Derry Girls is a series released in 2018, produced by Channel 4 and Netflix. It’s a gritty, offbeat series set against the backdrop of conflict-ridden Northern Ireland in the 1990s. In 20-minute episodes, it recounts the more-than-ordinary, old-fashioned daily lives of 5 teenagers in Derry, Northern Ireland, a city in the midst of civil conflict, pitting (to put it simply) Irish republicans against British loyalists. An irreverent comedy that won over thousands of viewers!
Don’t try to compare Derry Girls to any other series in the same genre. Because Derry Girls is a real UFO, with a delicious and surprising tone. It tells the story of 4 Catholic high school girls:
Added to this is the presence of James, the only boy in the gang and Michelle’s English cousin. Often mocked by his 4 Irish friends for being so British, he’s one of the comic elements that adds extra spice to the program. In it, you’ll discover that he’s the only boy in Derry to attend an all-girls high school, the latter fearing for his safety as a Brit in a boys’ high school (you get the idea…).
All dressed in their traditional green school uniforms, these characters face a host of comic twists and turns. Their concerns are 100% superficial, set against the backdrop of Derry, a city torn apart by daily violence.
And this is where the genius of the series comes into play: the magic of the series is created by a clever contrast between the frivolity of its young people and the harshness of the Northern Irish conflict. You’ll discover how these pimply teenagers are far more occupied with their stories, flirtations, shenanigans and parties than with the attacks going on around them.
The characters are endearing, ultra-caricatured, and always have just the right word to make the viewer behind the TV smile. The punchlines are a real treat, all finesse and cynicism, served up in a delicious Irish accent (prefer the subtitled version: it’s worth the detour!).
Forget the idea of attending a regular high school soap. Derry Girls is a much finer and more interesting series, which doesn’t just tell the story of adolescent triviality à la Gossip Girl…
You’ll witness scenes of great violence, surprisingly ignored by the teenagers: their school bus being searched by armed troops without the girls interrupting their frivolous discussions, the Derry bridge being blown up only because it will create traffic jams in the city… The contrast is striking, and brilliantly demonstrates that whatever the context, a teenager remains a teenager, with his problems, dreams and aspirations.
4.00/5 (9 votes)
4.40/5 (5 votes)
