It is almost time to say goodbye to Derry Girls, but Lisa McGee doesn’t miss a chance to play with our emotions.
In Episode 6 the girls struggle to get Fat Boy Slim tickets for Derry’s famous Halloween festival. While the Quinn clan must decline an indecent proposal for Aunt Sarah.
After some lacklustre episodes earlier in the season, the finale returns to its original magic with razor-sharp one-liners and heartfelt surprises out of nowhere.
Jamie-Lee O’Donnell is really allowed to let loose this episode, proving why she quickly became a fan favourite way back in Season 1.
Her comedic timing is impeccable. Over the years her performance has never morphed into a caricature of her character but instead continues to find new ways to surprise us.
As always, the actors are aided by the show’s brilliant writing. Every episode deserves a rewatch just to catch every single joke that gets thrown our way.
The dialogue is distinctly Irish, highlighting the everyday rituals that may seem strange to outsiders:
“I asked my Ma to light a candle.”
It is just one of the ways that McGee is able to satirize her hometown, while also paying tribute.
This instalment also showcases McGee’s talent for blending comedy and drama without straying too far into soap opera territory.
The line between genres is almost completely blurred at one point, you’d be fooled into thinking you had stumbled into a completely different show for the last five minutes.
Each of the young cast toes this line without fear and puts their own mark on an already stellar script.
Tommy Tiernan seems perfectly comfortable experimenting with darker themes. He acts as a buffer between two very different tones.
One moment he is the straight man in a hilarious sketch, the next he is the harbinger of bad news.
The series 3 finale will be followed by an hour-long special airing tonight on Channel 4. It is meant to act as a companion to episode six, and hopefully, leave us feeling more uplifted than last night.
Taking to Twitter, creator and writer Lisa McGee, expressed how important it is to watch the last two episodes in order:
It will be exciting to see how McGee wraps up her award-winning sitcom, especially after such a different episode. It’s already apparent that despite the show coming to an end, Derry Girls will have a place in our home for many years to come.
Derry Girls’ final episode will air on Wednesday 18th May at 9 pm on Channel 4
Featured Image Credit: Channel 4
Film and Tv Editor at Brig Newspaper. Currently studying Journalism and English at the University of Stirling
You must log in to post a comment.