Lisa McGee's new mystery thriller, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, follows three friends as they navigate a complex web of relationships and mysterious events in 1990s Northern Ireland. Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (SinΓ©ad Keenan), and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) are reunited after their teenage years at Our Lady of the Sorrows school, where they get entangled in a Knives Out-style mystery surrounding their friend Greta's shocking death.
As the trio travels to Belfast for the wake, they encounter an eccentric cast of characters, including Garda officer Owen (Emmett J Scanlan) and his enigmatic daughter, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. The women's individual circumstances are explored, with Dara caring for her overbearing mother, Saoirse navigating a difficult engagement in London, and Robyn juggling parenting responsibilities with a troubled marriage.
McGee's new series blends elements of mystery, comedy, and drama, echoing the tone of her hit show Derry Girls. The story is set against the darkly beautiful backdrop of Northern Ireland's rural north-west, where the landscape can be both breathtakingly gorgeous and treacherously dangerous. McGee notes that the history of Northern Ireland is complex and multifaceted, with many layers to uncover.
Throughout the series, McGee aims to create a sense of camaraderie among her female characters, showcasing their strengths, flaws, and vulnerabilities as they navigate life's challenges together. As Saoirse remarks, "It's the same group of girls, only we've grown up now and we still don't know what we're doing!"
Ultimately, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a story about friendship, identity, and resilience in the face of adversity. McGee hopes that viewers will be entertained by her characters' antics, but also inspired to think: "Oh, that looks a bit sticky, but I'd love to do that with my friends."
The series premieres on Netflix on February 12.
As the trio travels to Belfast for the wake, they encounter an eccentric cast of characters, including Garda officer Owen (Emmett J Scanlan) and his enigmatic daughter, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. The women's individual circumstances are explored, with Dara caring for her overbearing mother, Saoirse navigating a difficult engagement in London, and Robyn juggling parenting responsibilities with a troubled marriage.
McGee's new series blends elements of mystery, comedy, and drama, echoing the tone of her hit show Derry Girls. The story is set against the darkly beautiful backdrop of Northern Ireland's rural north-west, where the landscape can be both breathtakingly gorgeous and treacherously dangerous. McGee notes that the history of Northern Ireland is complex and multifaceted, with many layers to uncover.
Throughout the series, McGee aims to create a sense of camaraderie among her female characters, showcasing their strengths, flaws, and vulnerabilities as they navigate life's challenges together. As Saoirse remarks, "It's the same group of girls, only we've grown up now and we still don't know what we're doing!"
Ultimately, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a story about friendship, identity, and resilience in the face of adversity. McGee hopes that viewers will be entertained by her characters' antics, but also inspired to think: "Oh, that looks a bit sticky, but I'd love to do that with my friends."
The series premieres on Netflix on February 12.