How to get to Heaven from Belfast – Review | Netflix Series

HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST on Netflix is a new dark comedy series from the creator of Derry Girls. Do you really need to know anything else? I certainly did not, and I am happy to report that I loved this new series as well. It’s a gorgeous genre-hybrid with eight solid episodes. Read our How to Get to Heaven from Belfast Season 1 review here!

HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST is a new Netflix series with eight episodes. The genres are dark comedy and thriller, but there’s also a murder mystery (and quite a few other mysteries) at the heart of the story. I absolutely loved this series, which has a lot of the vibe from Derry Girls, which comes from the same creator.

I mean, if the girls from Derry Girls were now adults, and trying to solve a murder case, and find their childhood friend, who is clearly caught up in something sinister. The cast is, of course, amazing, and I once again find myself wanting to plan a trip to Ireland. Well, Northern Ireland, of course.

Continue reading our How to Get to Heaven from Belfast Season 1 review below. Find all eight episodes on Netflix from February 12, 2026.

Get to know Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara

The three main protagonists of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast are Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara. Sure, there are many other (wonderful!) characters in this Netflix series, but the plot is driven by these three extremely different women. They have been best friends since school, and you can clearly tell.

Especially as they tend to regress to teenage behavior when they fight.

We have the clever, chaotic TV writer Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), who loves her job but actually loathes working with actors. Especially the lead of her series Murder Code. Then there’s the glamorous, stressed-out mother of three boys, Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), who is a no-nonsense woman who can get whatever she wants.

Finally, there’s Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne), the dependable and loving, but far-too-inhibited carer. Also, Dara has a very strong connection to the Church, which has gotten in the way of her love life as a lesbian. Her friends know that she’s gay, as would most others assume based on her style, but she has always struggled with this.

Best friends stick together

The three have been a tight-knit group since school, and continue to be each other’s best friends. They are now in their late 30s, when they receive word that someone who was (for a brief time) a fourth friend in their group has passed away very suddenly.

They find out about the death of their friend Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe) via an email, and decide to go to her wake. Just to say goodbye and honor their friendship. Also, all four share a dark secret, as the three friends helped Greta when she needed them most.

This results in quite the odyssey, which will take them all over Northern Ireland (and Ireland, though not very willingly) and even to an exotic resort in Portugal. Along with the mystery, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast offers a story of friendship and the struggle to come to terms with lives that turned out very differently than expected.

Brilliant casting once again

Along with the core cast of Roisin Gallagher (Lazarus), Sinéad Keenan (Derry Girls), and Caoilfhionn Dunne (Saint Maud) as Saorise, Robyn, and Dara, respectively, we also see young versions of them. In these scenes, we’re practically back in the world of Derry Girls, though Dara isn’t as bold and brave as Clare “The Wee Lesbian” Devlin.

And yes, there are cast members from Derry Girls in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. Most prominently is Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Erin in Derry Girls), but obviously, I’m not going to spoil who she plays in this new Netflix series.

Also, Art Campion (Father Peter in Derry Girls) plays the husband of Robyn. And Ardal O’Hanlon has a recurring role as an Innkeeper, while guest stars from Derry Girls will show up in key roles in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. These include Bronagh Gallagher, Chris Robinson, and Emmett J. Scanlan (Fool Me Once).

Finally, I should also mention that the amazing Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones) plays a key role.

Watch How to Get to Heaven from Belfast on Netflix

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast comes from creator Lisa McGee, who is also the writer of the series. Lisa McGee previously created the hugely popular series Derry Girls, which I loved and highly recommend checking out.

The director of the eight episodes (all around 45-60 minutes in runtime) is Michael Lennox, who also worked on Derry Girls.

While this new Netflix series is entirely its own thing, the vibe I loved in that other series remains. It’s much darker, but still character-driven and full of funny moments that I already find myself quoting.

Womentainment recommendation: A definite must-watch

Whether you’re a fan of Derry Girls (and if you’re not, then I almost feel sorry for you) or just enjoy female-driven stories, then How to Get to Heaven from Belfast should immediately go to the top of your watch list.

This is a darkly comedic thriller with amazing characters that are as quirky as they are tough and lovable. Also, it’s essentially about female friendships and girl power. Which is also why you never say “F**k girl power”, as revealed in the trailer for this series.

This is a very binge-worthy show, so get ready to spend nearly eight hours in the amazing company of these women.

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is out on Netflix from February 12, 2026.

Creator: Lisa McGee
Cast: Roísín Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Tom Basden, Art Campion, Michelle Fairley, Josh Finan, Bronagh Gallagher, Darragh Hand, Ardal O’Hanlon, Natasha O’Keeffe, Emmett J. Scanlan

Official plot:

From the wild imagination of Lisa McGee (“Derry Girls”) comes a not-so-wee mystery series about three best pals on a frantic mission to unearth the truth.