Constant fidgeting. Awkward smiles. The perpetual, insatiable need to fit in. Netflix’s new series Geek Girl – inspired by the beloved book series by Holly Smale – crafts a fresh and much-needed perspective of the modern teenage girl.
Often portrayed as rebellious bad girls, innocent and helpless belles, hopeless romantics, or saintlike nerds, such stereotypes don’t convey the complexities that come with being a teenage girl. These characters have constantly been pigeonholed in films and television, and it’s time to stop showing girls as one-dimensional characters with black-and-white personalities.
Harriet Manners, the protagonist of Geek Girl played by Emily Carey, is a neurodivergent “geek” with a penchant for academics. At the beginning of the show, Harriet is portrayed as a classic nerd who is constantly insecure and has no taste in fashion, but her life changes drastically when she is scouted by a modelling agency. As the show progresses, Harriet transforms into a popular model with a dreamy wardrobe and surreal opportunities.
Although Harriet has many new experiences over a matter of months, her values and personality don’t. Even when she is given the opportunity to befriend the popular teenagers, she stays fiercely loyal to her best friend.
Despite how fast her life seems to be progressing, Harriet still has to face her struggles with fitting in and facing crowds. She frequently steps out of rooms to take a breather, finds herself confused about what to do and sometimes even considers quitting her modelling career. These challenges flesh out Harriet’s character and help the audience root for her.
While Harriet is the heart of the story, she isn’t the only reason this show is so endearing. The supporting characters build onto the story’s heartfelt themes.
This includes Harriet’s dad Richard (Tim Downie), her stepmother Anabelle (Jemima Rooper), her best friend Natalie (Rochelle Harrington) and her budding love interest, Nick (Liam Woodrum). They all wholeheartedly appreciate Harriet for who she is and frequently nudge her out of her comfort zone to help her achieve the best version of her life. Each character also has their own goals and struggles that viewers can relate to.
The most interesting relationship in Geek Girl is between Harriet and her stepmother Anabelle, who appreciates the teen’s bravery but also remains firm when modelling begins to take over Harriet’s life. From the get-go, we see that Anabelle loves Harriet like her own child, and even though they occasionally have conflict, their relationship is a heart-warming subversion of the “evil stepmother” archetype.
From set design to script, Geek Girl is set to become a classic teen drama. The show mostly stays true to the book series and draws in its audience with its heart and fresh perspective.
