It starts on a bridge. Not a fancy one, just a rain-slicked Dublin overpass that feels as grey and heavy as the lives of the people standing on it. If you haven't seen the Northern Lights television show yet, you’re missing out on the kind of TV that doesn't just entertain you—it sort of breaks you open and puts you back together again. This isn't your typical prestige drama with high-speed chases or flashy CGI. Instead, it’s a six-part series that feels like a long, honest conversation over a pint in a quiet pub.
Most people outside of Ireland and the UK haven't even heard of it. That’s a shame. Originally a stage play by Stephen Jones (who also stars as Lloyd), the show manages to do something incredibly difficult: it makes grief feel like a living, breathing character without making the whole experience feel like a funeral. It’s funny. Honestly, it’s hilarious in those dark, twisted ways only Irish writing seems to master. You’ll be wiping a tear away and then immediately snorting because someone made a joke about a terrible haircut or a botched funeral arrangement.
What Is Northern Lights Actually About?
Basically, the plot kicks off when Lloyd and Áine (played by the brilliant Elva Trill) meet on that bridge. It’s raining. Of course it is. Lloyd sees Áine standing there and, fearing the worst, he strikes up a conversation. He doesn't do it like a hero in a movie; he does it like a regular, slightly awkward guy who just doesn't want to see something awful happen. From there, the story spirals backward and forward, showing us how these two strangers ended up in such a dark place at the exact same time.
The Northern Lights television show deals with the aftermath of suicide, but it’s not a "message" show. You know the ones—the shows that feel like a public service announcement. This is much more grounded. It’s about the messy, annoying, and sometimes absurd ways people try to keep going when the world has stopped making sense. It was produced by Deadpan Pictures and Lionsgate, and while it first aired on TG4 in Ireland and later on ZDF and Lionsgate+, it has slowly built a cult following of people who stumbled upon it by accident.
The Stephen Jones Factor
Stephen Jones isn't just the lead actor; he's the soul of the production. Having written the original play, he knows these characters inside out. Lloyd is a guy who is trying so hard to be okay that he’s practically vibrating with the effort. Jones plays him with this incredible vulnerability that feels almost uncomfortable to watch at times.
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Then you have Elva Trill as Áine. She is a revelation. She captures that specific kind of numbness that comes with profound loss—the feeling of being a ghost in your own life. When the two of them are on screen together, the dialogue flows with a rhythm that feels completely improvised, even though it’s tightly scripted. It’s just two people talking. That’s it. And yet, it’s more compelling than any car crash or explosion.
Why the Northern Lights Television Show Isn't Your Typical Grief Drama
Usually, TV shows about mental health or loss fall into two camps. They’re either relentlessly depressing or they offer a "miracle cure" where everyone is fine after forty minutes of screen time. Northern Lights avoids both traps. It acknowledges that some things never really get "better"—you just get better at carrying them.
The structure is interesting, too. It doesn't follow a straight line.
- We see the "now," which is the meeting and the tentative friendship.
- We see the "then," which explains the trauma.
- We see the "maybe," the glimpses of what life could look like if they both decide to stick around.
It’s a bit like a puzzle. You’re putting together the pieces of their broken lives, but the picture you’re building isn't a pretty landscape—it’s a map of a scar.
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The Dublin Setting
Dublin is often portrayed in film as either a postcard-perfect tourist trap or a gritty, crime-ridden wasteland. Northern Lights shows the Dublin that people actually live in. The suburbs. The damp streets. The specific light of a Tuesday afternoon when nothing is happening. Director Tom Hall captures the city with a sense of intimacy that makes it feel like a third lead character. The setting is vital because it grounds the high emotional stakes in a reality we all recognize.
The Controversy of "Dark Comedy" in Heavy Topics
Some critics were initially worried that the humor in the Northern Lights television show would undermine the seriousness of its themes. How can you joke about death? But if you’ve ever sat in a "wake house" in Ireland, you know that humor is the only thing that gets people through the night. The show leans into that cultural reality. It uses wit as a shield and a bridge.
One of the most moving parts of the series involves the supporting cast. Jay Duffy, Jennifer Heylen, and Kevin Trenaman bring a richness to the world. They aren't just background noise; they represent the "normal" world that Lloyd and Áine are trying to find their way back into.
What People Get Wrong About the Ending
Without spoiling anything, I’ve seen people complain that the ending isn't "neat" enough. They want a big bow tied around the story. But that would have betrayed everything the show stands for. The Northern Lights television show ends exactly where it needs to—not with a solution, but with a choice. It’s about the decision to stay. That is far more powerful than any Hollywood "happily ever after."
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How to Watch Northern Lights Right Now
Finding the show can be a bit of a treasure hunt depending on where you are in the world.
- In Ireland: It’s available on the TG4 Player. It’s free, and the subtitles are easy to toggle.
- In the UK and Internationally: Keep an eye on Lionsgate+. It has been rolling out to different territories over the last year.
- Physical Media: There are DVD releases popping up, but streaming is your best bet for the high-definition rain-soaked visuals.
What We Can Learn from Lloyd and Áine
The show reminds us that everyone is carrying something. It’s a cliché because it’s true. In an era of "doomscrolling" and social media highlight reels, watching two people be genuinely, messily honest with each other is a breath of fresh air.
If you’re a fan of shows like Normal People or I May Destroy You, this is right in your wheelhouse. It has that same raw, unfiltered quality. It doesn't look down on its characters. It doesn't judge them for their mistakes or their darkness. It just sits with them.
Practical Steps for Fans of Intense Dramas
If you’ve finished the show and find yourself in a "show hole," there are a few things you should do to deepen the experience.
- Seek out the play: If you can find a script or a local production of Stephen Jones’ original stage play, read it. It’s fascinating to see how a two-person stage show expanded into a full televised world.
- Support the creators: Follow Deadpan Pictures. They are consistently putting out some of the best Irish content that often flies under the radar.
- Talk about it: Shows like this live or die by word of mouth. If you liked it, tell someone. Post about it. The algorithm doesn't always favor quiet, thoughtful dramas, so they need human help.
- Check out the soundtrack: The music in Northern Lights is subtle but incredibly effective at building the atmosphere.
The Northern Lights television show is a rare gem. It’s a story about the light you find in the darkest places, and the people who help you see it when you’ve forgotten it exists. It’s not always easy to watch, but it’s always worth it.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, try to watch the first two episodes back-to-back. The first episode sets the stage, but the second is where the emotional hooks really dig in. Pay attention to the recurring motifs of water and light; they aren't just there for aesthetics—they tell the story of the characters' internal shifts. Once you've finished the series, revisit the opening scene of the first episode. You'll see those first few minutes in a completely different, and far more heartbreaking, light.