When we heard that the penultimate episode of Derry Girls season three would be a flashback episode focused on the younger versions of Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah, it’s safe to say we were very excited – and last night’s episode certainly delivered.

Set on the night of the sisters’ school reunion, the episode flashed back and forth between the present day and the night of their leavers’ disco back in 1977. 

Not only were the younger versions of Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah perfectly cast, but the episode itself contained plenty of laughs and one particularly scandalous secret.  

It all starts when Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah (played by the incredible Tara Lynne O’Neill and Kathy Kiera Clarke respectively) turn up to the disco and come face-to-face with Rob – Michelle’s mum’s Canadian cousin, who also happened to attend the leavers disco back in the day. 

While everything seems OK at first, a sense of panic quickly begins to spread across Ma Mary’s face. Quickly, she ushers Aunt Sarah on to the dance floor and reminds her that “he knows” what happened.

It was at this point that the episode started to remind us of Gavin & Stacey’s iconic ‘camping trip’ storyline – and that made it all the more hilarious.

For a while, that’s the only reference to the secret we hear, until Jenny Joyce’s mum, Jeanette, turns up at the disco and blanks Ma Mary, Aunt Sarah and the rest of the women and their husbands (despite the fact that they were friends at school). 

After a brief interaction with Jeanette and her husband, in which Jeanette laughs at Ma Mary’s suggestion that she’s going to study English at university next year, the group head to the bathroom, where chaos ensues.

“Imagine if he found out,” Ma Mary says, referring to Jeanette’s husband.

“Careful now, Mary,” Aunt Sarah warns, before Ma Mary adds, “The summer of 77. The leavers’ disco.”

“That’s enough, now,” Clare’s mum, Geraldine, warns. “People wouldn’t understand, girls. They wouldn’t understand.” 

But the women’s warnings do little to sway Ma Mary’s opinion, as she continues to draw up a plan. “All this time, and we haven’t said a word,” Ma Mary continues. “I think it’s time to pull some skeletons out of the closet. I have carried this around with me for over 20 years. We all have! Well, no more. No more.”

At this point, we were pretty keen to find out what on earth the group was talking about – and in the next couple of scenes, the secret was finally revealed. Of course, we won’t spoil it here, but the reveal was just as hilarious as you’d expect.

While we definitely missed seeing Erin and the gang on our screens, it was nice to get a full episode dedicated to Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah – both of whom have been on top form throughout the whole of season three. 

Indeed, speaking in advance of this week’s episode, Derry Girls’ creator Lisa McGee said she wanted to do a flashback episode to pay tribute to the characters and give viewers an insight into the “horrific” Troubles Derry’s young people grew up with in the 1970s.

Revealing that writing the show had been a “real learning experience” for her as a person, McGee told Digital Spy: “I don’t talk about a lot of the terrible things. In Northern Ireland, you handle it with humour and you just crack on. I think for the parents’ generation, it was a war zone. It was horrific what they went through, and we just didn’t appreciate it.” 

McGee continued: “We just moaned and then complained when we were not allowed to do anything. By writing the show and looking back, I realised why they were so strict, why the school was so strict, what they had seen, what they lived through, and I have such an appreciation and respect. I’m so embarrassed at how we behaved now! They were incredible what they got through; they’re just the strongest people, that generation.”

Talking about Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah, McGee added: “Before shit got serious and they had their family, they were the silly people too. I mean, they’re still quite silly on the show as adults, but you know, all mummies were young once!” 

While last night’s flashback may have been a one-off for the main show, it certainly made us more excited about the potential for a Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah spin-off, especially with season three so close to ending. How about it, Lisa McGee?

Derry Girls season three continues next Tuesday on Channel 4 at 9:15pm. The first five episodes of season three are now available to stream on All4.

Images: Channel 4