Warning: The following contains spoilers for Derry Girls Season 3.
Netflix's Derry Girls has become a fan favorite for anyone in the mood for a quirky, hilarious, and totally unique comedy series. While the girls (and cousin James) of this show usually steal the spotlight, there are other characters who also crack smiles.
Of course, for a comedy show, they all have their redeeming and funny moments, but some of them have to be more hilarious than the rest. When stacked up against each other, fans agree certain cast deliver the most and biggest laughs throughout the series.
Updated on October 19th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: Though most of the characters in Derry Girls have funny one-liners, or find themselves in funny situations, just how funny they really are can be very different from the audience point of view. While Erin’s father Gerry, for example, is often the “straight man” in the comedic scenes amongst the family, his deadpan delivery can still be hilarious. Other characters, like Orla, are more overtly funny thanks to her outlandish statements. In Season 3 that continues, despite the season focusing on more dramatic aspects of the lives of the teen characters as they grow up.
Jenny
Jenny Joyce probably thinks of herself as someone with a great sense of humor. She, however, isn’t one of the characters given funny lines, though she might find herself in the middle of funny situations once in a while.
Instead, Jenny is often the straight player, or even the mean girl, in the middle of situations at school with Erin and her friends. The audience might be laughing at her once in a while, but she’s never intentionally making them laugh.
Father Peter
Father Peter often finds himself on the receiving end of Sister Michael’s sarcasm as the two approach their work very differently. He’s very earnest in his approach to interacting with teens. He’s also someone who tries very hard to have the right lingo and be approachable.
Father Peter’s awkwardness in those interactions with the teenagers of the show are what typically make him the most funny. Otherwise, he’s just a guy trying his best in a job where not everyone appreciates him.
Colm
Uncle Colm might just be Gerry’s least favorite relative next to his father-in-law. That’s because Colm tells the longest and most boring stories on the show. He’s never intentionally funny.
Colm’s inability to read a situation though, and his complete disregard for other people wanting him to stop telling his stories, is what makes him funny for the audience. He’s a sweet man who just wants to talk to his family, and it’s all the more amusing when they find themselves stuck listening to a rambling tale.
Mary
The mother of this series is definitely known for being a bit of a tough cookie, and most of her comedic moments come from her not even trying to be funny. Sometimes, it's hard not to laugh at her discipline or hard-headed opinions.
Of course, while she's worthy of a chuckle, Mary is one of the least funny characters in Derry Girls. That just isn't her main purpose on the series, and fans forgive her for it.
Joe
Pretty much all of Joe's humor comes from his hatred for Gerry. He's always making fun of him, and loves to repeat everything he says and takes credit for it by the girls.
Joe is a great grandfather, and he's wholesome and pure to watch with Orla and Erin. However, his humor lies pretty much solely in being rude to Gerry, and it's only now and then.
Gerry
Gerry is worthy of a lot of love and a lot of pity. He's actually pretty relatable, and his all of his funny moments are based in the rest of his family ignoring him or doing something ridiculous that he knows they shouldn't do.
This character has a pure soul, and occasionally, he also has a great sarcastic one-line to throw into the mix. This dad definitely gives fans some good laughs.
Sarah
Sarah is one character that probably tries the least to be funny, but it's just really, really hard not to laugh at her pure and innocent nature. She isn't the most intelligent, and while fans aren't exactly laughing at her, they're laughing with her.
All fans should seek to be as happy and free-spirited as Sarah, even if it means a lot of viewers might be laughing at her sweet expense. She's usually just in the world of Sarah, and it seems like a funny place.
James
This character is undoubtedly the sweetest on the series, and he might actually be the most likable. There's nothing to hate about Derry Girls' James. However, that doesn't mean he's the funniest.
Again, most laughs with James might be at his expense, but he also has some pretty hilarious moments when he refuses to follow the girls, or he just doesn't understand what is going on.
Clare
Clare might be small, but she's probably the most fiery and explosive character of them all. She loves her friends, but she's also certainly a goody-two-shoes with a lot of anxiety and stress whenever they go on their weird adventures.
Clare won't even wear a jean jacket and 'be an individual by herself,' but these moments are actually some of the funniest. Clare's blunt nature and anxious interjections make for some pretty great one-liners that are hard not to laugh at.
Sister Michael
If there's one character that's totally stoic but also equally sarcastic, it's Sister Michael. She barely changes her voice or her facial expressions, but she's usually the first to make a side comment at someone else's expense.
Her whole nature is pretty hysterical, even though she certainly doesn't try to be. Sister Michael is a great secondary character for some extra laughs and a whole new kind of side plots and misadventures.
