Inside How to Get to Heaven from Belfast: Why Lisa McGee’s Wildly Addictive Crime Thriller Is Netflix’s Newest Masterpiece
If you have been hunting for a series that manages to fuse razor-sharp dark comedy with a breathless, twist-filled murder mystery, look no further than How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. Created by Derry Girls mastermind Lisa McGee, this eight-part series has quickly become a massive word-of-mouth sensation on Netflix, pulling in critical acclaim (including a stellar 95% Rotten Tomatoes score) and keeping viewers glued to their screens for one frantic, single-sitting binge.
A Wake, a Body Swap, and a Wild Irish Odyssey
The story kicks off when three thirty-something women from Belfast—chaotic TV writer Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), stressed mother-of-three Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), and dependable carer Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne)—receive an unexpected invitation. The estranged fourth member of their tight-knit childhood friend group, Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe), has supposedly died after a tragic fall down the stairs.
Reluctantly heading to an isolated town in County Donegal for the wake, the trio expects a heavy dose of awkward nostalgia. Instead, they walk straight into a bizarre, deeply unsettling atmosphere. Upon examining the body, Saoirse notices something terrifying: the corpse in the coffin isn’t Greta.
What starts as a tense bid to ensure an old, long-buried adolescent secret stays hidden instantly spirals into a chaotic, hilarious, and genuinely dangerous cross-country odyssey. As the women stumble around searching for answers, they find themselves dodging suspicious locals, bizarre hotel owners, and even professional assassins—turning a simple investigation into a high-stakes puzzle.
Why Viewers Can’t Stop Recommending It
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The Signature Lisa McGee DNA: Fans of Derry Girls will immediately recognize McGee’s brilliant touch: lightning-fast dialogue, an affectionate look at messy, lifelong female friendships, and a distinct brand of dry, sarcastic Northern Irish wit that hits right in the funny bone.
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A Ripping, Breakneck Pace: Across its eight hour-long episodes, the show refuses to slow down. It ricochets effortlessly between laugh-out-loud farce, red herrings, and sharp whodunit thrills without ever losing its momentum.
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Surprising Emotional Depth: Beneath the wild, preposterous plot points and frantic amateur sleuthing lies a moving exploration of trauma, growing up, and how the defining events of adolescence haunt who we become as adults. When the comedy cracks open to reveal raw psychological stakes, the emotional gut-punches land with incredible force.
The Verdict
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a triumphant, unpredictable, and fiercely entertaining ride that proves lightning can strike twice. It’s funny, tense, wildly addictive, and entirely deserving of every recommendation it’s getting online.
If you are looking for your next fast-paced weekend marathon, cue this up immediately. Just be prepared to watch all eight episodes in one go!
