The first series of Derry Girls bowed out tonight with a finale that was both joyous and heartbreaking. And if any body doubted Lisa McGee's talents before, tonight saw her cement her reputation as a world-class writer.
Her beautifully-nuanced double ending laid bare the schizophrenic nature of the North in the 90s, where teen innocence and idealism fought a daily battle to survive in a broken society.
Without resorting to polemics, or ever once patronising her audience or playing to a gallery, in the last 90 seconds of her show, Lisa Magee perfectly exposed to the world exactly what it was like to be 16 in the Troubles.
And it had even the hardest of cynics in bits.
TV star and critic Richard Osman tweeted: Well that’s the way to end a series. So brilliant, so moving. Congratulations to everyone involved
While Adrian McKernan summed it up as follows: "I'm struggling to put into words what I wanna say but just the complexity of both worlds on the verge of colliding was very well done."
Meanwhile, Derry Girls star Nichola Coughlan, whose character Claire faced a life-changing personal challenge in the show, said after the broadcast: "I’m bawling, I’m so proud to be a part of this show I can’t explain, so overwhelmed, thank you all so, so much #DerryGirls"
And social media Paul Dunphy reviewer captured the public mood, tweeting: "Can we please have the next (longer) series of #DerryGirls ASAP! And a spin off series about Sister Michael! Thank you. Sincerely, EVERYONE.
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