Lisa McGee, the creative force behind the beloved Derry Girls, returns with a decidedly more grown-up—and far darker—story. How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is an eight-part Netflix series that twists together farce, psychological thriller, and old-fashioned murder mystery. Think of it as what might happen if the Derry Girls crew accidentally committed a crime and spent two decades trying to outrun the guilt.
The story centers on three adult friends—Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne)—who reunite after the unexpected death of their former schoolmate Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe). They travel to Donegal for her wake, only to discover that the body in the coffin isn’t Greta’s. That awkward reunion spirals into a chaotic criminal investigation involving female assassins, a fling with a police officer (Darragh Hand), and a disturbing religious cult. It’s a ride that keeps you guessing until the final frame.
An Irish Twin Peaks With a Dark Comic Heart
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Ireland’s rolling green hills, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast might make you think twice. The series turns the serene countryside into something deeply unsettling, where the locals are just a little off. It’s like an Irish version of Twin Peaks, but with more sharp one-liners and a distinctly Northern Irish sense of humor. Fans of Sharon Horgan’s Bad Sisters will also recognize the blend of crime and dark comedy.
The show’s main theme is the lingering pull of adolescence. Each of the three leads is clearly defined in her adult life, but they’re yanked back into their teenage dynamic by shared, unresolved trauma. Saoirse is a burnt-out TV writer whose crime drama accidentally mirrors real life. Robyn is a wealthy but overwhelmed mother of three with a useless husband. Dara is a caregiver for her aging mother. And Greta, played by Peaky Blinders’ O’Keeffe, is the missing fourth friend whose supposed death sets everything in motion.
Cameos and Connections to Derry Girls
Some of Ireland’s comedy greats pop up in memorable cameos. Patrick Kielty hosts The Late Late Show, where Saoirse falls asleep mid-interview. Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted) appears as a quirky innkeeper with a lit-up bow tie. But the standout supporting performances come from Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Erin in Derry Girls) and Bronagh Gallagher. Jackson plays Feeney, an eccentric forger for the Evaporation Society, while Gallagher plays Booker, a hard-nosed contract killer for the same secret all-female organization that helps women disappear. In a hilarious meta moment in Episode 8, the two stand next to Jackson’s own face on the real-life Derry Girls mural.
The Mystery Unfolds
The central mystery unfolds through teenage diaries, handwritten letters, and fragmented flashbacks. These gradually reveal a traumatic shared past involving Greta and another girl, Jodie (Selin Hizli). Greta was sold by her own mother, Margo (Michelle Fairley), and grew up in an organization called Heaven’s Veil—a refuge for gifted children that turns out to be an abusive rural religious cult. The girls try to escape by praying to God, and when he doesn’t answer, they decide to burn down his house. But after setting the local church alight, they realize a group of children was inside. That incident haunts them for 20 years.
At its core, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is about the long-term effects of trauma and how childhood experiences shape adult identity. The bond between the three women runs deep, despite adult life getting in the way, because of their shared secrets and emotional scars. It’s their buddy-comedy interactions that keep you watching long after the initial murder mystery loses steam. While audiences may come expecting something like Derry Girls, the show quickly subverts those expectations. McGee’s sharp dialogue and focus on relationships remain, but this is ultimately an unforgettably tragic tale.
For fans of meticulously crafted mysteries, this series joins the ranks of the most painstakingly crafted thrillers ever made. And if you’re in the mood for another darkly comic thriller, Netflix's 'Leave the World Behind' offers a similarly unsettling late-night viewing experience.
