On Feb. 12, Netflix released their latest bingeworthy show, “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.” Created by Lisa McGee, the eight-episode series rivals the success of her previous work “Derry Girls.”
A combination of humor, thriller and romance, the show is set against the stunningly vibrant backdrop of present-day Northern Ireland. While “Derry Girls” was a relatively light comedy set exclusively in the ’90s, “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” follows a trio of friends, both as teenagers and as adults, as they investigate the death of their childhood friend Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe).
With personalities that perfectly meld together, the ragtag bunch forms the perfect entertainment experience.
Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) is a socially-awkward lesbian who spends her time caring for her infirm mother and diabetic cat, while also trying to figure out how to make her mark on the world — about ten years after both of her friends have already established themselves. Unfortunately, a messy breakup got in the way of many things in Dara’s life.
Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher) is a renowned writer for a murder mystery television show, a role that drives her to make impulsive decisions for the sake of coming up with story ideas, much to the annoyance of her friends. At times, she has an impressively entertaining knack for causing chaos.
The trio is completed by Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), a stay-at-home mother who feels unfulfilled by her life. With a tendency to seek catastrophe to escape her otherwise monotonous domestic life, As the courageous backbone, Robyn also acts as a fun mom to the trio.
Together, all three characters make for a highly chaotic friend group that, even when they’re making remarkably poor decisions — potentially aiding and abetting crimes — it’s impossible not to love their charm, humor, passion and wit.
In “Derry Girls,” McGee demonstrated that she knows how to write female friendships, but with “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast,” she effectively spotlighted the permanence and evolution of childhood friendships.
As Saoirse, Dara and Robyn embark on adventures across Ireland, the friendship and trust between the trio is repeatedly tested. The work they put in to repair the trust feels refreshingly genuine, highlighting the complex dynamic of their relationship as each character learns to take accountability for their own actions.
The script for the show is masterful, and the lead actors do an incredible job making the show’s chaos more natural. The many unrealistic and absurd aspects of the show are executed in a way that makes them feel close to logic.
Unfortunately, sometimes the plot swerves so quickly that viewers may get whiplash. With so many new characters with various connections introduced, it can be challenging to remember what happened in the past to the characters of the present.
In seemingly every episode, a new wrench is thrown into the plot. Each of these twists scratches viewers’ investigative itches as they attempt to determine who the antagonist of the show is — if there even is one — before they realize they’ve been thrown incredibly off-course.
But amid the chaos, the show’s music perfectly accentuated each scene, helping the audience maintain focus throughout the plot’s frenzy. Whether it was a moment of suspense or something upbeat and cheery, the music was always well-timed and perfectly loud.
The show is not yet officially renewed for a second season, but after only eight episodes, it’s hard to believe that anyone is ready to bid farewell to the lovable chaos of the characters.
Talia LeVine is a section editor covering arts and culture. They study Political Science and Visual Art with a focus on photography. In their free time, they can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee.
