Derry Girls (Channel 4)

Say Your Number

Hardy Bucks and Inbetweeners films were mediocre enough, if they go down that road my expectations wouldn't be that high.

Basq

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

End it this season, then follow up with a film.

Yeah, that worked out so well for The Inbetweeners! :pac:

I'd say they'll get a third season out of it and that should probably be it. Though if Channel 4 have the appetite and it keeps pulling in viewers and they throw enough cash at it, it could go on for years.

CastorTroy

How long until RTE start showing thia on repeat like Father Ted?

Joe_ Public

Wouldn’t say we were quite in Give My Head Peace territory with that season opener but didn’t think it was that far off either. Catholic-athlete, lamest hook for a joke I’ve heard in a long time.

gmisk

castletownman wrote: »

Caught up with this tonight.

A drop off from last season already. All I heard between its first airing and actually watching it tonight was the 'hilarious' chalkboard scene. Hilarious is too strong a word- it was clever, but I could hardly hear half of the suggestions being thrown out. Dialogue is hard to decipher on occasion.

The English lad is a plague. Like was he trying to get off with Ollie from GOT, or just jealous of the quirky one? Should be shipped back across the Irish Sea pronto.

The father-in-law should be up in family court for psychological bullying at this stage. Season one ended with them two united in shock at the latest Troubles bomb- now it has reverted back to tired jokes.

I am tending to take reviews with a pinch of salt as a) they are influenced by nostalgia and as a result the comic nature of the show isn't separated from the 'times' (if you get what I am trying to say) and b) it has an air of Stephanie Pressenier about it in that its a female writer so critics may be loathe to downplay the overall quality.

But I don't forsee Season 2 outshining Season 1. I hope I am wrong though, as I really enjoyed it last year.

The things I heard said episode 2 is a big improvement over 1 this series. I wouldn't right it off yet! Maybe the hype is a bit much though.

I found it a fun episode, not the best one, but like a lot of people I find the Tommy tiernan and the granda thing tiresome at this stage, and the wee English fella had nothing to do in episode one.

MonkstownHoop

castletownman wrote: »

The father-in-law should be up in family court for psychological bullying at this stage. Season one ended with them two united in shock at the latest Troubles bomb- now it has reverted back to tired jokes.

It's a fictional TV comedy relax

Sam Hain

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I don’t think it’s a LOL show, either season. It’s more smile at the silliness. When you ditch the need for lols and lower your expectations, you’ll find enough to enjoy. Bit like life I guess.

Well thats depressing.

SharpshooterTom

Does anyone know what the ratings are like in the Republic?

Derry Girls scored 1.8 million for the second season opener in the UK.

wakka12

I have often thought the humour in this show was forced and unnatural but I actually liked episode one, thought it was funny

JP Liz V1

I thought the lad, Michelle's cousin, is his name James would maybe be paired with Erin this series

Guy:Incognito

Basq wrote: »

Yeah, that worked out so well for The Inbetweeners! :pac:

I.

Yes, yes it did.
Making nearly 20 times the budget back at the box office is working out well in anyone's language.

Basq

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Yes, yes it did.
Making nearly 20 times the budget back at the box office is working out well in anyone's language.

Box office success does not necessarily mean well-respected.. they're widely regarded as vastly inferior to the series.

Guy:Incognito

Basq wrote: »

Box office success does not necessarily mean well-respected.. they're widely regarded as vastly inferior to the series.

It making a boatload of money very much puts it in the category of "working out well" imo

RhubarbCrumble

Just caught up on it tonight. I was disappointed to be honest. Not a patch on season 1. Hope it improves a bit next week.

Hesh's Umpire

I thought the programme that followed it "Home" was much better. It wasn't trying as hard to be funny and had some really good bits.

Utopia Parkway

Finally got around to watching the first episode of series 2. It was more mildly amusing than outright funny really. Nice to see the characters again.

I agree about the conflict between the Granddad and Tommy Tiernan's character is way overdone at this point. I was half hoping Tommy would pull out a gun in a fit of anger and shoot the miserable fecker.

The Catholics/Athletes segment has got to be one of the most overworked, awkwardly crowbarred in "gags" I've ever seen in a comedy. You'd be embarrassed to put that in a school play. And even the fact that the writer surely had to be thinking that nobody will buy this. And then thought oh I know I'll make him deaf in one ear earlier in the episode. That'll work.

brian_t

Hesh's Umpire wrote: »

I thought the programme that followed it "Home" was much better. It wasn't trying as hard to be funny and had some really good bits.

I wouldn't say it was better but I did enjoy it.

IamtheWalrus

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Finally got around to watching the first episode of series 2. It was more mildly amusing than outright funny really. Nice to see the characters again.

I agree about the conflict between the Granddad and Tommy Tiernan's character is way overdone at this point. I was half hoping Tommy would pull out a gun in a fit of anger and shoot the miserable fecker.

The Catholics/Athletes segment has got to be one of the most overworked, awkwardly crowbarred in "gags" I've ever seen in a comedy. You'd be embarrassed to put that in a school play. And even the fact that the writer surely had to be thinking that nobody will buy this. And then thought oh I know I'll make him deaf in one ear earlier in the episode. That'll work.

Isn’t a lot of the humour on that level? It’s very absurdist in places.

Sam Hain

This episode is just painful.

NTC

Sam Hain wrote: »

This episode is just painful.

Yep, i agree. Hopefully the second half improves.

Basq

Absolute muck!

Cazale

NTC wrote:

Yep, i agree. Hopefully the second half improves.

It didn't.

Avatar MIA

Hmm, I liked it. Loved the music, bit of a Skit on DPS. Sr Michael totally stole the show, she's improving as a character.

Cazale

Avatar MIA wrote:

Hmm, I liked it. Loved the music

I think it relies way too much on the music. The nostalgia papers over some very poor comedy.

Sam Hain

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Hmm, I liked it. Loved the music, bit of a Skit on DPS. Sr Michael totally stole the show, she's improving as a character.

Soundtrack is good but that's not difficult as it was a great era for music. Sr. Michael has stagnated as a character. The only laugh I found was when Michelle said "careful now Oliver Reed" to the wee rotund one drinking the wine. Someone said earlier in this thread that episode 2 was supposed to be great. Piss poor. Will be a struggle to watch the rest of the series.

NTC

Cazale wrote: »

It didn't.

Agreed

Mad_maxx

Better than last week for me

Dead poets society parody was by the book but sure its not the most original of shows

WoollyRedHat

I think when you do a direct comparison of two episodes of first season, which hit all the right high notes, it falls a bit flat, but I still enjoyed it in parts.

I think the series success however based off the first season was its approach to basics when it comes to storyline with moments of the absurdity to make it stand out. So far it might be trying to rely on standalone episodes too much, rather than just building on the 1st season storylines more naturally. The ideas are there but execution can seem a bit disjointed and rushed at times . I thought it tried to fit in too many ideas into last two episodes with some of it coming across as a bit forced as a result.. Like the pitfall of a show looking to stuff the highlight reels without any consideration for how the episode ebbs as a whole. Some of characters show signs of being too self-aware.

Reemerging tropes such as the parents assembly when the girls get in trouble is starting to feel overused .. It's happened every episode of new season, they risk making it tired and it loses its impact as a result. Other devices such as the father/son in law animosity also are getting a bit dragged out as others have alluded to, need to roll back on that, or portray it a bit more subtlety at least.

Hopefully next episode sees a return to true form. So far a bit susceptible to 2nd season syndrome. It's relatability continues to be driving stone for viewers.

Utopia Parkway

Cazale wrote: »

I think it relies way too much on the music. The nostalgia papers over some very poor comedy.

The music is good but agree that it's become a bit of a crutch.

The show works as a nostalgia piece but the comedy itself is very hit and miss and I'd say mainly miss this 2nd series so far.

safeasparagus

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

I thought the lad, Michelle's cousin, is his name James would maybe be paired with Erin this series

It might make her stop pulling those ridiculous faces in every scene then !

DrPhilG

Loved the reference to the "Derry wee".

"The fact that people use the word wee to describe things that aren't actually that small".

I was working in a shop in Derry and had a bet with my colleague (she was from Derry, I'm from Donegal) that she had to give me a pound every time she offered the customer a "wee bag" even though it was a big bag.

After £20 (from 20 customers) she quit the game and never did pay up.

Shifty Shellshock

Watched Derry Girls for the first time last night. Not sure what the big fuss is about at all. Unfunny, smug cast who assume they are funny. I think it's hipsters keeping in trend who laugh at the humour in it. Give me Father Ted reruns any day.

redbuck

Shifty Shellshock wrote: »

Watched Derry Girls for the first time last night. Not sure what the big fuss is about at all. Unfunny, smug cast who assume they are funny. I think it's hipsters keeping in trend who laugh at the humour in it. Give me Father Ted reruns any day.

To be fair you tuned in for the worst episode of the whole run in my opinion.

Watch the first series.

gmisk

redbuck wrote: »

To be fair you tuned in for the worst episode of the whole run in my opinion.

Watch the first series.

I would agree, watched this week and it was poor, just a couple of laughs disappointing

Mantis Toboggan

The problem for this season of Derry Girls is that season 1 is mostly overrated and people think its better that what it was.

gmisk

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

The problem for this season of Derry Girls is that season 1 is mostly overrated and people think its better that what it was.

I disagree, I watched season 1 twice and I actually enjoyed it more the second time.
However episode 2 of this season was the poorest one yet.

Sunny Dayz

The poorest episode so far. Hopefully it's a one off. Anyone else notice that the main characters don't seem to actually talk to one another much anymore, it's more talking to the screen.

ThunbergsAreGo

Shifty Shellshock wrote: »

Watched Derry Girls for the first time last night. Not sure what the big fuss is about at all. Unfunny, smug cast who assume they are funny. I think it's hipsters keeping in trend who laugh at the humour in it. Give me Father Ted reruns any day.

Have to agree. Can see it would be better if you were from the area but it's really overrated and rather amateur Mrs Brownish in the delivery

castletownman

I predicted when the cast were on the Late Late a few weeks ago that the hype had gone overboard with what was a small sample size of outright quality.

Made a comparison then that it would go the way of Moone Boy, acclaimed for 90s nostalgia and couldn't go wrong, but weaker as it went on.

I maintain in a few years time it will be the same as Moone Boy, grand for what it is but largely forgotten about.

MPFGLB

There are 2 types of comedy
Ordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances
Or extraordinary characters in the ordinary circumstances

Derry Girls is the later as is Father Ted ..where the characters become over the top and at times cliched

However that is where the comparisons end..Father Ted is a classic because it has wonderful insights on religious orders, religion , pathos and the human condition plus it has a stream of every changing characters , it has truth and it has charm

Unfortunately while it has some fine lines and I do like the Nun ...DGs has mostly dreadful over acting , very one dimensional characters and after a while it becomes irksome

RhubarbCrumble

Season 2 has been really disappointing so far. It's going downhill fast.

IamtheWalrus

MPFGLB wrote: »

Unfortunately while it has some fine lines and I do like the Nun ...DGs has mostly dreadful over acting , very one dimensional characters and after a while it becomes irksome

You should try out London Irish, McGee's previous creation.

Gwynplaine

Struggled through 2 episodes. Had to see what all the fuss was about. Not for me. Plus I'm allergic to any Nordie accent.

JP Liz V1

I did laugh at the Christmas cupboard references as it reminded me of my aunt

It wasn't the best episode, the older characters I find more funny than the core main younger characters

Autecher

I decided to give this a go. I watched the first 5 episodes of season 1 and it's not good imo. The 2 blonde girls in this just annoy me, the ridiculous overacting and mugging grinds my gears. There was a bit in an episode where the Erin is ordering food in a chipper but she looked like she was acting out having a stroke. I did like the grandad in it even if I felt sorry for Tommy Tiernan's character sometimes too.

NIMAN

Yip, first series had a lot of strange facial contortions.

The lead actress seems to have toned it down a fair bit in series 2, someone must have told her to calm it down.

The iittle blonde one is hamming it up as usual though.

BobbyBobberson

Watched episode two tonight, really poor. I hope it improves as will be hard to watch another four of them.

redbuck

Not great so far again tonight.

Sam Hain

Pure dross again

castletownman

Meh again.

I don't know if its deliberate but I find it incredible hard to understand the ditzy auntie character. The Traveller lad was almost indecipherable as well- again not sure if that was the intention. And the dialogue in general is so rapid its hard to follow, or pick up any jokes- if there are any at all.

The only good bit I felt was the father tuning in to the news and smirking at himself when he spotted the girls at the concert.