The creator of two of Northern Ireland’s biggest TV hits is opening up about the stress of following a cultural phenomenon. Lisa McGee, the writer behind the beloved sitcom Derry Girls, has revealed that crafting the finale for her new Netflix series, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, felt significantly less stressful than ending her previous show.
The eight-part comedy-thriller, which debuted on Netflix on February 12, 2026, follows three women in their late thirties who get pulled into a dark mystery after the death of their estranged childhood friend. While the show carries McGee’s signature sharp dialogue and focus on female friendship, the writer admits the pressure surrounding its release was completely different this time.
The Weight of a Cultural Moment
For anyone who watched the final season of Derry Girls, the emotional heft of the series finale is still fresh. The last episode, which centered on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, was praised for its sensitive handling of a historic moment and went on to win three Baftas and an Emmy. But for McGee, the days leading up to that episode’s broadcast were filled with anxiety.
In a recent interview, McGee opened up about the stark difference in how she felt approaching the two finales. The pressure surrounding the Derry Girls ending was about more than just whether people found it funny.
“I felt sick waiting to see what the response would be to that. Oh God, it just felt like, if I got it wrong, I was disappointing people on a level that was greater than a sitcom.”
— Lisa McGee
That fear of letting down an audience who had connected so deeply with the characters and the historical backdrop made the writing process for the Derry Girls finale a nerve-wracking experience.
Returning to Storytelling
With How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, McGee found a different headspace. While she still cares deeply about how audiences receive her work, the nature of the new show allowed her to focus on the craft rather than the cultural weight.
“With her new show, Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, she felt she was ‘just allowed to go back and tell a story again.’ ‘Don’t get me wrong, I will be feeling physically sick on 12 February when it goes out, but I’m not worried I’ll be letting people down, I just feel like people will either like it or they won’t.’”
— Lisa McGee
That shift in mindset came from the fact that How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is not a sitcom based on her own adolescence. Instead, it is a mystery thriller with comedic elements, allowing her to experiment with a new genre. McGee explained that switching genres helped her break free from the “Derry Girls frame of mind.”
She even found herself removing jokes late in the editing process to make sure the show maintained its dramatic stakes, something that felt counterintuitive for a writer known for comedy.
What is How to Get to Heaven from Belfast About?
For those just catching up, the series centers on three childhood friends:
- Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher): A stressed TV writer living in London who hates the hit show she created
- Robyn (Sinéad Keenan): A chaotic but glamorous mother of three young boys
- Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne): A socially awkward woman who has put her life on hold to care for her elderly mother
The trio is brought back together when they receive news that their long-lost friend Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe) has died. But when they travel to Donegal for the wake, they quickly realize that nothing about Greta’s death adds up. What follows is a road trip across Ireland filled with clues, secrets, and a mysterious pink bag that has viewers buzzing.
The show also features appearances from familiar faces. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, who played Erin in Derry Girls, shows up in a striking purple wig as a character named Feeney. Siobhan McSweeney (Sister Michael) also appears, creating a mini-reunion for fans of the original series.
The Mystery of the Pink Bag
One of the biggest talking points since the show’s release is the finale’s cliffhanger. Without giving everything away, the final moments leave the three leads holding a pink bag. Viewers do not get to see what is inside, and the characters vow not to get involved with its contents.
McGee has already addressed the mystery, confirming that she has an idea of what is in the bag, but she is leaving herself room to change her mind.
“I know right now what’s in the bag. But I’m not saying I might not change my mind, which is why I left it so vague. I have a very clear idea of what it is, but if I think of something that works better or that might be more interesting when I start to write season two, I want to be able to change my mind.”
— Lisa McGee
That decision to keep the bag’s contents a secret has already sparked countless fan theories online, with viewers speculating about everything from evidence to something more supernatural.
A Different Kind of Comedy
While Derry Girls was a straight sitcom with a laugh track, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast blends mystery with humor in a way that feels fresh. McGee has described it as a mix of her two loves: comedy and mystery, citing Scooby-Doo and Columbo as inspirations.
The dialogue still moves at a rapid pace, something McGee insists is key to making the humor work.
“I love how the rhythm of that kind of comedy builds. I always say this to the actors: ‘If you pause, it’s dead.’ It’s nearly only funny if you get the speed behind it and sometimes the faster they go, the funnier it gets.”
— Lisa McGee
That fast-talking style carries over from Derry Girls, giving the new series a familiar energy even as it tackles darker themes.
Critical Response So Far
Reviews for the series have been mixed but largely positive. Critics have praised the chemistry between the three lead actresses and McGee’s ear for dialogue. Some have noted that the show sometimes struggles to balance its comedic and dramatic tones, but most agree that the characters and performances carry it through.
The series holds a 6.7 rating on IMDb, with audience reactions ranging from those who love the dark humor to others who find the tonal shifts challenging.
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Where to Watch
All eight episodes of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast are now streaming exclusively on Netflix. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India can watch the series with a standard Netflix subscription. The episodes run approximately 50 minutes each, making it a solid weekend binge for fans of mystery and Irish humor.
Netflix has not yet announced whether the show will return for a second season. The streamer is reportedly waiting to assess viewership numbers over the coming weeks before making a decision. Given the cliffhanger ending and McGee’s hints about where the story could go, fans are already hoping for a renewal.
For now, McGee is enjoying the fact that she got to try something new without the shadow of Derry Girls looming over every decision. As she put it, she was simply “allowed to go back and tell a story again.”
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