Ireland excels at a lot of things. Literature. Preachy rock stars. Potato-based snacks. But in television we have long punched below our weight: compare and contrast our history of underachievement on the small screen with the ambitious, cutting-edge TV produced by nations of a similar size, from Borgen (Denmark) to Wellington Paranormal (New Zealand). Still, … Read more
“Do you think the vibe is weird in here?” asks Robyn (Sinéad Keenan) in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, Lisa McGee’s new Netflix comedy-mystery caper. Weird vibes are now normal in television shows set in Ireland. As Saoirse-Monica Jackson’s character might say, it would be strange if there weren’t any weird vibes, babes. … Read more
RTÉ hasn’t had much in the way of good news stories recently, so it’s hard to begrudge the national broadcaster as reports emerge of a deal to secure the future of its ratings-winning gangland drama Kin. After two well-received seasons, the show ended on a cliffhanger in 2023 – but the real twist was to … Read more
Pick of the week These Sacred Vows Sunday, RTÉ One, 9.30pm Remember when Tom Vaughan-Lawlor ruled Sunday night telly as gang leader Nidge in the hit series Love/Hate? Now he’s back on our screens of a Sunday, but this time he’s shockin’ holy as Irish priest Fr Vincent in this new comedy drama written and … Read more
RTÉ’s new Sunday night comedy-drama has sun, sex, drugs and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor in a dog collar The Journal Tom Vaughan-Lawlor dives into These Sacred Vows RTE.ie Tom Vaughan-Lawlor admits the time was right to give Ireland a break from Nidge The Irish Times New Irish mystery series with Love/Hate star is an absolute must-watch JOE.ie ‘It wasn’t like I … Read more
By the end of Love/Hate, Tom Vaughan‑Lawlor knew things were getting out of hand. “I was on the front cover of The Irish Times twice in one week,” he says, laughing. “Maybe it was time to give the Irish people a break.” Vaughan‑Lawlor was a character actor who had worked largely in theatre when he … Read more
Game of Thrones has come home to Ireland with the new spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Sky Atlantic, 9pm, NOW) – and what a rewarding return to its misty spiritual heartland it proves. As with the original series, it was filmed in Belfast and its environs – and you can tell. The rain … Read more
Pick of the week A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Monday, Sky Atlantic & Now, 9pm Admit it: you binged out so much Game of Thrones, the entire decade from the arrival of the troika to the onset of Covid is just a blur. That didn’t stop you from clearing your diary and extending lockdown … Read more