So, I thought I would take a little breather from the necessarily serious tone “Running on Faith” has been taking over the past couple of weeks to share something a little lighter. As we know, in addition to our faith, one thing that has helped us to live day-in and day-out with social isolation and lockdown has been Netflix and other streaming services. Life in the Chaplain’s residence is no different in that regard, as Father Pat Reidy, C.S.C., (our resident student priest in his third year at Yale Law School) and I have burned through our fair share of shows throughout this time.

Recently, at the recommendation of Fr. Pat’s law school classmates, we watched the first two seasons of Derry Girls. I feel that this show is such a treat that I had to share it with the world. Seriously—It. Is. AWESOME. Derry Girls, if you’re not already familiar with it, is a coming-of-age comedy set in the 1990s in the city of Derry, Northern Ireland, nearing the end of the period known as “the Troubles,” the decades-long conflict between the (Catholic) Irish Nationalists and the (Protestant) United Kingdom loyalists. The show is based on the teenage years of Lisa McGee, the show’s writer, and follows the adolescent antics of five friends: Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), their friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) and Michelle’s English cousin James or “the wee English fella” (Dylan Llewellyn) — “as they attend Catholic high school and otherwise navigate the typical pitfalls of teen life, albeit set against a more dangerous backdrop than most” (Ruth Kinane, Entertainment Weekly). Here are six reasons why you need take a break from whatever you’re watching and give this a shot:

1. The episodes aren’t a major time commitment. The show consists of twelve 22 to 25-minute episodes over the course of two seasons. And, lucky for us, there’s a third season coming out in 2021!  

2. It’s a blast from the (1990s) past. For anyone who grew up in the nineties, the show’s pop culture references and soundtrack will bring back memories. Of course, the music of The Cranberries and Enya are prominently featured.

3. You can learn some Northern Irish slang. If you’re someone who tends to overuse the word “awesome.” You might try “class” or “cracker.” And, as we near the end of the fall semester and this two thousand twentieth year of our Lord—we’re all feeling exhausted—or, “knackered.” Want to send a quick prayer to Our Blessed Mother Mary? Why not send it up to the Big M? The gracious Lady at who’s feet the girls desperately throw themselves the morning of a big test they hadn’t cracked a book to prepare for.

• Recommendation: Watch the first few episodes with subtitles if you need to get the hang of the Northern Irish accent.

• Warning: Northern Irish slang isn’t the only vocabulary you’ll be picking up; there’s a lot of profanity too, which is common for Irish and U.K. comedy, but can be a wee bit distracting for some on this side of the pond.

4. Sister Michael. The girls’ snarky school principal who’s seen it all and is not impressed—except when a holy statue is involved. I must agree with her, “I sure do like a good statue.” She has most of the show’s best one-liners.

5. The portrayal of family, community and youth. The show masterfully chronicles the day-to-day joys and quirks of family and the strength of a close-knit community living in, and moving through, trauma and crisis. It also delicately handles the historical and political context within which the show is set while still exhibiting the utter resilience, innocence and shameless self-centeredness of youth. 

6. You learn about the “real” differences between Catholics and Protestants. According to the girls, Protestants hate ABBA. Who’d have thought? 

Fr. Pat and I hope you add Derry Girls to your watch list. It is a great escape and laugh out-loud hilarious—and really, who couldn’t use a good laugh during these troubling times?