"Derry Girls" Too Lighthearted?

 


    I only have one thing and one thing only to say about this show. Justice for Gerry and James. These poor blokes get shafted at every chance, and frankly I didn't think any of the characters were that likeable outside or Orla, Joe and Sister Michael. It's kind of weird actually, I feel bad for Gerry, but at the same time I enjoy Joe, even though he is the source of all of Gerry's pain. I don't really know how to describe Derry Girls, its almost too lighthearted I suppose. 

    I mean, if you're looking for some deep, long show with loads of character development well then I'm afraid you won't be getting anything of the sort. In fact, you never even really get any sort of origin story for these characters, they're all just sort of there. Like with most slice of life shows, there's some overarching plotline that people can follow, and at the very least some character development, but it simply doesn't exist here. Rarely do any of the characters actually grow, and frankly considering how short the show is, especially in the earlier seasons, it can be a doozy sometimes.

    Take for example the fact that Erin had a sister. I don't blame anyone who's watched this show to forget that Erin had a sister, because frankly I forgot too. Like I'd see this child just with Grandpa Joe all the time, and I'd be like, is she family, and I'd wait attentively hoping they'd bring attention to her once, but they never do. I get that for a short show its already crowded enough splitting the time between the adults and the kids, but like, she is never referenced, like some odd prop, for such a tight knit family and such a light hearted show it feels like unused potential.

    Well technically, I did lie, there is one plot to the show, and that is "The Troubles" which I suppose never really gets referenced by name. I understand that it is mentioned due to the time period they're living in, but in the finale they really ham fisted the end of the troubles in there, and Erin trying to sing some random speech about peace and unity really felt off. I think that's the main issue with the show, it's almost too light hearted for its own good, it can't do what it wants to achieve.

    Take for example in the last season when Claire's dad just straight up and fucking dies. I do actually think I accidentally skipped to that scene and was really confused, and frankly it still confuses me. No disrespect to anyone who's father died in an aneurysm, but the entire episode was them goofing off for some random DJ, Claire kissing conveniently like the only other lesbian in Derry, and then just huddle? They never even mentioned the other girl, or if it was Claire's first kiss, it just had no real impact. I mean the song they played and the weird angel huddle did not help either.

    Don't get me wrong, I've been bashing on this show but if you haven't already noticed I almost always bash everything I review, because I'm pretty amicable with everything and so what stands out to me are what made it bad. I mean this show is relatively short, and it is lighthearted and pretty light on cringey moments, so enjoyable enough to see it through to the end, it just lacks anything more than that. It's trapped itself in a box that it can't seem to get out of, so you just have to sort of accept it for what it is.

Final Score: 60/100

    It has its bright moments, and it did introduce me to what the Troubles are so I will always be grateful for it, but frankly Derry Girls is nothing more than a fine piece of Irish media that you should watch if you want to get a humorous peak on how it may have felt to grow up in such a turbulent time.

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