In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 5 finale, Maria is joined by twins Kelly Gilbert and Mick Gilbert to contrast the experiences of Catholic teenage girls coming of age in Belfast and Derry during The Troubles on SAY NOTHING (2024) and DERRY GIRLS (2018-2022). For one set of teen girl characters – Marian and Dolours Price – the Cause and the war are all consuming, inseparable from their experience of girlhood. But for teen characters in the DERRY GIRLS universe – Clare Devlin, Erin Quinn, Orla McCool, and Michelle Mallon [and honorarily James Maguire] – the Troubles are simply the political backdrop of their girlhoods, with much more teenage problems often taking a front seat instead. Still, thorough lines run through the stories: a deep hatred for British colonialism; common socioeconomic conditions and the Catholic working class solidarity that comes with it; and, overall, a love for Ireland. We discuss all the political complexities explored on the two shows, ending with a lot more questions than answers.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DERRY GIRLS Seasons 1-3, streaming on Netflix, and SAY NOTHING Season 1, streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
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MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience!
MICK GILBERT (they/them; recurring guest) is a comic based between Upstate NY and Brooklyn, and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden KeefeMarch 4, 2019, Prospect Magazine, In Derry Girls and Milkman, teenage girls dance through the Troubles by Caroline MagennisMay 2, 2019, Counterpunch, An American Reporter in Belfast: How a New Yorker Writer Got So Much Wrong in His Bestselling Book On The Troubles by Ed MoloneyJune 10, 2025, Los Angeles Times, ‘Say Nothing’ courted a global audience. In Ireland, it sparked a heated debate by Lesley O’TooleJuly 29, 2025, Hollywood Reporter, Disney Sued for Defamation Over FX Series ‘Say Nothing’ by Katie KilkennyDecember 9, 2025, The Guardian, Britain’s ‘golden egg’: how IRA agent Freddie Scappaticci was protected to the end by Daniel Boffey SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING:
One Man's Terrorist: A Political History of the IRA by Daniel FinnThe podcast Mick listened to beforehand: Redhanded, Episode 224 - The Guildford Four & The Maguire Seven