Derry Girls Season 3 Episode 3 recap: Stranger on a Train

In Derry Girls season 3 episode 3 “Stranger on a Train” the gang, including the family, are off to Donegal via train when they forget Clare at the train station, and a mysterious woman seems to know all about them. Who is she and does Clare catch up?

Derry Girls Season 3 Episode 3 recap – Train Ride Terror

The group is all packed and ready to spend some time in Donegal, which includes Grandpa Joe bringing a surfboard and Orla wearing high-heeled boots so she can be tall enough for the rides. As they arrive at the train station, they realize they need to be on the opposite side and wait at a different platform.

They manage to get on the train however they have forgotten about Clare who was using the bathroom. To make matters worse, Erin and her friends wind up making quick enemies with the trolley cart man all over some Kit Kat bars.

But what really makes this train ride terrifying is what happens next. As the group argues with the trolley man, a passenger ahead of them gets annoyed and moves, taking his black bag with him.

When James goes to retrieve his black bag, he realizes the bags were switched. This bag contains money, snacks and a gun.

Too afraid to confront him, they decide to return the bag and wait. However, Orla decides to eat the snacks and winds up spending some of the money on the Kit Kat bars the trolley man was selling for ridiculous prices.

After an equally ridiculous standoff with the trolley man, they are able to get their money back without issue. They are then able to convince James to swipe the bags, which he does, without further issue.

Derry Girls Season 3 Episode 3 recap – Clare

While all of this is going on Clare is panicking at the train station. The woman working the booth tells Clare the next train will be in twenty minutes.

This slightly reassures Clare as she decides to wait with none other than Sister Michael. She tries to pass the time making small talk with Sister Michael but the woman at the booth makes it impossible.

She is talking nonstop on the phone with her friend, providing in explicit details, her sex life or lack thereof. Both Clare and Sister Michael overhear the entire conversation, both becoming increasingly more uncomfortable by the second.

Thankfully the next train arrives but Sister Michael wouldn’t be Sister Michael without providing some input. She complains that she heard every detail noting that the plastic barrier does nothing.

Derry Girls Season 3 Episode 3 recap – Who Are You?

As the group deals with the trolley man and the bag switch, an unfamiliar woman comes up to Mary and Sarah claiming to know them. Afraid to offend her, the sisters pretend to know her as Gerry and Grandpa Joe listen on.

This mysterious woman goes on and on about everything and nothing, claiming to know a lot of details about them. Mary and Sarah, in private, decide that they can’t keep up this charade any longer.

Before they can confess, the mysterious woman was playing Guess Who with Gerry and mentioned that the one character looks like someone they actually know. They realize she is Aidden, an old neighborhood friend who spent time in prison!

To top it off when the train makes a stop, she gets off with the man with the black bag. It turns out that was her bag.

Upon finding her treats missing she loses her mind. The group finally arrives at the amusement park, ready to enjoy their time.

As they, except James who is watching baby Anna, climb up the first of many ramps on a roller coaster, the ride breaks down.

Derry Girls Season 3 Episode 3 review

I was dying to know who this mysterious woman was the entire time. Was she crazy?

Did she mistake them for someone else? How do they not recognize her?

At the same time, it was an incredibly relatable moment as we all have been in similar situations before. There is always someone who remembers you from school, a party, a previous job that you have completely forgotten about.

The reveal of who she was and how it was her black bag the entire time was a double whammy of a twist! Side note, who knew Kit Kats were that popular and coveted?

Even though the group suffers a mishap on the roller coaster, you know the trip is going to be a lot of fun. It reminds us of the fun and anxiety that can be had when traveling as well as the unpredictability of life itself.

What did you think of the Derry Girls season 3 episode 3? Share your thoughts in the comments below, we’d love to read them!

You can watch Derry Girls season 3 on Netflix.