sheeeesh that juxtaposition at the end ??????? and also i'm amazed by how such subtle things added so much to the storytelling and tone and of the ending scene due to the cast's characterization this past season (e.g. sister michael's expression changing showing how the derry girls' silly little thing managed to touch a cynic like her despite it all, joe putting a hand on gerry's shoulder highlighting just how grave and serious current events were)
The ending scene cutting between the sheer joy of teens living their lives and the bombing while Dreams is playing is honestly one of the most gut punching scenes I've seen on TV. Like yes this is a comedy but it pulls no punches when it reminds you of just how bleak real life can get
The last scene was so brilliantly done.
Rewatched this fantastic series before the start of season 2, they save the best to last! I love he bookending of the whole series, the dry humour of the opening of episode 1, when the bomb is on the bridge and how they see this affecting their every day lives, then juxtaposed with the ending of this episode, which for me is right up there with the poignant ending of Blackadder season 4, just an outstanding series, and cannot wait for more of the girls!
Though Derry Girls is a comedy we always knew there would be gravitas due to the time and location it's set in. That final scene was a skillful juxtaposition between the innocence of youth and friendship against the harsh realities of Ireland in the 90s.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-10-03T16:58:29Z
[8.0/10] A wonderful end to the season. I like how this one pivots from the show’s usual low-stakes hilarity and casual infighting and ribbing among both the adults and the kids, only to show that they stick together when it really counts. In other hands, it could be saccharine, but here, it feels earned.
I like the low-stakes hilarity though! Gerry having to dicker with the photo shop clerk over whether or not he has his claim slip to get his pictures, despite the fact that he’s in them, is a hoot, especially when Granda’s undermining him at every turn. Sarah’s obsession with getting the pictures back because she was so thin you can see her collarbone, only to find that the clerk has a crush on her because of her stately clavicle, is equally absurd and amusing. And I like what a hard time the clerk gets from Grandda after Sarah brings him home, suggesting that his animus for Gerry isn’t personal. Maybe, it’s just that Mary and Sarah are reflections of his “perfect” dear deceased wife, and so nobody's good enough for them in his eyes.
Likewise, the happenings at the school are pretty hilarious. As in episode 4, I like this as a story of Erin trying to be bold and magnanimous in publishing a story about a gay classmate, only for the cosnequences to demonstrate that she was self-centered and self-serving about it, and blanches at other people having needs beyond her own. The way she rejects Clare after Clare admits to being the one who submitted the essay is low-key heartbreaking for Clare and infuriating for the audience.
Apart from the seriousness of it, the humor here is stellar too. Oh my god, Sister Michael is my favorite character on the show. Her deadpan asides and wry barbs are just winners every time. Comments about letting things happen out of boredom, facial expressions in reaction to poor talent show acts, and jabs about amateur singers making her appreciate professionals are all brilliant.
Plus the rest of the shtick is good too. Michelle trying to make this about her and missing the irony of accusing James of homophobia is funny as always. James gripes about censorship and yells of “I support gay people, though I myself am not gay” is chuckle-worthy. And even Mary’s line in the sand about doing a half-load of laundry being against everything she stands for was a funny bit.
But it’s the ending that takes this to another level. Orla doing a step routine that everyone laughs at is an odd inciting incident. And yet, it works as a way for Erin to take a stand in favor of supporting her friends, no matter what they’re doing, in a way that subtly communicates her support to Clare. It’s a little rushed, and I’d still like to hear an actual apology from Erin, but the spirit of the thing works, and the image of them all dancing silly together on stage as a show of solidarity with their pals is downright heartwarming.
Likewise, maybe I’m just a sucker for the Cranberries, but seeing the adults stand aghast at news of a terrible attack moved me. There’s great meaning in the cuts between their agape faces and the girls dancing away -- a sign of how terror and violence was always right there in the corners of the frame, but how they were living their lives and growing and maturing, if not blissfully unaware, then at least undeterred in continuing to live their lives at teenagers.
The peak, though, comes from two unsentimental characters. Sister Michael showing the slightest appreciation for their show of friendship gives it extra oomph, since she is not quick with praise or shows of emotion. And Grandda putting his hand on Gerry’s shoulder shows the gravity of the incident and the similar sense of solidarity that runs through the Quinn family. The world may be falling apart in places, threats may be right outside the door, but despite their squabbles and foibles, these people care for one another and stand by one another. It’s hard not to be moved by that, even in such a hilarious show.