Courage, Dear Heart

𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝙸𝚟𝚢

goodbye derry girls (2018-2022)

I just woke up so this might be rambly but a show can be about multiple things. And whilst you are correct in that part of the story is about war being so normalised they don't even think about it as out of the ordinary, part of that is also that life continues to go on even in the darkest of times.

Derry Girls is a comedy. One of the first jokes is everyone complaining about being late to work because the IRA are trying to blow up a bridge.

In the early series we see this happen again with the finales. The day they all stand up with Orla and dance on the stage and affirm their friendship is the same day of a fatal bombing. Their happy and smiling, but somewhere out there there's a parent mourning the loss of their child and they will go home and learn the news and cry. But it works the other way around too. The day they get totally embarrassed in front of the whole school, where they have red paint/pig blood poured all over their outfits which they CAN'T return now even though they paid for them on their Mam's credit card is the same day as the IRA ceasefire. They'll go home miserable and fearful of their parents reaction and learn this amazing life saving news!

And yeah, those two ARE related to war, but they're still about life being a balance of good and bad at the same time.

My post in question in fact has nothing to do with war. Because, life continues to happen no matter where you are. That hierarchy of needs is bullshit, just because you can't have safety from violence doesn't mean you can't have glitter eyeshadow and movie marathons with your friends.

My post in question (and spoilers for S3) is about how the day of Clare's first kiss with a girl is the same day her father dies. One thing that is beautiful and exciting and a life affirming! The next is shattering, life destroying and the greatest pain Clare has experienced so far. It was also, random. They live in a war zone and the thing that takes him is his own big, loving heart.

We see Gerry going through the turmoil of needing to tell the girls about Clare's Dad but not wanting to ruin their last few moments of joy at this VIP event!