Derry Girls – The Prom Review

Whenever there is a show about high school aged characters there has to be an episode about prom. And the Derry Girls go to their prom in their latest episode.

A new student joins the school from the far off lands of Donegal. The girls immediately attempt to befriend Mae (Aoife Hinds), mainly because she’s ethnically Chinese. Mae accepts them because of Claire’s homosexuality and suggests the two should go to the prom together. All the girls are excited to go to the prom and prepare by finding dates and getting dresses.

In my previous reviews of Derry Girls episodes I have commented that Lisa McKee has the ability to combine relatable comedy and “The Prom” is a microcosm of this. The girls going to prom is something many people around the globe would have experienced or want to experience and it allows the show to examine the girls’ various views of relationships.

Claire is gay but would struggle to find a partner so excited to go out with another girl. Erin wants a just date for the dance. Michelle is the most sexually active member of the group and she has seemingly typical sitcom storyline – she takes two boys to the prom. And the girls are surprised to find out that Orla has a date because she’s so childlike.

Claire and Erin get the most of the focus in the episode because Erin becomes incredibly jealous of Mae. Erin ends up defending the group’s nemesis Jenny Joyce in an attempt to drive a wedge. The episode continues the rift between Claire and Jenny which started in “Across the Barricade” and continues in “Ms. De Brún and the Child of Prague. ” Claire shows her feisty side when facing off against Jenny which is fun to see.

Erin’s storyline is where the episode has an emotional heart and the most emotional moment in the show so far. Erin berates an ex-boyfriend (Calam Lynch) to take her to the prom. Even though Erin forces the boy to take her she’s excited, gets herself a nice looking if uncomfortable dress and is hurt when he doesn’t show. Saoirse-Monica Jackson was considered a rising star in Ireland before she landed her Derry Girls role and this episode allowed Jackson to show a sensitive side. She had pain on her face when John Paul doesn’t show and we could all feel her heartbreak.

Fans have compared “The Prom” to the Friends episode “The One With the Prom Video” and they are fitting. It works on two fronts. The being Erin getting another date the prom. It a reference to one of the most popular sitcoms of the ’90s which is fitting of Derry Girls‘ ’90s setting.

In “The Concert” a background detail was the political parties in Northern Ireland trying to arrange peace talks and “The Prom” builds on this. The potential peace talks are again in the background and their outcome in this episode is more significant. The ending of “The Prom” mirrors the ending of the first season finale where a major event of the Troubles happens whilst the girls are at school and both episodes end with a Cranberries song.

Hinds as Mae was a good guest star for the episode, being a no-nonsense girl who doesn’t want to be the token Chinese friend. Mae is a hypocrite because she accepts the girls because Claire is gay so she can claim to have a gay friend. Mae to be someone who doesn’t like to crossed giving her a darker edge to other characters in the series. Hinds is actually English and she pulls off a convincing Irish accent.

McKee and Siobhan McSweeney were able to pull off a double joke when they introduced Mae. The show continues Sister Michael’s ability to make fun of other territories like England, France and Belfast, this time taking a swipe at the county next to Derry. The other side of the joke is it plays on audience perceptions that Mae was from China, not Ireland. It is classic misdirection.

“The Prom” is the most heartfelt episode because of Erin’s storyline and the ending and maintains the show’s high standard of humour.