Derry Girls (2018-2022) is a Masterpiece
Photo courtesy of Lukas Kloeppel/Pexels
Grounded in Irish Streets, Derry Girls (2018-2022) brings local life to global screens.
When I first began watching Derry Girls (2018-2022), I had been browsing through Netflix for a lighthearted show to watch before bed. As someone who tends to be a media rewatcher, always returning to a few well-loved movies or shows, I decided to give this one a glance. As a lover of comedies and a hater of all things dark and depressing, I was excited by the description of the show—and it did not hurt that it took place in a Northern Irish Catholic girls school; I attended an all girls Catholic high school, and also harbor a borderline obsession with Irish history—I figured I might be the target audience.
Even so, the more I watched, the more I realized that the show could have a far wider reach than I imagined. Set in the early 1990s, the show takes place in a city in Northern Ireland, reflected in the title, which became a hotbed for The Troubles, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s until the “Good Friday Agreement” was signed in 1998.
Derry Girls (2018-2022) distinctly places itself within the conflict, with characters often found watching news announcements in the background, the diffusion of bombs and weapons checks featuring as a frequent nuisance, and soldiers often spotted roaming the streets. The show, however, still maintains its focus on the main characters—a group of teenagers navigating the normal difficulties associated with growing up. This is partially what makes the show so compelling; the audience gets to witness how growing up amidst the conflict changes the characters’ lives, but also how they are still essentially relatable teenagers, doing stupid things and trying their absolute best to avoid facing the consequences. The show contains a great deal of social commentary, but it is also infused with comedy at every moment. This combination provides a lighthearted observation of commonly experienced issues, as well as issues specific to this country and moment in time.
What I love and hate about Derry Girls (2018-2022) in equal measure, however, is its length. With a total of 19 episodes (each with a duration of approximately 20 minutes) spanning three seasons, Derry Girls (2018-2022) is a quick watch. It is easy to binge, and does not overstay its welcome. The challenges that many shows face, wherein characters get too old for the show, the writers struggle to extend the plot, and character development seems to halt entirely, are absent. I could not cite a single point in Derry Girls (2018-2022) in which the quality of episodes takes a nosedive, like I unfortunately could for other shows of greater length.
It is tragic because of the consistently high quality of episodes, that the series seems to end so quickly. I have shown friends episodes of Derry Girls (2018-2022) and am immediately confronted with the astonished question: “It’s only three seasons?” As someone who has rewatched the series a truly obscene amount, as I watch the same episodes for the twentieth time, I can’t help but wish for more. The show is simply too good.
I think a big reason for this is because the show ended so soon. Its brevity allowed it to retain its authenticity and stay in my mind as a masterpiece. It is hilarious, heartwarming, and very relatable. It is educational to those of us who might not know much about The Troubles, or Northern Ireland in general, while always remaining entertaining and engaging.
While the show seems particularly appealing to young people, who will find commonalities with the lives of the main characters, it is also appropriate for older audiences. As someone who has watched several episodes with my grandparents and witnessed them immediately becoming engaged and entertained, I can attest to its broad reach. I recommend it to everyone interested.
If you do take my recommendation and watch Derry Girls (2018-2022), be prepared to laugh a lot, cry a little (especially in the finale), and maybe turn on your subtitles, because those accents can be tricky!