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After three uproarious seasons, the beloved show Derry Girls is coming to an end, and fans are feeling bittersweet about it. The final season of the Channel 4 comedy concludes with two episodes — a finale followed by an hour-long special set a year later. Spoilers ahead for those who haven’t watched the finale yet. Chaos ensues as Aunt Sarah accidentally gets engaged, the girls try to get tickets to see DJ Fatboy Slim, and Michelle lands her 15 minutes of fame on UTV News with a made-up sob story. Tragedy strikes one member of the group, leading to a poignant moment showcasing the strength of their friendship.
But the story doesn’t end there. The final hour-long special takes us a year into the future, to 1998 as the girls turn 18, prepare to vote in the Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement referendum, and get ready for blow-out parties. The show has not only entertained but also educated viewers about growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, showcasing the strength of women in the region and their humor even in difficult times.
Writer Lisa McGee highlighted the importance of telling the stories of Northern Irish women without portraying them as victims, a narrative often seen in the media. With Brexit bringing parallels to present-day events, the show has served as a valuable educational tool for international viewers who may not have learned about The Troubles in school. McGee hopes Derry Girls will pave the way for more diverse stories to be told about Northern Ireland, moving beyond the repetitive narratives of the past.
Watching Derry Girls has been incredibly meaningful for me. Growing up in England with my Northern Irish parents (my mum is from Larne, dad is from Lisburn), I would spend summers across the Irish Sea, being spoiled by my relatives. The show captures so many idiosyncrasies present in Northern Irish families, like Uncle Colm (Kevin McAleer) – the relative who tells meanderingly dull stories about nothing in particular. When asked, McGee confirmed drawing inspiration from her own family while writing the show, stating, “There’s members of my family that are very much like the Grandad, the rest of them I take combinations of people and mash them together. I’m also always ripping off real-life things, like my mum will start saying something and then just stop suddenly and someone will say ‘don’t, she’ll use it.'”
Future Possibilities
Although we are bidding farewell to the show, there is hope for the future. During a Q&A, McGee mentioned her desire to someday create a Derry Girls movie. So, who knows, we might eventually get to see if Erin and James end up together (McGee believes they’ll get together in their thirties!).
Derry Girls, you have brought us immense joy and will be dearly missed. Season 3 of Derry Girls is now streaming on Netflix.
