Netflix Crime Thriller From Derry Girls Creator Climbs Streaming Charts
A new Netflix crime thriller from the acclaimed creator of Derry Girls has rapidly ascended the streaming service's popularity rankings. How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, created by Lisa McGee, has been described as a 'sublime' blend of sharp, dark comedy and gripping mystery.
Plot and Critical Reception
The eight-part series follows three best friends who embark on a dangerous and hilarious road trip to uncover the truth about their supposedly deceased friend. Netflix's official synopsis captures the tone perfectly: 'When their old friend dies, three best pals embark on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey in this crime series created by Lisa McGee.'
Since its release on February 12, the show has achieved remarkable success, rocketing to fourth place on the UK Netflix chart. Critics have responded enthusiastically, with TIME praising McGee's 'cleverly meta spin on an overdone genre' and her 'genius for comedy, dialogue, and character development.'
Decider described the series as 'a sharply funny examination of how friendships change over time as well as a pretty darn good mystery.' The show boasts impressive ratings, including a 7.5 out of 10 on IMDb and an even more remarkable 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Viewer Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Audiences have flooded social media with praise for the series. One viewer on X declared: '#howtogettoheavenfrombelfast is sublime. Beautifully shot, excellent writing and a brilliant cast. Loved every second of it.' Another commented: 'How To Get To Heaven From Belfast was bloody fun. The mystery was a doozy and the Irish-centric humour was amusing.'
Many fans have drawn comparisons to McGee's previous work, with one noting: 'As a huge fan of Derry Girls I really enjoyed #HowToGetToHeavenFromBelfast. I especially loved the homage to Derry Girls in the last episode.' Another viewer observed: 'Seems Lisa McGee has nailed it again! The sort of sharp dark comedy/black comedy I love!'
Creator's Perspective and Series Background
Reflecting on creating another Irish series following the monumental success of Derry Girls, Lisa McGee, 45, explained to Metro that while the new show 'has a lot of Derry Girls DNA,' she deliberately sought 'a genre shift.' She elaborated: 'I think if I was to have gone on and done a straight comedy again, I would have felt more pressure.'
McGee acknowledged the different challenges presented by this mystery format: 'There were different challenges, because it's a mystery and hour long and has lots of pieces to put together, but I don't feel any pressure about it being compared to Derry Girls as I think it's different enough.'
Derry Girls, which originally aired on Channel 4, followed a teenage girl and her friends navigating adolescence during the Troubles in 1980s Ireland. How To Get To Heaven From Belfast represents McGee's successful venture into crime thriller territory while maintaining her signature comedic voice.
The series is now available to stream on Netflix, offering viewers a compelling mix of mystery, dark humor, and authentic Irish storytelling that has clearly resonated with both critics and audiences.
