Netflix never ceases to surprise us: the VOD leader has just released “Derry Girls”, a gritty, offbeat series set against the backdrop of conflict-ridden Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Divided into 6 episodes, the series recounts the ordinary daily lives of 5 teenagers from Derry in Northern Ireland, a city in the midst of civil conflict, pitting (to put it simply) Irish republicans against British loyalists.
And the result is quite astonishing: you’ll discover the lives of 4 Catholic high school girls: Erin, Orla, Clare and Michelle, as well as the life of James, the only boy in the gang and Michelle’s English cousin, who is often mocked by his 4 Irish friends for being so British. Dressed in traditional green school uniforms, you’ll follow their adventures and other superficial preoccupations, set against the backdrop of a Derry city torn apart by daily violence.
And this is where the genius of the series comes into its own: the magic is created by a clever contrast between the frivolity of the students and the harshness of the Northern Irish conflict. You’ll discover how these pimply teenagers are far more concerned with their stories, flirtations, screw-ups and drunken 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 teenagers: their school bus being searched by armed troops without the girls interrupting their frivolous discussions, the Derry bridge being blown up only to annoy 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 or her problems, dreams and aspirations.
A truly astonishing series, distilled into 6 20-minute episodes. A Season 2 is already in the works, and just what we need: more!
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