The new Netflix series from the creator of Derry Girls arrived on the streaming platform on February 12, 2026, and it has already sparked plenty of conversations among viewers. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast brings together comedy and mystery in an eight-episode package, but many parents are now asking whether this show is appropriate for younger audiences. The short answer is no, and here is why.
Created by Lisa McGee, the writer behind the beloved Derry Girls, this new project follows three childhood friends in their late thirties who get pulled into a dark mystery after learning about the death of a former classmate. Roisin Gallagher, Sinead Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne star as the trio who attend a wake in Donegal only to discover that nothing about the death is what it seems .
The series has received strong reviews from critics who praise its blend of humour and suspense, but the content makes it firmly off-limits for children and younger teenagers.
The Official Age Rating and What It Means
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast carries a TV-MA rating. This is the equivalent of an R rating in movies, meaning the program is intended for adult audiences and may be unsuitable for children under 17 .
The rating comes from three specific content areas: strong language throughout, mature themes that deal with heavy subject matter, and moderate violence that creates sustained tension across episodes .
Unlike Derry Girls, which found ways to tackle serious topics while remaining accessible to younger viewers, this series makes no such compromises. The TV-MA rating signals clearly that the show was created with adults in mind, and parents should take that warning seriously.
Strong Language Is Constant Throughout
One of the most immediate reasons this show is not for kids is the language. Profanity appears frequently and casually across all eight episodes. Characters swear in moments of stress, during comedic exchanges, and in emotional scenes .
Critics have noted that the dialogue crackles with McGee’s signature wit, but that wit comes wrapped in adult language. One reviewer pointed out a scene where a character shouts an expletive-filled phrase only to be called out by a friend . This kind of exchange happens regularly throughout the series.
The language is not occasional or muted. It is woven into the fabric of how these characters speak to each other, reflecting how many adults actually talk but making the show completely inappropriate for children who might repeat what they hear.
Violence Creates Sustained Tension
The entire premise of the show revolves around a suspicious death, and that means violence and threat run through every episode. While the violence is often implied rather than graphically shown on screen, the atmosphere of danger is constant .
The three main characters find themselves in increasingly perilous situations as they investigate what happened to their friend. There are moments of intimidation, chase sequences, and a genuine sense that the women could be harmed by the people they are investigating.
One scene required actor Sinead Keenan to film a boat sequence that left her genuinely frightened. She admitted to feeling nervous about the scene, explaining that she was scared of drowning during the shoot . The scene involves the three women escaping on a small inflatable dinghy after a confrontation with a mysterious character, and the tension is played for real stakes.
The show also includes flashbacks to a traumatic event from the characters’ teenage years involving fire and death. These scenes deal with the aftermath of abuse and the weight of secrets that have been carried for decades .
Mature Themes That Require Life Experience
Perhaps the strongest reason to keep younger viewers away from this show is its thematic content. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast deals with death, grief, guilt, regret, and the ways that past trauma shapes adult lives .
The mystery at the heart of the series connects to a dark secret involving abuse suffered by children. One character is revealed to have been sold by her biological mother as a child. Another storyline involves the deaths of people in a church fire set by young girls who had been mistreated .
These are not topics that children or young teenagers can process easily. The show treats them with complexity, showing how the characters have been shaped by events that happened decades ago. There are no simple answers or tidy resolutions, just complicated adult emotions and difficult moral choices.
The series also explores themes of unfulfilled expectations and personal failure. The three main characters are all dealing with lives that turned out differently than they hoped. One is a successful writer who hates her own work. Another is a stressed mother of three young boys who feels overwhelmed. The third is stuck caring for an elderly parent and cannot seem to move forward with her own life .
These are universal adult concerns, but they require a level of life experience to appreciate. Younger viewers would likely find these characters frustrating rather than relatable.
Alcohol and Adult Situations
Throughout the series, characters are shown drinking alcohol regularly. The wake scene naturally involves drinking, but alcohol appears in many other contexts as well. Characters drink to cope with stress, to celebrate small victories, and during social interactions .
The show also includes adult romantic situations. One character begins a flirtation with a younger man while she is engaged to someone else, creating a complicated emotional dynamic .
There is no explicit nudity in the series, but the emotional content around relationships is firmly adult. The characters deal with infidelity, attraction, and the complications of long-term partnerships in ways that would not make sense to younger viewers.
What Critics Are Saying About the Tone
Reviews have noted that How to Get to Heaven from Belfast occupies a complicated tonal space. One critic described it as “part murder-mystery, part meditation on ageing and nostalgia” that frequently borders on slapstick while dealing with serious subject matter .
Another review pointed out that the show blends dark humor with emotional depth, creating something that works for adults but would likely confuse or disturb younger viewers . The shifts between comedy and drama happen quickly, and understanding why certain moments are funny requires recognizing the weight of what came before.
A Danish review awarded the series six out of six stars and called it one of the best shows about friendship in recent years, specifically noting how it handles adult relationships with authenticity . That authenticity is precisely what makes it unsuitable for children.
Why Parents Should Think Twice
For parents wondering whether older teenagers might be able to handle the show, the guidance is mixed. Viewers aged 15 to 17 might be able to watch with parental guidance, but parents should be aware of the heavy language and adult emotional material before making that decision .
Children aged 12 to 14 should definitely not watch. The mature themes, strong language, and sustained suspense make the series inappropriate for this age group regardless of maturity level .
The show is designed for adult viewers who appreciate dark comedy, emotional depth, and thriller elements. It assumes an audience that can handle complicated feelings about friendship, aging, and the weight of past mistakes.
Streaming Details for Adults Who Choose to Watch
For adults who decide the show is appropriate for them, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is streaming exclusively on Netflix starting February 12, 2026 . All eight episodes are available now for subscribers worldwide.
The series is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and every other territory where Netflix operates. Viewers can watch in English with subtitles available in multiple languages.
Filming took place in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with some scenes shot in Malta to stand in for Portugal . The locations add visual interest to the story, showing off the Irish landscape while the characters race across borders trying to solve their mystery.
The cast includes familiar faces beyond the three leads. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, who starred in Derry Girls, appears in a supporting role. Ardal O’Hanlon from Father Ted plays a hotel manager, and Michelle Fairley from Game of Thrones appears as a character’s mother .
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The Bottom Line for Families
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast represents a clear departure from the more family-friendly tone of Derry Girls. Lisa McGee has created something specifically for adults, and parents should respect that distinction.
The TV-MA rating exists for good reasons. Strong language appears constantly throughout every episode. Violence creates sustained tension and includes moments of genuine peril. Mature themes around abuse, death, guilt, and complicated adult relationships run through the entire narrative.
Younger viewers simply do not have the life experience to process these elements appropriately. Even older teenagers may find some content difficult, though parents who know their teens well might make different decisions about what is appropriate.
For adults who enjoy dark comedy mixed with mystery, the show offers an engaging eight-episode run with strong performances and sharp writing. Just keep the remote control away from the kids.
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