Geek Girl

Review by AJ

In this Netflix teen comedy, an awkward highschooler finds herself in the limelight when she gets scouted by a top modelling agency in London. Adapted from a 2013 novel of the same name and starring House of the Dragon’s Emily Carey, the show brings back the vibe of Y2K teen coming-of-age drama thanks to its predictable but wholesome storyline. 

It follows Harriet Manners (Carey), a gawky teenager whose life transforms overnight when she gets discovered by two scouters during a London Fashion Week showcase. Soon, Harriet finds herself modelling for top designer Yuji Lee (Sandra Yi Sencindiver). The once invincible teen must now navigate life at the centre of attention, a possible romance with Yuji Lee’s dreamy model nephew, and also a potential rift with her aspiring model best friend. 

The plot of Geek Girl is something that would be familiar for those who consume teen media from early and mid aughts. Given that the source material dates back to 2013, that isn’t too surprising really. At times, it feels cheesily outdated. The nerdy to hottie plot is literally in half of early aughts teen films and TV series. You can see the friends-to-rivals angle coming a mile away. The wallflower protagonist suddenly being fancied by a popular guy? Nothing could be more cliched than that. But other times, it feels like a welcome return to the days of wholesome teen dramas about chasing dreams and discovering your inner strength. Certainly a breath of fresh air after the barrage of gritty and highly sexualized teen media like Euphoria and Elite.

Thanks to its compelling characters, Geek Girl avoids completely veering off the old fashioned territory. Its central protagonist, Harriet, is an endearing character who displays such a natural progression from geeky to glamorous. Emily as Harriet is never overly dressed down to look frumpy the way they used to do in 2000’s teen films. But her performance sells the awkwardness through her gait, facial expressions, and amusing Lizzie McGuire-esque monologue. Having seen Carey act as extremely dignified Queen Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon, you gain renewed appreciation for her range as an actress. 

The show also does a great job portraying teens as teens. They casually spill cereal on the table at breakfast. They wear colourful backpacks with childish designs to school. They cringe internally at every social ineptitude. They don’t talk in fancy, quotable language the way many teens do on TV. Harriet’s constant internal monologue really feels like what an awkward teenager overwhelmed by newfound fame would be thinking. You really get a sense that these are indeed high school kids - emphasis on kids - not grown adults playing teens (even though the actors are in their 20s). 

Because they establish this, it’s more fun to see Harriet fumble her way to stardom. She’s so believable as someone who makes “young and dumb” kinds of mistakes. Harriet’s family also adds a complementary layer to her characterization. She belongs in a middle-class family that’s normal yet slightly quirky with a warm dynamic. Her mother is actually her stepmother and they have a close relationship, no unnecessary side drama. It just feels very down to earth.

Set in the fashion world, the show is definitely on the modest end of sophistication, most probably due to budget. But it still manages to feature some pretty interesting fashion (some pieces on the show are by prominent father-daughter Irish designers John and Simone Rocha). There are also some well-observed comedic digs at the fashion industry now and then. 

Offering minimal frills but plenty of hearts, Geek Girl would appeal to those who enjoy Y2K teen flicks and decent coming-of-age series.