History Series / DerryGirls

* ArousedByTheirVoice: the BBC wouldn't broadcast Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' voice and had it dubbed over. Aunt Sarah and Joe think there's another reason for that.
-->'''Sarah:''' It's because his natural voice is actually very seductive. Apparently, he sounds like a West Belfast Bond. As far as the English are concerned, a voice like that... Well, it's dangerous.
-->'''Gerry:''' Just so I'm clear, are you saying that the British government dub the voice of Gerry Adams because it's too sexy?
-->'''Joe:''' It's like a fine whiskey. And I have that on good authority, boy.

* AmbiguousEnding: Not for the show as whole, but in the fourth episode of Season 2, we never learn what exactly happens after [[spoiler:the family eat the drug-filled scones.]]

* TattooedCrook: when the girls accidentaly take the bag of another passanger on a train, they find a gun, money and snacks in the bag. The man is heavily tattooed and later is revealed to be dating Aiddeen, the woman who recently got out of jail. The mothers of the girls also got DIY tattoos as kids they have since kept hidden for twenty years as they thought getting tattooed without a licence was a crime.

** The prom queen coronation ends with [[Film/{{Carrie}} several buckets of a red substance being dropped onstage]]. Lampshaded and all.

* NerdsAreVirgins: In episode 4, the bookworm Clare says something to the effect of "We're all going to have sex someday", to which Erin and Michelle respond in unison, "You won't." The same episodes revolves around the geeky, awkward James trying to lose his virginity to Katya. Of the main cast, [[{{HardDrinkingPartyGirl}} Michelle]] is the only one with any experience.

* I mean, she wants to keep a statue of the child of Prague, so you really can't deny that

* VoiceOfTheResistance: [[AluminiumChirstmasTrees just like in real life]] BBC news would not broadcast the voice of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

** at Friends Across The Barricade, the assembled Catholic and Protestant kids are asked to list things that are different and things that are the same for both of them, however the blackboard just becomes a LongList of differences ranging from toasters in cupboards to Catholics loving statues
--> Sister Michael: I do enjoy a good statue, it has to be said.

* Tattooed Crook: when the girls accidentaly take the bag of another passanger on a train, they find a gun, money and snacks in the bag. The man is heavily tattooed and later is revealed to be dating Aiddeen, the woman who recently got out of jail. The mothers of the girls also got DIY tattoos as kids they have since kept hidden for twenty years as they thought getting tattooed without a licence was a crime.

* CultureClash: English-Irish culture clashes are frequently PlayedForLaughs. For example, when the gang go to a wake in 2x04. James is horrified by the casual way the dead body's laid out for people to view and that visitors can touch her. The girls are baffled by the fact that it's the first time he's ''ever'' seen a dead body, due to British funerals being far more formal and even clinical; open caskets aren't as common, bodies are often removed to a funeral parlour rather than being prepared at the family home, and wakes are usually held ''after'' the person's already been buried.

* IncendiaryExponent: Michelle calls an impromptu break from cleaning Fionnula's shop in 1.02 with a tray of flaming Sambucas, which she promptly drops. Only James' quick action with an extinguisher prevents a {{HouseFire}}.

-->'''Sister Michael''': Jenny, you'll go far in life [beat] but you will not be well liked.

** [[spoiler: ''Chelsea Clinton'']] in the DistantFinale.

** [[spoiler: Series 3 has Clare's father dying of an aneurysm, right after Claire has her first kiss with another girl.]]
** [[spoiler: The series finale has the conflict between Michelle and Erin over Michelle's incarcerated brother, which culminates in Michelle having a serious monologue about her feelings about her brother's actions. The episode also ends with a montage of the characters voting on the Good Friday Agreement, intercut with real life footage of the event.]]

** The main characters are all attracted to Father Peter, barring Clare. [[spoiler: Clare comes out as a lesbian in episode 6.]]

** In Season 1, Episode 2, when the gang enters the room where Michelle has got the music on, everyone is shocked--apart from Orla, who starts dancing.

** In Season 2, Episode 4, when they are flushing the spiked scones away, Orla is trying a more effective method of disposal--eating one (and then suggests hiding them in [[VictoriasSecretCompartment the other end]]).

-->'''Michele:''' (''sing-song'') I think Finnoula has a bit of a problem!\\

** When [[{{TheQuietOne}} James]] finally cracks after being they can't go to the police about a ''probable criminal stowaway.'' The girls, who are all more [[LargeHam hammy]] than him, (led by [[NervousWreck Clare]] who has just melted down about a lost bookmark) tell him he needs to calm down.

** [[spoiler: James in the season 2 finale deciding to stay in Northern Ireland.]]
** [[spoiler: Sister Michael in the series finale, refusing to be transferred from Our Lady Immaculate.]]

** The setting is officially called Londonderry but all the characters refer to it as "Derry". During UsefulNotes/TheTroubles, whether one called it "Londonderry" or "Derry" was used as a Shibboleth to determine one's allegiance.

* JawDrop: Various characters, usually thanks to Michelle. Example--Fionnula, on seeing the shambles of her room after the incident with the flaming shots.

** The [[spoiler: bombing]] at the end of season 1 is so serious and heart-breaking that [[spoiler: Joe]] actually gives [[spoiler: Gerry, his hated son-in-law,]] a reassuring and comforting hand on the shoulder.

* PreviouslyOn: The [[Main.SeriesFinale hour-long finale special]] opens with clips of the whole series' high and lows.

* ReversePsychology: In Sister Michael's more kindhearted moments, this is her default method. Examples include forbidding the school paper to publish [[spoiler:Clare's]] anonymous confession of being a closeted lesbian...only to smile proudly to herself when she sees they defied her, and do absolutely nothing about it. This is also how she handled Bill Clinton's visit in the season 2 finale--rather than encourage her students to attend the speech, she outright forbid it and declared that school would function business as usual the next day. This ensured the entire student body skipped school to attend as an act of protest. Sister Michael is seen smiling, not even wearing her full habit as she makes casual rounds of the school to confirm this.

** Sister Michael rolls up in [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture a [=DeLorean=] ]] in [=S03E04=].

** This is lampshaded in [=S01E05=] where the protagonists get caught in an Orange Order[[note]]The Orange Order is a fraternal order in Northern Ireland celebrating King William of Orange who, among other things, defeated the Irish at the Battle of the Boyne. Highly conservative, Protestant and Unionist, Orange Order marches/parades were often flashpoints during The Troubles as they would march near predominantly Catholic neighborhoods, often sparking riots. [[/note]] parade. Despite being in a perilous situation, Mary panics that she's forgotten her purse with Irish punts[[note]]The Republic of Ireland used Irish pounds, nicknamed punts, until adopting the Euro in 2002--while the six counties in the North continue to use British sterling.[[/note]] and Clare freaks out that she's lost her place in her book.

** In the series 1 finale, it goes from the group getting up and dancing at the talent show without a care in the world to [[spoiler: Erin's parents, aunt, and grandad solemnly watching a news report of the aftermath of a bombing.]]

** Season 2, episode 5 gives us a similar but contrasting experience when Gerry finally gets the TV working again, and they're greeted by the news of [[spoiler: the IRA ceasefire.]]

--> [[spoiler: James: "Hello, Mum."]]

-->'''Gerry:''' There's ''nothing'' you can't do, love - nothing.

** Gerry is a HenpeckedHusband who is constantly dumped on by everyone but especially his father-in-law, even when it's something they agree on. Especially it's something they agree on. He's always ignored and pretty much never gets his way.

* SexyPriest: Father Peter. All the girls (including James, though excluding Clare) adore him. Sister Michael is less impressed.

*** I think its a stretch to say that -- unless the characters stop and explicitly condemn something -- it's tacitly endorsed. Proposed violence against James is ''often'' played for laughs, but that's mostly a genre, style of comedy thing. That doesn't mean the characters would be fine with it if someone ''actually'' hurt James. As for Michelle's AnythingThatMoves tendencies, is that even meant to be taken at face value? I thought her UrbanLegendLoveLife implied that -- while she talks big game -- she's overall as dorky as her friends and her love life is actually more or less like theirs.

** When Michelle raids Finnoula's liquor stash in Season 1 episode 2, she has the nerve to imply ''Finoula'' is the one with a drinking problem.
-->'''Michele:''' (''sing-song'') I think Finnoula has a bit of a problem!\\
'''Erin:''' [[LampshadeHanging You think FINNOULA has a bit of problem??]]