Netflix has proven once again that page-to-screen shows can be just as good as the books they’re adapted from. We’ve seen this time and time again with adaptations such as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Let It Snow, All The Bright Places, and now, with Netflix’s latest YA series Geek Girl. The on-screen version of Geek Girl stays true to its fresh and feel-good source material, making it another exciting addition to Netflix’s YA repertoire.
Geek Girl follows the story of Harriet Manners, a geeky, awkward, neurodivergent teenager, whose life changes dramatically when she’s scouted to be a model. The 10-part series takes on the magic of its best-selling book series written by Holly Smale. So it isn’t just a story about fashion, it’s also a story about self-discovery that is highly relatable. What makes it stand out is its brilliant interpretation by actors like House Of The Dragon star Emily Carey who embodied Harriet Manners to a tee — we could go on with a million reasons why Netflix’s new YA series Geek Girl is worth the watch, but we’ll stick to four major reasons that will make Geek Girl your next stop.
1. It Is Based on a Fan-Favorite Book Series Which Was Slightly Inspired by the Author’s Real-Life Story
If you’re looking for a book-to-series adaptation recommendation, Geek Girl is definitely one to watch. Smale’s debut novel Geek Girl was published in 2013 and won various awards such as the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. It has since gone on to have a series of Geek Girl novels. The Netflix series draws a lot of its inspiration straight from the source material, and it does so brilliantly while making a few changes here and there.
The story gets even better as the author uses her own experiences as a teen model as inspiration to bring the Geek Girl novels to life. For instance, just like Harriet, Smale was also scouted to become a fashion model at age 15 for a London modeling agency. Another thing that holds true for Smale is that the author was also bullied at school, just like her character Harriet was in the series.
2. Harriet and Nick’s Love Story Will Have You Swooning the Whole Time
Geek Girl centers around a socially awkward teenager in the world of fashion, but when you add a bit of romance, you get the perfect YA series. The love story between Harriet Manners (Emily Carey) and Nick Park (Liam Woodrum) is one for the books. Their meet-cute happens at a fashion show where Nick saw Harriet knock over a bunch of runway hats in true klutz fashion — it was love at first sight in the making. Their slow-burn romance is what teenage dreams are made of. They would run into each other at different gigs in the most unspoken romantic way but remained friends till their relationship blossomed.
In true YA romance fashion, Harriet and Nick’s love story has that oomph that leaves viewers constantly craving a big profession of love. The scenes leading up to their first kiss are the perfect buildup of swoon-worthy moments, but what truly takes the cake is the first kiss itself — it will have you squealing as you root for them. By the end of Season 1, it is a completely new chapter for Harriet and Nick, leaving room for even more romance to come for a potential Geek Girl Season 2.
3. The Teen Drama Portrays Neurodiversity in a Way That Is Authentic
There’s apparently been a small internet divide over GG not using the word “autistic” in the show, so I’ve decided to address it openly.
It was a decision we made as a team, after a LOT of discussion and thought – not one we took lightly.
And there were multiple reasons for it-
— Holly Smale 🐻❄️ (@HolSmale) June 12, 2024
The show’s portrayal of autism is more nuanced while holding on to authenticity in every way. Harriet’s character is not referred to as autistic or neurodivergent outright in the series and the book, but the character’s traits speak volumes about her undiagnosed condition. Several indications point to the autistic nature of the character — like her penchant for particular topics, her ability to have laser focus while on the catwalk, her need for headphones in overwhelming settings, and then there’s the widely expressive voiceover that serves as an inside look into what the character is thinking at various points in the series.
The series has been welcomed with both positive and negative reviews for its portrayal of autism. Holly Smale took to X (formerly Twitter) to hit back at the criticism, she wrote, “Firstly, Harriet is autistic. She’s not “coded” She’s not “subtly presented as”. She was pitched as autistic, written as autistic, played as autistic. By an autistic writer and an autistic actor. There’s no grey area there. We weren’t hiding anything. It was very intentional.” She went on to explain her personal experience of being diagnosed later in life — in essence, Harriet is an undiagnosed autistic character, and according to the author, the show isn’t about autism, it’s about a real teenage girl who happens to be autistic.
4. It’s Truly a Story Every Underdog Will Be Inspired by as the Unassuming ‘Geek Girl’ Becomes the ‘It Girl’ of Fashion
Harriet is the girl next door who likes to ramble about geeky facts. She’s a “normal” girl with one best friend, Natalie Grey (Rochelle Harrington), and another geeky companion-in-arms, Toby Pilgrim (Zac Looker). She’s not popular at school, but once modeling agent Wilbur Evans (Emmanuel Imani) sets his sights on her, her journey from ‘geek girl’ to ‘It girl’ begins. This is a story for all underdogs as they root for a character who steps into her true self with or without validation from others.
Harriet Manners embodies the very idea of being the underdog in more inspiring ways than one. At the beginning of her modeling journey, she deals with the anxiety that comes with being plucked out from normalcy and into stardom. But by the end of the show, she no longer cares about being labeled as a geek and steps into a whole new chapter. Alongside other actors such as Daisy Jelley, Jemima Rooper, and Tim Downie, the story of Harriet Manners really blooms into a story that every underdog needs. Also check out this guide on 10 things you didn’t know about Emily Carey.
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