Lisa McGee, the creator of Derry Girls, is back with a new show that mixes comedy, mystery, and a whole lot of chaos. Her latest project, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, landed on Netflix on February 12, 2026, and viewers are already hooked. The eight-part series follows three women in their late thirties who get pulled into a dark and confusing mystery after an old friend dies. Episode 1, titled “The Wake,” sets the stage for a wild ride. It introduces the main characters, their complicated lives, and the strange events that kick off their adventure.
The show stars Roisin Gallagher as Saoirse, Sinead Keenan as Robyn, and Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara. These three actresses bring to life a friendship that feels real, messy, and full of history. The episode runs for about 46 minutes and wastes no time diving into the action .
The three friends and their very different lives
Before the funeral brings them together, Episode 1 shows where each woman stands in her life. Saoirse is a TV writer who seems to have a habit of messing things up for herself. She is clever but chaotic, and her career has not turned out the way she probably hoped. Viewers see her dealing with the stress of her job and her own personal struggles .
Robyn is a mother of three young boys. She is described as glamorous but completely stressed out. Her life is loud, busy, and full of the kind of exhaustion that comes with raising kids. She does not hold back when it comes to expressing her frustration, and her sweary attitude gives the show some of its humor .
Dara takes care of an elderly parent and still lives in her childhood bedroom. She has not really moved forward in life the way she probably expected to. She is dependable but also stuck, and her situation feels trapped and lonely .
These three women are not where they thought they would be. They have drifted apart over the years, and their friendship exists mostly in memories now. But an email about the death of Greta, a fourth friend from their school days, forces them to reconnect .
The email that changes everything
The news of Greta’s death hits the three women in different ways. Greta was someone they were once very close to, but like many childhood friendships, they lost touch over time. The email does not just inform them of her passing. It also brings up feelings they have not dealt with. There is clearly some unfinished business between them and Greta, though the episode does not reveal everything right away .
The women decide to attend the wake. It feels like the right thing to do, even if they have not seen Greta in years. They travel to a small town in Donegal, where Greta’s family lives. The setting feels remote and slightly off, which fits the mood of the show .
Arrival at the wake
When the three friends arrive at the wake, things feel strange from the start. Greta’s family home is an old manor that gives off an eerie vibe. The atmosphere is not what they expected. Greta’s mother acts intense and unwelcoming in a way that makes the women uncomfortable. Her husband also seems off, though it is hard to say exactly why .
The women try to go through the motions of paying their respects. They look at the coffin and say the things people are supposed to say at a funeral. But something does not sit right with them. The more time they spend in that house, the more they feel like they are missing something important .
The creepy feeling that something is wrong
Episode 1 builds tension slowly. The friends start noticing little details that do not add up. Greta’s death is supposed to be from a fall down the stairs, but the women begin to question whether that is really what happened. They remember things about Greta from their school days. They think about the secrets they all shared. And they start to wonder if Greta’s death is connected to something darker .
The show does not give away too much in the first episode. Instead, it drops hints and lets the audience feel the same confusion and suspicion that the characters feel. The women realize they might be in over their heads. They try to leave, but things get more complicated. At some point, they begin to question whether the body in the coffin is even Greta at all .
A frantic escape and more questions
The episode ends with the three women making a panicked escape from the wake. They run because they realize they are not safe there. The situation has shifted from awkward to genuinely threatening. As they drive away, they try to process what just happened. They argue about what is real and what might be their imagination running wild .
But the big question that sticks with them is whether Greta is actually dead. They saw a body, but now they are not so sure. The seed of doubt has been planted, and it forces them to confront the past they tried to bury. The episode leaves viewers with the sense that this is only the beginning of a much bigger and stranger mystery .
What viewers are saying about Episode 1
Since the show dropped on Netflix, people have been sharing their thoughts online. Many viewers are comparing it to other popular series. One person wrote on social media that the show is “giving Bad Sisters meets Sweetpea with a hefty serving of Derry Girls” . Another fan said, “Just binged-watched #howtogettoheavenfrombelfast absolutely amazing!! Fab cast, fab story, fab, fab, fab. Can’t recommend highly enough” .
The comparisons to Bad Sisters make sense because both shows involve sisters or close friends dealing with death and secrets. The Derry Girls comparison comes from Lisa McGee’s writing style, which mixes humor with heart, even when the subject matter gets dark .
TechRadar reviewed the show and called it “an absolute belter.” The review praised the lead trio, saying they are “our new Irish fictional best friends.” It also highlighted the show’s soundtrack, which features 2000s hits like Girls Aloud and B*Witched, adding another layer of nostalgia and fun to the series .
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The cast brings the characters to life
A big reason Episode 1 works so well is the cast. Roisin Gallagher (The Dry, The Lovers) plays Saoirse with the right mix of intelligence and chaos. Sinead Keenan (Unforgotten, Derry Girls) brings humor and frustration to Robyn, a mother who is clearly at her limit. Caoilfhionn Dunne (Industry, Andor) plays Dara as someone who is stuck but not broken, and her performance adds depth to the group .
The supporting cast includes familiar faces from Irish and UK television. Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted, Death in Paradise) and Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls) appear in key roles. Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones), Natasha O’Keeffe (Peaky Blinders), and Emmett J. Scanlan (Peaky Blinders) round out the ensemble . Natasha O’Keeffe plays the adult version of Greta, while Emma Canning plays young Greta in flashback scenes .
Where to watch How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
All eight episodes of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast are available to stream on Netflix starting February 12, 2026. The show is accessible to viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and globally wherever Netflix operates. Each episode runs approximately 46 to 60 minutes, giving viewers plenty of content to dive into .
For those who enjoy mystery with a side of dark humor, this show is worth checking out. The first episode sets up the characters, the mystery, and the tone for the rest of the season. It leaves viewers with questions that make them want to keep watching.
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