Netflix’s new mystery series is the best TV show I’ve watched in 2026 so far — and it’s the perfect ‘Derry Girls’ follow-up
Tom’s Guide Verdict: ‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’
- Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Verdict: “How to Get from Heaven to Belfast” blends the hysterical and very Irish humor of “Derry Girls” with a well-paced mystery plot. Creator Lisa McGee strikes a perfect balance between sarcastic comedy and genre thrills, but it’s the chemistry and camaraderie between its three utterly fantastic female leads that is most heavenly in this Netflix show.
- Where to watch: “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is on Netflix from Feb. 12
“How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” is a reminder that you don’t always know what you want. When Netflix confirmed it would be the streaming home of “Derry Girls” creator Lisa McGee’s latest TV project, my wish was a series that would merely offer more of the same. And while there is certainly common ground between the two shows, “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” sees McGee take a wild swing into the mystery genre. And knock it out of the park.
Compared to “Derry Girls,” “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” is bigger, both in overall scope and individual episode runtime, more narratively ambitious, and it trades comfort watch pleasures for a twisting yarn that even extends beyond the island of Ireland. But it smartly retains “Derry Girls’” biggest strength: phenomenal comedic writing and great characters.
I will fully admit a personal bias to anything related to (Northern) Ireland, as my family hails from the region, but even putting that aside, “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” is easily the best TV show I’ve watched on not just Netflix, but any streaming service in 2026 and it will take something seriously special in the months to come to remove it from its lofty perch.
What is ‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ about?
“How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” comes from “Derry Girls” creator Lisa McGee and centers on three lifelong friends, Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), a successful TV writer, Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), a highly-strung mother of three, and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne), a kind-hearted carer for her ill mom.
Now in their 30s, they’ve remained close friends, even as life has pulled them in different directions. When they each receive an email informing them that the fourth, long-estranged, member of their childhood gang, Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe), has passed away, they’re reunited in Ireland for the funeral. But they’re back home to do more than pay their respects.
Greta’s death surfaces a buried secret from the friend’s adolescence. When this dark event from their past threatens to spill into the open, the trio is drawn into a knotty mystery that takes them across Ireland and beyond as they hunt for answers and try to figure out who’s behind it all.
‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ is good craic, and highly compelling
McGee’s credentials as a comedy writer are without question. “Derry Girls” is regularly ranked among the funniest comedy shows of the 21st century. Those comedic talents are certainly on display again in “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.” McGee finds highly creative ways to lace sarcastic humor into the proceedings, even while balancing the show’s mystery momentum
In what other mystery show will you see the lead character stumble upon a major revelation, the one that sets the entire plot into motion, and then seconds later be bickering about how much one character likes lemon drizzle cake? It would have been easy for this leap between tones to have clashed horribly, but McGee finds just the right balance almost every time.
Much of the show’s strengths rest on its cast. Gallagher, Keenan and Dunne are certainly up to the task of carrying the burden. It’s refreshing how much they actually feel like old friends. Saoirse and Robyn will make cutting comments to each other one moment, and then fiercely defend their pal the next. Dara often acts as the peacemaker, making her perhaps the most likable of the trio. But I quickly came to appreciate what each brings to the overall team dynamic.
There’s also great support from Darragh Hand, Michelle Fairley, Emmett J. Scanlan and Ardal O’Hanlon, who you might recognise from his time as Father Dougal McGuire in the beloved Irish comedy “Father Ted.”
The mystery itself, which I’m being somewhat vague about so as not to reveal any secrets, is also extremely well-plotted and crucially well-paced. The first episode teases a flashback sequence hinting at something bad happening in the trio’s youth, and viewers aren’t made to wait the entire eight-episode run to get at least some answers.
“How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” rewards viewers regularly. It avoids the pitfalls of other mystery shows, where the lead-up to the finale is nonstop teasing, and the conclusion is rushed to tie everything up.
“Derry Girls” was praised for its period-appropriate ‘90 music (and introduced a whole new generation to The Cranberries). “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” opts for a similar approach, leaning heavily on 2000s pop, though the throwback soundtrack is less successful this time around.
It’s undoubtedly nostalgic for anybody with fond memories of the era, but it doesn’t always pair well with the events on screen, particularly in the more dramatic moments. The noughties school disco soundtrack robs some key scenes of impact.
‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ sets a high bar for Netflix shows in 2026
“How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” is the perfect follow-up from Lisa McGee following the success of “Derry Girls.” It doesn’t entirely stray away from what made McGee’s previous work such a worldwide success, but it brings in enough new elements to not feel like a rehash.
It’s a mystery-comedy show with a compelling sense of mystery and dependably strong comedy writing. You can’t really ask for more in the genre. Saoirse, Robyn and Dara make for an excellent amateur detective trio, and even with the longer episodes compared to “Derry Girls” (each runs 45 minutes long), McGee is pleasingly economical with her storytelling.
I’ve been looking forward to streaming “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” since I first heard it was in development several months back, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It might not be as endlessly rewatchable as “Derry Girls,” but “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” is far more bingeable.
Watch “How to Get to Heaven from Belfast” on Netflix now
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