). In only 19 episodes, we watch as the kids grow up into young adults, living rather average lives during this huge historical period. Every single character (and I mean every single one) is hilarious in their own way and presents unique quirks that build off of each other for peak hilarity. Well-casted and extremely well-written, this is one of the best ensembles of all time, in my opinion.
The aesthetic of this series is incredibly unique, yet feels familiar. It is based on the creator, Lisa McGee’s, childhood in Derry. The soundtrack is all big 90s hits, especially the song “Dreams” by the Cranberries, which acts a little as a theme song for the series. The girls’ love for pop culture hits and styles is directly opposed with their working class lives in a small town. Although this may sound like a weird combination of aesthetics, it actually works to show how much the girls want to break out of their small town and live stylish, exciting lives (and who doesn’t relate to that?).
The humor comes mostly from dialogue. Even the dim-witted characters make quick jokes. It almost feels funny by accident, which I love. The dialogue seems authentic, with situations that seem to naturally fall into chaos in the funniest ways. When it comes to coming-of-age comedies, this series performs excellently.
In every category, Derry Girls receives top marks. The characters are charming, the jokes always land, and the history of the Troubles adds a depth beyond that of a normal sitcom. When I finished the last season recently, I immediately started the series over and watched it all the way through. Please do yourself the favor of watching this show, and you will fall in love with it as well!
Comments