The series isn’t meant to be watched casually, it’s an edge-of-your-seat viewing experience that demands your entire attention.
If you’re the kind of viewer who needs immediate answers, then binge-watching will feel like a blessing. But if, like me, you prefer to sit with what you’ve seen to ponder all the theories, then it’s worth dedicating a week or two of your life to this series.
The series follows three women in their late 30s — Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne), and Robyn (Sinéad Keenan) — and it opens with their discovery that a friend from their youth, Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe), has passed away. But the past they share with her refuses to stay buried, with old memories that now feel like clues pointing toward the suspicious circumstances surrounding Greta’s death.Â
The first episode follows the three friends attending Greta’s wake. The solemn affair only prompts speculation as Greta’s family seems dubious, especially her husband Owen (Emmett J. Scanlan) and her mother Margo (Michelle Fairley), who add to the unsettling ambience of the show which defines each episode. Soon the series leaves viewers wondering: is Greta still alive?
This question doesn’t merely haunt the narrative — it plagued my thoughts as well. Whenever I wasn’t actively watching the episodes, I was already looking forward to the next time I would be able to journey alongside the characters in pursuit of the truth.
The eight episodes travel back and forth in time, with many twists and turns, to find answers to the questions that the protagonists, as well as the viewers, have about Greta’s mysterious character and their shared past.
There are other characters who make the series what it is: Booker (Bronagh Gallagher) is a tenacious woman with her own set of knowledge about the past, and unclear connections to Greta make her suspect yet all the more intriguing to watch. Liam (Darragh Hand), a Guard working with Greta’s husband, remains the most accessible character for the audience — just like us, he is figuring out the timeline of circumstances as someone not directly affected by the situation but drawn into their fallout.
Setting, as well as the characters, play a major role in the plot. While the story is rooted in Northern Ireland, it frequently shifts to England, the Republic of Ireland, and even Portugal, following the characters as they embark on side quests to uncover meanings of the past.
In relation to Ireland, the Irish language becomes essential to the plot as it provides both characters and viewers pieces of the answers they’re searching for. McGee’s series is not merely a thriller or a dark comedy; it also incorporates social commentary and references to historical contexts that outline Irish identity and experiences.Â
If you’re a Derry Girls fan, from one certified enthusiast to another, I can assure you: there are plenty of nods to McGee’s freshman work, and familiar faces slip into the cast as well. Remember Father Peter (Art Campion)? In this series, he takes on the role of a distressed, yet dutiful husband. Â
While How to Get to Heaven From Belfast fits as a mystery series, it still challenges conventions of the genre, successfully juxtaposing its darker narrative threads with a soundtrack of 2000s bangers and silly one-liners — two things that, I believe, enhance any viewing experience.
Ultimately, the series leans into the energy of a conspiracy theory: have these characters done terrible things, or is something else at play? As the truth unfolds, the series circles back to a core question: how much of who we are is shaped by our past, and how much can we choose to leave behind?
As of yet, a second season hasn’t been announced, but this off-beat series is still well worth devoting some of your time. It intertwines humour with the harsher realities of the world, and despite it all, its characters endure, finding spaces for moments of sincerity — emphasizing girl power, navigation of queer identity, forgiving one’s self and others, and how to be a good friend during times of hardship.Â
This series has everything: comedy, a creepiness factor, and morally ambiguous characters. If you’re a fan of mystery, enjoy a good laugh, or are just in need of something gripping to watch, I highly recommend that you give this critically acclaimed series a chance.
