Lisa McGee's new eight-parter, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, follows Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (Sinéad Keenan) and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) as they are dragged into a Knives Out-style mystery after the shocking death of their school friend, Greta. The show is part thriller, part surrealist comedy, and McGee drew inspiration from Columbo and Scooby-Doo.
At its core, however, the show is about friendship, particularly female friendships that span decades. It explores the pressure to edit shared memories to suit our ideas of ourselves. "The problem with a group of friends who have known each other since they were kids," McGee says, "is that you know everything. And sometimes you don't want that thing from your past being brought up again."
McGee's new show is set in Belfast and features elements of the Derry Girls characters. However, it also introduces new ones, including Saoirse, a TV writer in London who won't commit to a life in either place. The show tackles themes such as identity, particularly for women navigating relationships in adulthood.
The tone of the show is quintessentially Northern Irish, with dark comedy and a Lynchian bleakness reminiscent of Ireland's rural north-west. McGee has stated that she wanted viewers to feel like they could get away with nothing, and that her characters were active protagonists who drove the plot forward.
In an interview, McGee discussed how she drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in Belfast. She said, "I was really frustrated with London," but also felt disconnected from her hometown when she returned after 12 years abroad. These feelings of disconnection are reflected in Saoirse's character, who struggles to find a place for herself.
The show is full of quirky characters and wacky storylines, including a Kenny Rogers impersonator who meets a tragic end at a country song-themed disco. McGee has stated that she drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in Northern Ireland, where the landscape can be both beautiful and treacherous.
Overall, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a mystery thriller with a dark comedic tone and a strong focus on female friendship. It's set to premiere on Netflix in February, but it's already generating buzz among fans of McGee's previous work, Derry Girls.
At its core, however, the show is about friendship, particularly female friendships that span decades. It explores the pressure to edit shared memories to suit our ideas of ourselves. "The problem with a group of friends who have known each other since they were kids," McGee says, "is that you know everything. And sometimes you don't want that thing from your past being brought up again."
McGee's new show is set in Belfast and features elements of the Derry Girls characters. However, it also introduces new ones, including Saoirse, a TV writer in London who won't commit to a life in either place. The show tackles themes such as identity, particularly for women navigating relationships in adulthood.
The tone of the show is quintessentially Northern Irish, with dark comedy and a Lynchian bleakness reminiscent of Ireland's rural north-west. McGee has stated that she wanted viewers to feel like they could get away with nothing, and that her characters were active protagonists who drove the plot forward.
In an interview, McGee discussed how she drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in Belfast. She said, "I was really frustrated with London," but also felt disconnected from her hometown when she returned after 12 years abroad. These feelings of disconnection are reflected in Saoirse's character, who struggles to find a place for herself.
The show is full of quirky characters and wacky storylines, including a Kenny Rogers impersonator who meets a tragic end at a country song-themed disco. McGee has stated that she drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in Northern Ireland, where the landscape can be both beautiful and treacherous.
Overall, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a mystery thriller with a dark comedic tone and a strong focus on female friendship. It's set to premiere on Netflix in February, but it's already generating buzz among fans of McGee's previous work, Derry Girls.
I've been hooked on Derry Girls since day one and I love how Lisa McGee is pushing boundaries with this new series. The idea that our past memories can be edited to suit our current selves is so relatable, you know? It's like, we all do it to some extent, but as friends who have known each other forever, there's just something about revisiting those moments that can be super painful.
. And omg, a Kenny Rogers impersonator meeting a tragic end at a country song-themed disco? That's just genius 
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and i am SO here for it!!! its like derry girls but with a mystery twist 
and i love how its all about female friendships spanning decades 
i also love how its set in belfast - i mean who doesnt love the north of ireland? 
and i need more of that sass in my life 
cant wait for it to drop on netflix in february! 
this show sounds super interesting 
i mean, who wouldn't wanna watch a thriller with quirky characters and wacky storylines? 
also, what's up with Lisa McGee drawing inspiration from her own experiences growing up in Belfast and then kinda distancing herself from it when she moved back? 
is that some kind of commentary on identity or something? 
and the fact that it explores the pressure to edit memories is so relatable, you know? 
. The quirky characters and storylines are already giving me life 
, especially the Kenny Rogers impersonator - what a wild card! 
Can't wait to see Saoirse's character struggle with identity and find her place in the world. It's all about embracing our complexities and flaws, right? 
. The fact that the tone is quintessentially Northern Irish with a Lynchian bleakness is really fascinating to me 
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And the fact that Lisa McGee drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in Belfast and feeling disconnected from her hometown is really relatable to me 
. And can we talk about the Kenny Rogers impersonator story? 
, and I'm so here for it!
She's like me when I was trying to figure out my own path in life. The quirky characters and storylines had me giggling so hard 
Anyway, I love how McGee drew inspiration from Columbo and Scooby-Doo - it's gonna be such a fun watch! 
. Can't wait to see what quirky characters and wacky storylines come out of this! 
. Also, lisa mcgee's style reminds me of the writers behind broadchurch, i'm intrigued to see how she weaves together suspense and humor. 2 weeks to go till it drops on netflix 
. The Netflix premiere can't come soon enough 
. And can we talk about Saoirse's character? She's literally my spirit animal 
️. Can't wait for February to get here!
. I mean, another mystery thriller with a quirky tone? Can't we just have something normal for once? 
It's all so... messy.
she sounds like a total mess. I mean, I feel for the girl, being stuck between two places and trying to figure out her identity and all that, but come on, can't we just give her some actual agency instead of making her all angsty and lost? It's like, grow up, Saoirse, and get over it already! 
. I mean, a Kenny Rogers impersonator dying at a country song-themed disco? That's just pure genius. McGee must have been having some serious fun writing that one. And the dark comedic tone is definitely on point, it's like the perfect blend of humor and drama. I'm totally here for it now 
. And if you're a fan of Derry Girls like me (sort of), then you'll probably love this show too. So mark your calendars for February and get ready for some serious girl power, Netflix-style 
The setting of Belfast is also gonna be fascinating, especially with all the inspiration from her own experiences growing up there. Can't wait to see Saoirse's character struggle with feeling disconnected from her hometown and finding a place for herself in London. 
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maybe Greta's death wasn't an accident and it's all part of some bigger game? 
i mean, think about it, Saoirse is from Belfast but she's in London too... that's like a symbol of identity crisis or somethin' 
don't get me wrong, i love lisa mCGee and all but i think there's more to this show than meets the eye 