Three Lifelong Friends Reunite to Uncover a Dark Secret From the Past
2026
Comedy, Dark Comedy
8 episodes
TheNextHint Score
8.2
8.2 / 10
Overview
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast marks Lisa McGee's return with a mystery built around three women in their late thirties. Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara have remained close since their school days, but that bond is put to the test when they learn that Greta, the fourth member of their former group, has passed away. At her wake, odd details and reminders of their shared history make it evident that the story holds more than what appears on the surface. What begins as an effort to guard a secret they have kept for years soon turns into an investigation that carries them across Ireland and further afield. Spanning eight episodes and blending dark comedy, crime-thriller suspense, and friendship drama, the series examines how secrets from the past can reshape adult lives. The cast is led by Roisin Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne.
Quick Verdict
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast caters to an audience that appreciates dark comedy, mysteries, complex friendships, and narratives that revolve around secrets kept hidden for years. What sets it apart most is how it merges Lisa McGee's Irish comedic sensibility with a crime-thriller structure, instead of positioning itself as a conventional detective show.
Where to Watch How to Get to Heaven From Belfast in the US
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a dark comic mystery thriller written by Lisa McGee, the creator behind the series Derry Girls. The eight-episode Netflix series centers on three long-time friends, Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara, who come back together after they come to know that Greta, the fourth member of their teenage group from whom they had drifted apart, has passed away. They make the trip to a small town in Donegal for her wake, but disturbing occurrences soon imply that Greta’s death is not as simple as it seems. Even more importantly, the friends share an old secret that they are set on keeping hidden. What starts as an uncomfortable reunion becomes an amateur investigation that draws them into a far bigger and ever more perilous mystery.
The narrative shifts between their grown-up lives and recollections of their school days, illustrating how a common history can influence friendships many decades later. Roisin Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne head the cast, with Bronagh Gallagher, Darragh Hand, Natasha O’Keeffe, Michelle Fairley, and others appearing in supporting parts. The series blends Irish humor, crime mystery, suspense, friendship drama, and odd twists instead of confining itself to a single genre. All eight episodes became available on Netflix on February 12, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is How to Get to Heaven From Belfast about?
30-something friends TV writer Saoirse (Roísín Gallaghe); Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), a mother of three kids; and carer Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) investigate their childhood friend's mysterious death in the comedy-thriller series from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee.
Who created, wrote, or directed How to Get to Heaven From Belfast?
Created by Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee
How many episodes does How to Get to Heaven from Belfast have?
Season 1 has eight episodes, all released on Netflix on February 12, 2026.
Is How to Get to Heaven from Belfast a comedy or thriller?
It combines several genres. Netflix categorizes it around comedy, mystery, crime, and thriller elements, while IMDb describes it as a dark comedy, comedy, and thriller.
Story — Spoiler Free
Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara have been friends since their school days, though adulthood has sent them down very different paths. Upon learning that their estranged friend Greta has passed away, the three come together for her wake in Donegal. The reunion soon turns unsettling, and the past they share starts to come back to the surface. Resolved to keep an old secret buried, the women begin asking questions about how Greta died. Their amateur sleuthing quickly carries them past the wake and into a perilous mystery tied to people and events from their teenage years.
8.2
TheNextHint Score
8.2 / 10
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast caters to an audience that appreciates dark comedy, mysteries, complex friendships, and narratives that revolve around secrets kept hidden for years. What sets it apart most is how it merges Lisa McGee's Irish comedic sensibility with a crime-thriller structure, instead of positioning itself as a conventional detective show.
Rating breakdown
Story
8.0
Acting
9.0
Direction
8.0
Visuals
8.0
Sound
8.0
Entertainment
8.0
External Ratings
Scores from other sources, shown in their own scale. These are not TheNextHint's rating.
Strong performances, sharp Irish humor, an unusual mix of comedy and mystery, distinctive visual presentation, and a central friendship that gives the story emotional weight.
Cons
The mystery becomes increasingly complicated, and the shift between comedy, thriller, and darker material may not work equally well for viewers who prefer a more consistent tone.
Who Should Watch
Dark Comedy Fans
Mystery Lovers
Crime-Thriller Viewers
Who Should Skip
Light Comedy Viewers
Realistic Crime-Drama Fans
Release Date
2026-02-12
Runtime
46–57 minutes per episode
Director
Michael Lennox, George Kane, Rachna Suri
Producer
Brian J. Falconer
Writer
Lisa McGee, Tobias Beer, Bronagh Taggart, Ava Pickett
A television writer and one of the three central friends.
Sinéad Keenan
as
Robyn Winters
A mother of three and one of Saoirse and Dara's long time friends.
Caoilfhionn Dunne
as
Dara Friel
The dependable member of the long time trio.
Bronagh Gallagher
as
Booker
A significant figure who becomes involved in the mystery.
Darragh Hand
as
Liam
A police officer whose investigation intersects with the women's search.
Natasha O'Keeffe
as
Greta
The estranged fourth member of the friends' old group.
Michelle Fairley
as
Margo Heaney
A supporting character connected to the story's mystery.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
8 episodes February 12, 2026Completed
Three lifelong friends investigate the suspicious death of their estranged childhood friend while attempting to keep their own long-buried secret hidden.
1The Wake
46 min February 12, 2026
Dara, Robyn, and Saoirse travel to Donegal for their school friend's wake and try to keep their old secret buried.
2The Secret
47 min February 12, 2026
After a crash, the friends try to leave Greta and their past behind, but red letters and an old notebook draw them back in.
3The Ghost
46 min February 12, 2026
A storm traps the trio at the hotel while Liam investigates another person from Greta's past.
4The Girl From Sagres
49 min February 12, 2026
The friends' investigation leads them to a luxury resort in Portugal, where another person appears to be searching for answers.
5The Box
49 min February 12, 2026
The trio races around Dublin while trying to stay ahead of Booker, as new information creates problems for Saoirse.
6Separate But Inseparable
52 min February 12, 2026
A confession increases the tension between the three friends while Booker continues tracking the mysterious box.
7Outlaws, Liars and Fallen Angels
52 min February 12, 2026
Booker, Feeney, and the Midwife are summoned to Derry as events at a Belfast police station bring unexpected reunions.
8Anagnorisis
57 min February 12, 2026
Saoirse, Dara, and Robyn reach the point of no return as they attempt to uncover the truth and survive what follows.
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