[7.7/10] Super fun start to the series. This does a nice job of not only setting out the tone for the show -- irreverent, cynical, fast-paced, and whimsical -- but also does a nice job of introducing the characters.
Erin is the put-upon protagonist, denied her dreams like so many teenagers. Michelle is “the mouth,” a rule-skirting troublemaker who instigates and gets the rest mixed up in her monkeyshines. Clare is the dorkier one, who has causes and high-minded preoccupations but can’t quite stick with them. Orla’s the weirdo who’s chill and seems otherwise unaffected by everything else. And James is...uh...the English fella.
It’s a good cast! The actress who plays Erin overdoes it a bit at times, but there’s a good group dynamic, and you can see the various elements of their little contingent sustaining the show. The setting also works well, with a 1990s Northern Ireland setting which places the girls in the thick of sectarian conflicts amid different Irish groups, while also being focused more on their own little ecosystem of a Catholic school and crushes and the other vicissitudes of teenagerodm that gives the show color.
We get just enough of a glimpse at the girls’ parents, their classmates, and their teacher to hint at other colorful characters who can drop in and help fuel stories and humor. The head nun in particular is a hoot with a dry but straightforward wit that makes her an early standout.
The show’s dialogue (while requiring subtitles for this sodding yank), is one of its best features. The staccato rhythms among the characters feel sharp and clever without ever seeming over-mannered, and there’s a lot of fun repartee and misunderstandings played through the lines. At the same time, while the show veers a little toward the ridiculous in places, there’s a nice sense of comic escalation, balanced out by the relatable struggles of young adulthood that ground Derry Girls, while also giving it room to run in terms of absurdity.
Overall, a strong coming out party for the series, doing a stellar job of establishing the tone, setting, and major players for the show, while leaving the audience wanting more.
I changed my rating six times between 9 and 10 before finally settling on 10 - which I wish would say less about how much I tend to overthink and more about how surprisingly good and exciting this episode was. It's a perfect pilot for a teen series and then some, and it has got me pumped up for the rest!
But it's a sitcom above all and I can hardly ever stay committed to one. So we'll see how long it takes me now to finish this.:unamused:
this show changed my life, it changed my perspective and it cemented the cranberries - dream as a soundtrack of life.
tried to watch this because of an edit of sister Michael, got genuine laugh from a long time from watching a sitcom.
Sitcom pilots can be tricky but they really nailed it with this one! It's quite funny and everyone's comedic timing is ON POINT.
Not sure if this is the type of show to allow itself some emotional, serious moments but I can totally see Derry Girls becoming one of my favorite shows if it does! (Just my personal taste, I don't really like "shallow" sitcoms and lack of character development but I shall see)
Shout by Reiko LJVIP 6BlockedParent2021-01-22T22:31:05Z
This show is a riot. Even on a rewatch it still gets laughs