Erin and co are excited to attend an outdoor pursuits weekend as part of the peace initiative Friends Across the Barricades, but peace is the last thing on Michelle's mind once she finds out that there will be Protestant lads there.
Tropes
- Aroused by Their Voice: An odd Discussed Trope example. First, a little real-world context: Margaret Thatcher's government was very touchy about the IRA, which had blown up several of its members. As such, it banned the broadcast of anything said by terrorists or their spokesmen in order to Defy Voice of the Resistance. The media found a loophole around this by interviewing such a person (like Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams) and airing the video footage of the person speaking, but with their voice clearly dubbed over out of sync. Sarah has a different theory as to the motives.TV anchor: Because of government restrictions, we cannot broadcast the voice of Mr Adams. His words are spoken by an actor.
Gerry: I will never understand the point of it.
Sarah: It's because his natural voice is actually very seductive. Apparently he sounds like a West Belfast Bond. As far as the English are concerned, a voice like that, well, it's dangerous.
Gerry: Just so I'm clear, are you saying that the British government dub the voice of Gerry Adams because it's too sexy?
Joe: It's like a fine whiskey. And I have that on good authority, boy. - Class Trip: The episode takes place over the attempt to "build bridges" with the Protestants, including activities such as abseiling.
- Culture Clash: the kids are asked to list similarities and differences between Catholics and Protestants. The similarities board remains empty as the differences board becomes a Long List.
- Guilty Pleasures: Implied Trope. Dennis likens the prospect of trading goods for work to Little House on the Prairie, suggesting he watches it. When Orla points that out, he angrily orders them out.
- I'm Standing Right HereMichelle: I bagsy Harry!
Erin: What? But that's not fair, he's the only good-looking one.
Dee: The rest of us are right here. - Left the Background Music On: Just like first episode of season 1, this episode begins with what sounds like a narrator voiceover of Erin talking about her life. Then it's revealed to actually be Erin dramatically pretending to herself that she was being interviewed about her life.Erin: That summer was a remarkable one. It was the summer we dared to dream. For generations, we'd known nothing but violence. Nothing but hatred. But finally we were saying, "Enough is enough." Finally, we were saying, [Reveal Shot] "Let's give peace a chance."
Orla: She's up here!
Erin: Jesus Christ!
Orla: She's pretending she's on Parkinson again.
Mary: Parkinson? Does she know what time it is? I'll Parkinson her. I've enough on my plate without Parkinson.
Erin: It was Wogan, for your information! - Mondegreen Gag: Clare's buddy who's deaf in one ear mishears the word "Catholics" as "athletes" and tells her he hates them, shocking her. In a Derry accent the two do sound plausibly similar.
- Parental Sexuality Squick:Mary: I don't want anybody landing back here pregnant. Teenage boys can be very convincing, Erin. I remember your father at that age—
Erin: End that sentence, now.
Gerry: Yes, please do. - "Ray of Hope" Ending: After the retreat descends into brawling, all the parents are called down and berate their kids. Erin decides to add an item to the blank Catholic/Protestant similarities board: Parents. Her buddy notices this and they share a smile.
- Take That, Scrappy!: In-universe. After Jenny busts the girls for having a party with the Protestant boys, Sister Michael says:Sister Michael: You will go far in life, Jenny. But you will not be well liked.
- Testosterone Poisoning: Played for Laughs. Perturbed by Michelle's comment that he's not a lad, James tries to act manly so his Protestant buddy will like him, talking about "tits" and "beer." All it does is result in Mistaken for Misogynist.Protestant: And this guy's really creepy and a bit sort of sexist.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Sister Michael looks sick to her stomach when she figures out the priest heading the retreat, as per the description the Protestants' headmistress gives her, can only be Father Peter.
