Netflix's new six-part series My Brilliant Career, an adaptation of Miles Franklin's 1901 novel, offers a sassier, steamier take on the Australian classic, led by an entertaining high-voltage performance from Philippa Northeast as Sybylla Melvyn. However, the series, which premieres worldwide on 13 August, tends towards the syrupy and wishy-washy, particularly in its final episodes.
A Modern Spin on a 125-Year-Old Novel
The original novel, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, still crackles with life and energy, its prose leaping off the page. While some turns of phrase are dated, the book's spirit feels contemporary. The story centres on Sybylla Melvyn, a bullheaded author determined to write her own story in a patriarchal world that expects her to marry.
Unlike Gillian Armstrong's elegant 1979 film adaptation, Netflix's version is more juiced up, with Mills & Boon-ish vibes. It includes more erotica, a wilder tone, and a more pronounced love triangle, yet it also deploys cloying montages, such as a photo album-like sequence that is the visual equivalent of Green Day's Good Riddance.
Pluck, Sass, and a Pronounced Love Triangle
Created and co-written by Liz Doran, and co-directed by Alyssa McClelland and Anne Renton, the series has plenty of pluck and sass. Northeast's performance is a delight, channelling the essence of the source material with youthful energy and impishness.
Sybylla leaves her rural life in Possum Gully to join her wealthy aunt (Anna Chancellor) at the estate of Caddagat. The family hopes she'll find a husband, but Sybylla, who wants to be an author, rationalises that she must “fully experience the world before I can write about it.” She soon encounters potential suitor Harry Beecham (Christopher Chung), who is Chinese Australian and “totally ripped,” and later another suitor in foreman Frank (Jake Dunn).
Diverse Casting and Modern Sensibilities
The series continues the technique popularised by Dickinson and Bridgerton of anachronistically using contemporary music, which reduces the sense of time and place but signals that historical fidelity isn't a priority. Modern sensibilities are evident in the diverse casting and added focus on underrepresented stories, including a subplot involving a gay couple, Julius (Alexander England) and Alex (Everard Grey), and another involving First Nations horse trainer Nell (Sherry-Lee Watson), whose storyline feels tacked on.
The supporting cast are all pretty good, though nobody brings much gravitas, so fun lines don't land with much force. Northeast, however, captures the spirit of the series at its most compelling. My Brilliant Career is on Netflix worldwide from 13 August.
