Derry Girls review: Liam Neeson delights viewers in cameo as RUC officer
Liam Neeson in Derry Girls
Episode one of season three of Derry Girls opens with a typically OTT narration from Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). “They told us we were young, yet we understood the enormity of it, we understood what was at stake,” she muses over a compilation of cars aflame, armed men in balaclavas, and the Derry Girls themselves.
Her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan) and Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), and Michelle’s cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn) come into view. It becomes apparent the five have spent their summer documenting life in Derry under the Troubles in the hopes of an Oscar nod. As the wee English lad points out, some kids got one for making a short film about the Berlin Wall.
But, subtle and demure as always, Michelle points out that what they have so far is, well, shite. So instead, they get to worrying about their forthcoming GCSE results which, to Clare’s mind anyways, will define the rest of their lives.
Of course, a bump into Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney) does little to quell anxieties, especially when she reveals she’s already seen their results. In an ominous tone, she advises them to "make the most of the time you have left."
“Those exams were our only chance,” Clare cries, “we’re girls, we’re poor, we’re from Northern Ireland and we’re Catholic for God’s sake!”
If only the girls could find a way to get to those results first...
Yep. Along with Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James, all our old favourites are back. There’s Ma Mary (Tara Lynne O'Neill) and Aunt Sarah (Kathy Kiera Clarke) and Da Gerry (Tommy Tiernan) and Granda Joe (Ian McElhinney) plus ultimate dose Jenny Joyce (Leah O'Rourke) and perpetually angry Dennis (Paul Mallon).
Are the #DerryGirls Liam Neeson's toughest challenge yet? 😅 @nicolacoughlan @Djllewellyn @SaoirseJackson @louisa_harland @JamieLeeOD @LisaMMcGee pic.twitter.com/3QbQiDjCos
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) April 12, 2022
Ginger cat Seamus, granda Joe’s new best friend with homicidal tendencies, is a new addition — and a further cause of tension between Joe and Gerry. There is also a delightful cameo from Liam Neeson who plays a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer and questions the Derry Girls about their involvement in a robbery at their Catholic girls' school, Our Lady Immaculate College. But he gets more than he bargained for when Erin turns the tables and starts to interrogate him about the lack of Catholic officers in his police force. When the girls (and James) are informed they can call one parent or guardian to come down to the station, they decide to pick the one person they know can wear anyone down — Uncle Colm (Kevin McAleer).
Uncle Colm's got a very particular set of skills... #DerryGirls pic.twitter.com/Zm5vAH6LLc
— Sarah Doran (@sarahisnothere) April 12, 2022
According to Derry Girls' creator Lisa McGee, the cast and crew had a code name for Neeson during the shoot to help keep his cameo under wraps — 'the big fella’. "Arguably quite an easily cracked code," she tweeted, adding that it was an honour to have him on the show. As one Twitter user remarked, keeping Neeson's guest appearance under wraps must have been the best kept secret in Derry...
Inspired by Lisa McGee's own experience growing up in 1990s, Derry Girls has always provided a healthy dose of 90s music nostalgia. Season three is no different. In the opening episode, we're taken back in time with hits like How Bizarre by OMC, Freed by Desire from GALA, Perfect 10 by The Beautiful South, Runaway by The Corrs and Wannabe by The Spice Girls.
Yes. The plot is hilarious, there are plenty of zingy one-liners (like when Michelle picks up a VCR of and exclaims “Jesus, this looks class. This Scottish drag queen takes on the entire British army") and Uncle Colm’s involvement in episode one is simply perfect. A side plot involving Da Gerry and Granda Joe covering up the murder of a rabbit also provides plenty of laughs.
Fans of Clare/Nicola Coughlan can also be assured that despite the information circling around that the Galway actress has less of a part to play in this season due to conflicting filming schedules with , from what we’ve seen so far, she’s front and centre having panic attacks at every turn — we wouldn’t expect anything less.
