Transition television: Teaching peace, conflict, and contemporary Northern Ireland using Derry Girls and Blue Lights

This article shows how two recent television series can vividly illustrate for students key aspects of the condition of contemporary Northern Ireland and conflict-affected societies generally. The article begins by reviewing literature on the potential of popular culture as an aid to active learning. It then analyses scenes from Derry Girls, a comedy series set during the final years of ‘the Troubles’, and Blue Lights, a police drama set in the present, showing the guided class discussion that can stem from the scenes. Drawing on student feedback, the conclusion emphasises how popular drama can ground social and political processes in the lives of characters, rendering them more comprehensible, affective, and ‘real’, thereby deepening the engagement of both students and instructors.