Submitted by HomeLife8605 t3_zyosg3 in television
I just finished Derry Girls. If you haven't seen it, it's about a group of catholic friends who are growing up in Derry during the Troubles in the 1990s.
I first watched pilot a year or so ago and for some reason didn't think it was for me, but then picked up again this week and I cannot believe it took me so long to get to it. This show is absolutely phenomenal.
It manages to capture the nostalgia of the era (as someone born in the late 80s, it felt like watching reruns of my own childhood) and that feeling of living in a small place where seemingly nothing happens and everything remains the same and you see the same people day in and day out. I think anyone who was a teenager in Europe at the time and followed what was going on with the Troubles and other conflicts probably relate a lot to the characters.
Speaking of the characters. At first, I didn't like Michelle, but she turned into my favourite of them all. I am convinced she's the mother hen of the group. I love that she accepts James and gets angry at the thought of him leaving. She's a lot more complex than I first gave her credit for and a lot smarter than what she believes herself.
They're all incredibly well-written characters with their own quirks and I like all the group. I don't think James deserves the hate he seems to get online, I think he's sweet and does a good job of making the most of being the odd one out in a politically tense situation like that.
Sister Michael - what a brilliant bit of casting - Siobhán McSweeney is an absolute legend and every time she's on screen I was laughing.
Usually, in comedies where teenagers are the protagonists, I find the adults can often be very cringe and out of place, but the parents in DG are so funny on their and together. It just felt like a very believable family who ocassionally get annoyed with each other and fight, but also manage to laugh and see the good in things, especially during a difficult situation.
The absurdity of all the shenanigans the girls get up to might seem ridiculous, but I also enjoyed as a contrast to what their lives must have been like with the uncertaintity of the future.
I think Derry Girl's is a show that captures an important time in our history while also being act as a love letter to one's childhood in a way that is rare to find these days. Watching it felt like being reunited with friends that could easily have been my friends growing up.
The soundtrack was great and the dialogue was so fantastically funny.
I think it's one of those shows that will stay with at least me for a very long time.
Some favourite quotes of mine:
"But you're English, James. About five of you managed to colonise half the planet, we thought you'd have something up your sleeve."
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“We haven’t even covered the famine!”
“We got the gist. We ran out of spuds. Everyone was ragin’.”
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“How does it work? will someone please explain it to me, because sometimes i feel like i’ve gone through the fucking looking glass!"
Bonus shoutout to Uncle Colm and Ardal O'hanlon (whose character name escapes me).
I'm sad there won't be a S4, but I'm half hoping maybe we'll get to see a film in the future :)
Edit: this blew up way more than I thought! Thanks for the awards :)
Edit 2: first silver award! And RIP my notification inbox.