"Geek Girl" is Charming and Intelligent
-
Overall7
There’s a certain level of irony that there have been any number of films and series that have just been quietly released on Netflix that are among the streamers’ best offerings. “Geek Girl,” a 10-episode series adaptation of Holly Smale”s YA novels, was quietly added on May 30th to nominal fanfare. While I’m a sucker for things like “Next Top Model” (especially the Australian version of the show), and “Project Runway” (at least before Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn left the show), a YA version of a high schooler outsider-turns-fashion industry darling isn’t really something I would click into. I’m glad that I did, because it’s a series that deserves to be seen and talked about.
To be clear, that is pretty much the synopsis of the series – the titular “Geek Girl” is 16-year-old Harriet Manners (played by Emily Carey), who, if you’re thinking she looks familiar, it’s because she plays Lady Alicent Hightower in “House of the Dragon.” Manners is, at first blush, the typical bullied, socially-awkward, few friends, geek schoolgirl trope, who through some gymnastics of happenings winds up being swept into a lightning rise as a high fashion model. What struck me about the writing is that the characters, their motivations, and their lives, feel far more real than they so often wind up being in similar YA wish-fulfillment stories.
Manners is never presented as being an “ugly duckling.” She actually does have a few friends, the bullies aren’t overboard in their evilness, the general atmosphere around the school and the modeling shoots, and even her home life feels something that the audience can actually connect with. No doubt it’s in no small part due to Smale’s original novel being pseudo-biographical in that she did suddenly become a fashion model at 15 and spent a few years in that world.
What I appreciated most is that Manners is an imperfect character, and has at least a few -isms that she is struggling with, in particular what feels like a pretty strong social anxiety. Part of the character ark is her connecting with others who recognize her struggles and strive to help her to be able better manage her anxiety over over-stimulation. The series doesn’t fall into the all-too-common pitfalls of characters gaining a realization and “poof,” it’s all better. She’s not the most stunning model ever to have walked, but she does have a look that is special and unique, which is the point of much of the narrative.
How it plays out, especially in the realm of relationships (familial, friendships, romantic, and professional) when conflict arises, is done in other series and films in ways that often are either skipped altogether or done with such a shorthand that it feels like life rubber-bands on a dime. Here it takes time to rebuild a broken trust, a stepmother comes around and understands when she misjudges a situation. Secondary characters are given scenes that contributes to their groundedness. In one case Manners’ father, Richard – played by Tim Downie), shares a moment in private with Manners’ Agent, Wilbur Evans (Emmanuel Imani) where Evans expresses his concerns about Manners’ well-being, and Richard responds in a way that indicates he’s felt that something more was amiss than just typical teenage-angst.
It’s that elegance of handling the characters, making them feel genuine, is a testiment to Smale’s writing skills (she served as the shows co-creator and lead writer), and director Declan O’Dwyer‘s ability to not overthink scenes and just let them breathe when needed. For myself, I know many young folks who struggle similarly to Manners, and I think this series will give them hope and pride in their uniqueness – and also that there is no panacea that will suddenly fix all of their problems, however it shows that with support and learning new skills, they can be able to change in positive and healthy ways.
If you want either a charming light coming-of-age by way of becoming a fashion model darling, or if you or someone you love struggles with anxieties, then you can do far worse than spending a few hours enjoying time in Manners’ world.
“Geek Girl” is streaming on Netflix, and is rated TV-PG.
Rating: 7 stars out of 10.
