My Brilliant Career Review: Miles Franklin’s much-loved novel comes to Netflix, as protagonist Sybylla Melvyn’s fight for independence gets a fresh, romantic and rather cheeky turn! The series is oftentimes melodramatic and over-the-top, but Philippa Northeast’s standout performance leaves viewers hooked on this entertaining saga.
The series is based on Franklin’s 1901 novel of the same name and follows Sybylla, a headstrong young woman looking to find herself, who is sent to her grandmother’s house in hopes of finding a suitor. There, however, she dives headfirst into figuring out her ambition of becoming an author. In the midst of family hardship, the series explores a woman’s desire to live for something other than her husband and find herself in the chaos of societal expectations.
Along with Northeast, the Netflix adaptation stars Christopher Chung, Genevieve O’Reilly, Anna Chancellor, Kate Mulvany, Jake Dunn, Alexander England, Sherry-Lee Watson, and Miah Madden, and is directed by Alyssa McClelland and Anne Renton.
My Brilliant Career Review
A Familiar Story With Plenty of Personality
At its heart, My Brilliant Career Netflix is a story about a woman who refuses to believe that her only future is marriage. Fighting against societal expectations and with a strong desire to see her ambitions through, Sybylla’s drive makes the series stand out; viewers will find themselves fascinated with her headstrong personality, at a time when that wasn’t the norm in rural Australia. She’s not a rebel without a cause – it’s clear from the onset that she wants something more out of her life.
Thus, one of the most interesting parts of the series is how her desire to be a writer makes her want to experience the world before she can write about it. Viewers will find themselves drawn to the emotional core of the series – a woman who simply wants to live life on her own terms. Beyond all the lust and romance, there’s a surprisingly honest and effective part of the series that helps hold the emotional core in place and makes viewers understand why she is the way that she is.
The Netflix adaptation does a great job of giving the feminist work a modern twist, letting it explore some heavier themes but breaking it down with more lighthearted and romantic moments that give the series a distinctive feel.
Philippa Northeast Owns the Series
One of the best parts of the series is Philippa Northeast as Sybylla. She brings an infectious combination of curiosity, stubbornness, humour and vulnerability to the series that makes viewers immediately smitten with her character. Even during her more stubborn moments, it’s easy to understand Sybylla’s thoughts and emotions thanks to Northeast’s surprisingly honest and empathetic portrayal of her character. Sybylla is messy and uncertain and distinctively human, a result of which it’s easy to believe her and find yourself in her plights. Her youthful energy also adds a distinct charm to her character, turning her into a memorable watch.
Romance Takes Centre Stage
As mentioned earlier, the Netflix adaptation adds newer elements to a rather serious novel and breaks the heaviness of the original work with humour, romance and a lot of cheekiness. The series, thus, is breezy and entertaining, without losing sight of the social commentary of the novel. There’s considerably more emphasis on romance and attraction, which might or might not work for some viewers.
It does, however, add a lot of relatability to her character, as the men in her life add to the emotional complexity that she constantly experiences. While it does dilute the seriousness of Sybylla’s struggle against conformity, it makes the series feel more accessible and relatable for the modern audience. The romance makes Sybylla understand the nuances of independence better and, thankfully, doesn’t get into simply banal questions about which man she would choose in the end.
The Modern Touches Are Hit and Miss
If you have seen (and enjoyed) Bridgerton, then My Brilliant Career would feel familiar to you. Distinctively living both in the past and present, the series has a very obvious vibe that has become somewhat of a norm in historical dramas on Netflix. Modern music, diverse casting and updated social perspectives are some of the changes that are brought forth in the series, and some are more misses than hits.
The series is clearly not trying to be a traditional period drama and wants to keep things fresh and more approachable for a wider audience. It’s not a bad thing, especially if you want to feel entertained by the end. However, some of these changes might feel forced and unnecessary and clearly added to get more eyeballs on the screen than making sense in the grand scheme of things. Either way, the series does a good job with reinterpreting some of Franklin’s wider social issues through a more modern lens.
Beautiful, Lively and Occasionally Too Sweet
As with every Netflix show, My Brilliant Career is absolutely stunning to look at. The rural landscapes, period costumes and grand country estates make a rather attractive backdrop to Sybylla’s journey to self-discovery. Thankfully, the series also tries to inject humour whenever it can, creating a very engaging show that knows when to take it easy. It’s not weighed down by the conventions of a traditional period drama, which works if you’re looking to have an unserious and lighthearted good time.
However, at times the series isn’t able to balance itself well with all of its moving pieces. Especially when it comes to its more emotional beats, the series loses itself in over-the-top sentimentality, which can weigh down the otherwise lighthearted show.
Final Verdict
In the end, though, My Brilliant Career is a sweet, heartfelt and emotional story that will be relatable to modern audiences thanks to the way heavier themes are portrayed in the series. Philippa Northeast is excellent as the protagonist and leaves an impression on viewers. While it tends to overdo the romance and melodrama, leaving the tougher emotional journey as a second thought sometimes, the series is an entertaining watch regardless, especially if you want to have something light-hearted to watch this weekend.
My Brilliant Career is streaming on Netflix right now. What did you think about the series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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