User Reviews

I binge watched this series and really liked it. It's personal and quirky and full of warm twists and likable characters. The parents were wonderful !

The main character is on the autism spectrum and gives us a really insightful view into what that is like and the challenges people like her face. We need shows about characters like her.

The story may not be that deep or complicated but sometimes that is not needed. Sometimes it is the nuances and the small twirls that count and that is the case here.

Dont let the surprisingly low rating fool you, this is worth watching. It's interesting, touching and gives you food for thought.

I don't necessarily think it was 'good', but I absolutely enjoyed all the episodes I binged in one go. I got totally swept up and rooted for the adorable character and her friendships and omg that sweet, sweet romance. Cliche but refreshing at the same time.

Awkwardness is often seen as something to be avoided, but in reality, it's a natural part of being human. This series really encourages to see and embrace it. Believable? I dont know. Does it have to be? Emotionally I did buy in and thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

Each episode captured the essence of coming of age, making me feel nostalgic and deeply connected to her experiences. I loved all the characters and it just gave me a wonderful time! Thank you!

It has good message to empower but unfortunately the world shown is totally unrealistic. It's a feel good show and as one, is making it's purpose.

But also it's giving young people totally unrealistic views: that world turns around them and people in work will make sacrifices for you and wait for your better moods and chase you, etc. Also modelling world, which is ruthless, here is shown as cotton and candies. Problems shown here are nothing in comparison to real world. Also word Geek stopped being stygmatized for a long time now and most young people want to be called like that. It's a pride thing. It means that you're smarter than others.

Characters are likeable, production is pretty, but there are too many cliches for 2024. It's like a bad Cinderella story.

Also, everything is much too improbable, it's too far from real life. I don't think this is doing teenagers any good.

Also, they throw in some jokes but they're not funny enough to laugh about. So it's a little cringe (and I know that saying "cringe" is cringe haha).

It's better to see Heartstopper also on Netflix where a popular guy and a geek boy fall in love, same story but the difference is that the latter is good.

So for me this show is unfortunately a miss.

6 out of 10 just because England is beautiful.

To start with, it's not any random story, it's not even only a book series adaption, it's based on the author's real experiences as geek discovered as model. I really love all six book installments, including the three specials, it's my favorite book series.

I only got access to Netflix to watch this adaption. It's here only based on book 1, a book I know by heart. But they also used some ideas and characters from all later installments.

It's definitely aimed for a young audience, reminding me of my favorite teen romance comedy movies, such like Monte Carlo, Never been kissed or Cinderella Story. It's definitely a Cinderella Story, a fashion fairy tale. Harriet's journey to try to make her life better, with some unexpected magic from a "fashion fairy godmother", a beautiful dress, a prince Charming, but still on a journey to discover herself and to love herself. Somehow this adaption feels in comparison to the book like the Disney Cinderella live action remake in comparison to the 1950 animated movie. There's more complexity, more drama, more romance, yet, to be honest, it's definitely not literally the book (I understand some changes, some less...). For fans, there are lovely references and it's so nice that Holly Smale, the original novel author, was co-author of this series, Certainly, the book was not easily to be turned to movie, much with inner reflection, here seen as a kind of voiceover.

Of course, it's a fairy tale and sometimes we all need fairy tales, and so you should have not wrong expectations from the show.

The Netflix series manages to be as hilarious, joyful, positive and manages to illustrate some key ideas, yet, they put a bit too much "Disney magic" and "Cinderella Story" in the "ugly duckling" transformation story, whereas the book series is more private and cozy than dazzling, more bittersweet than saccharine, more edgy than smooth, more thoughtful and quiet than spectacular, more thoughtful and hitting emotionally harder (such like a Maleficent/Scar level villian school bullyAlexa had downgraded to a wicked stepsister vibes Lexie). Such like I also feel with the mentioned Disney live action remake adaption vs original one. Somehow the book series is more quirky, with Harriet being bubbly or sometimes more grumpy etc.. Some ideas can perhaps better to grab as presented here casually on screen...but even if if feels like Einstein hired as elementary school teacher, this is a joyful, feel-good introduction, but of course, not thr full genius.

Let's start with the idea of Emily Carey as a "geek girl" hardly. It is a funny meme at this point that they cast a pretty girl and don't do much to hide her beauty. Here they don't even bother with the glasses. They just don't comb the main character's hair. Then she happens to be quite short so.. why exactly is she chosen to be a model? Her red hair? Seriously. There is hair dye out there.

Then the male model love interest is not attractive. Sorry. Not enough for me to buy male model.

The model agency staff is insane. No, people don't give you anything you want when you flash your fashion week id.

Adults will find this boring and tedious.

Let's get this out of the way first, the base concept of makeover to model is about as deep a bird's pond. But this is not all what this show is about.

Sure that is the setting, but there is simply more. The main character is, superbly displayed i might add, a woman/teenager somewhere on the spectrum, without that being the defining charactertrait. What makes it stand out, is that it is never expicitly said. Her parents are oblivious and attribute it to trauma.

Normaly i would list exeptional performances, but i loved the entire cast. But my own personal heroes are the directors and the writers. There isn't a single character that lacks substance. Everyone has their own little stroyline, neatly wrapped up almost entirely in the first season.

Now for the next paragraph: do me a favour and read it completely before you outrage: I hate, how gay people are portrayed in movies and tv shows. Sexuality is not the core of a person, atleast not enitrely. Which drives me absolutly nuts. If i were portrayed like that, i would be a straight male, which say almost nothing about me as a person. Wilbur Evans by Emmanuel Imani is at first glance a quirky, gay fashion diva. Yet during the show he is portrayed as kind, loyal, passionate, self sacrificing and genuinly caring which in my opinion say more about a person then their sexual preference and identity. A lot of actors/directors seem to have a problem showing depth to such a character, often leaving the token-gay-character just to show the modicum of inclusivity.

In many ways this show is like a perfume, brief yet not overpowering, allowing each person time discover what they like about it, and if you just look, i think there is something for everyone.- Atleast it was so for me.

I would call it a watchable show but i find the beginning episodes are quite boring and probably are too lengthy. As the show proceeds, it gets better. My favorite moments of the show is the perfume commercial part, it displayed series of emotions that Harriet experience and it's new to her. It show personal growth.

I like that the male lead isn't a f-boy as always in the teen drama. Instead, he is really sincere and able to see the highlight of Harriet. I also like how they are both have nerdy personality.

Overall I would recommend this show to someone who loves teen drama. It is a lighthearted, funny show.

It is impossible to immerse yourself in this show, because it is so unrealistic. And I don't mean the part where the geek girl becomes a supermodel overnight, because I too have an imagination.

The bullies are unrealistic. The random facts about everything (I think Hariiet is hinted to be on the autism spectrum, but it is so clumsily represented) Except "science" her interests are barely defined. I think she likes dinosaurs? But that comes up like two times, and some of her facts are wrong, too.

Did we really need a mean girl to hate, not only in the beginning at school but in the modeling plotline as well? Aren't we over this whole women against women stereotype by now? Please give her some ACTUAL difficulties to overcome.

But my biggest problem is that every mistake she makes ends up being perceived as "genius", because they all just like her "that" much. She doesn't have any actual talent, the plot just wants you to believe she does.

And if I have to hear Val Garland say "Ding Dong" one more time I am going to throw up.

This is a witty story about a neurodivergent girl trying to navigate life. She is a guileless girl in a world of innuendo, and sarcasm trying to decipher what the rest of us easily comprehend. When she can't read the intentions of those around her, we want to yell warnings to her. Harriet Manners braves the mean girls and boys of her school with innocent aplomb, never quite sure of her herself, not really liking herself very much. When she quite literally falls into stardom, we can't help but cheer her on. We need lots of good, positive, stories like this. Brava Emily Carey for such a good portrayal of your character!

I genuinely enjoy watching a trashy show, but this was just terrible. None of the characters act like actual human beings, everything seems so ridiculous and fabricated, you have to leave any kind of logic behind.

The main plot and the little side plots are so stupid and over the top, this should belong in a telenovela.

Why are they so obsessed with the lead? Why does she have any interest in the job? Again: Why do they want her so desperately? Don't get me wrong Emily Carey is stunning and even with dry red hair she still looks pretty, but why do they pretend like they found the new Naomi? Did a literal child write this?

Was the inspiration a daydream?

Although the Cinderella-esque plot about rising in the fashion world doesn't seem novel, the actual story stands out as fun, hilarious, vibrant, and stylishly unique in an unexpected way. It draws deeply from the real experiences of the autistic author who didn't realize she was on the spectrum until adulthood. The story uses her geeky nature to mask the protagonist's underlying personal issues, allowing her to enter the fashion industry from a young age just like the real author. This lets the story truly delve into this aspect of the character. The romance is just a light side plot but captures the feeling of a geek's first love well. All the characters are distinct and memorable, with subplots woven seamlessly into the protagonist's life journey. This is an excellent, not-to-be-missed coming-of-age dark horse series.

As the mother of a model with an anxiety disorder, who began modeling at 16, I can tell you that this is pure absurdity. I enjoy fantasy series if they are done correctly. It's not the cliches that got me either; some of those things are true. They are cliches for a reason. The idea behind the story is appealing, but the script was poor, and casting of the lead actress was so far off that it was never going to be believable. She does not have the height or the features of a runway model. Also a runway walk is anything but natural, and it takes a lot of time and practice. To think she was plucked out of the blue and walked in a major runway show in 2 days is preposterous. I was never convinced why a major designer would've been so obsessed with her either. The Princess Diaries is a perfect example of a similar, but well-done YA fantasy, both for the script and the casting of Anne Hathaway, who they actually do transform from homely and awkward to beautiful and graceful. The one thing I did like was the portrayal of bullying in high school. As for the rest, do yourself a favor and skip this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this - I binge-watched it in one sitting. I'm a big fan of Jemima Rooper who played the step mum but I liked all the characters, except for the bullies obviously, and just thought it was a gentle, sweet story that was a bit of escape from reality.

I love the Emily in Paris series and think if you enjoy them you will enjoy this as it has the same positive vibes, albeit with a more intimate understanding of the character due to the narration of her inner thoughts.

'Wilbur' was fabulous and Emily Carey was very likeable as the neuro divergent Harriet Manners, as well as being convincing as a contemporary model.

I haven't read the books - I'm a bit old for the targeted YA audience - but I am certainly hoping there will be more of them turned into TV series.

Geek Girl's TV adaptation is an enjoyable watch for family viewing with kids and teenagers.

At first glance, it's perplexing to see why some reviewers have given the TV adaptation of Geek Girl such low ratings. Contrary to their opinions, this adaptation deserves at least a solid 7 out of 10.

One of the standout aspects of the series is the casting. The actors chosen for the main character embody their roles convincingly, both in appearance and performance. The protagonist and her peers look appropriate for their roles, the antagonist exudes the right balance of cunning, particularly evident during her photoshoot and campaign scenes. The portrayal of bullying in the series is subtle yet impactful.

However, there are a few elements that feel out of place. The stepmother character, for instance, seems to be straight out of a fairytale like in early episode desperate times ,even the real mother might not had understand and support her.

LOVED.

I was completely unaware of the fact that Geek Girl was getting an adaptation, so I when I saw it come out on Netflix I was quite suprised. My expectations weren't very high, as I expected it to be too cringey to actually enjoy it. But, I had nothing to watch and was interested by the trailer.

Despite what I had thought previously, the show turned out to be good! Jokes were for the most part funny, characters were likeable and not overbearing and it really fit younger me's perspective on what it would look like. The relationship between characters Nick and Harriet was sweet and cute to watch. Had me kicking my feet at times. I liked seeing Harriet's journey, her struggles and silly mistakes. I liked how anxiety/panick attacks were portrayed, and Harriet's struggles socially. Overall the neurodivergency portrayed was, in my opinion, better than most TV portrayals and refreshing to watch. The Book Harriet sends a good message for young audiences and I can definitely say so does TV show Harriet. She emphasises the importance of having your own interests, how being smart is GOOD and not something to be ashamed of, and how your uniqueness can set you apart in a positive light. I can definitely say that I really hope it gets another season!! I know that all the other books in the series (there are plenty more) are just as good. I might have to go and reread the series now.

For those saying it's simply ''a kid's show''....well, duh! It is a children's book adaptation! It's not meant to be realistic. Obviously, things will be family-friendly, and a bit silly but that's all part of its charm. That being said, I didn't find it cringey. I will say the show is definitely more targetted for tweens/teens, but it can still be enjoyed by all ages.

For any parents reading, this show is light, fun and suitable for all ages.

To be honest show starts of well enough. Awkward and loner school girls stumbles her way into world of fashion where she dazzles everybody with her "authenticity" and weirdness, which makes her stand out from other "fake" and "generic" models. Plus she is a geek with all sorts of trivial knowledge which again sets her apart from vapid, self absorbed and social media obsessed models.

And first half of the series does make that work, even if other characters are mostly walking cliches. Where show starts to fall apart is when our heroine gets deeper into modelling world. Plots become nonsensical, people act in uncharacteristic way "just because" and she keeps dazzlling people despite realistically she would not. Couple of very over the top complications ensue that are topped by ending that is quite predictable.

The main problem show has it that it tries to be both a lighthearted and heartwarming comedy while still delivering important message. In the end it combines worst of both worlds, it resolves serious problems with humour and takes funny situations too seriously.

I don't know who the intended audience for this show is, but clearly it's not anybody with critical thinking skills. It's not even mindless fun where nonsensical plot are part of the fun, it's supposed to deliver the message of positive thinking, being true to yourself and overcoming teenage adversity (mandatory bullying plots!).

Too bad.

I don't really understand some reviews here. Rating it 1 or the worst teen show ever. Or that it's setting unrealistic expectations, it's unrealistic.

There is this thing called "suspension of disbelief". This refers to the willingness of an audience to accept the premises of a fictional work in order to fully enjoy the story. This allows immersion without questioning its plausibility. You should always use that with fictional stories like this.

I'm rating it 10 to battle the review bombing, but I wouldn't go worse than 8 in reality.

This was quirky, sweet and the actors are pretty good too. The story is light-hearted, some wisdom is also mixed in.

The characters are lovable, I would say even believable, the conversations aren't unrealistic to be fair. It has its merits and one of the best teen shows in recent years.

Predictable, yes. But oh come on, just because you know where will you end up, you can still enjoy ride. And I highly recommend it!

This was fun to watch as an adult too, don't take everything so seriously and you might like it too.

Teens will enjoy this and I don't think it's "setting dangerous expectations". No one needs to grow up so fast, let them have dreams anyway.

Also adding that suspiciously all the 1* ratings are from anonymous sources or the reviews are from fresh accounts who only reviewed this or one other piece. Interestingly enough all female protagonist ones...

My first point of contention is that "geek" became irrelevant in 2016-- we are far beyond geek chic and The Big Bang Theory. No highschooler in the 2020's would be calling one of their peers a 'geek' as an insult, and the dated 2010's fashion make me believe this show was made a decade earlier and only released this year. "Redditors", "otakus", "incels" or just "nerd" would be more culturally relevant groups for highschoolers to bully.

Not to mention the terrible cliche of teens filming eachother to bully each other. I certainly wasn't popular in high school but I've never seen anyone film someone else to bully them. The whole thing is so out of touch.

This is a beautiful adaptation of the books written by the author Holly Smale who based it on her own experiences as a teenage model. I loved that the opening line of the series is actually the opening line of the book. The book literally starts 'my name is Harriet Manners and I am a geek' and so straight away you feel in familiar territory. There are some story tweaks here and there which overall worked pretty well.

In 'Geek Girl' being a geek isn't about the way Harriet looks. It's all about her character. Her hyper intelligence, the endless facts, the lists, obsession with dinosaurs and museums and her social awkwardness and general clumsiness. To look at, she isn't what people usually think of when you say 'geek'. Nobody expects the geeky (or Neurodiverse) girl to be a model even though they are pretty and look like a regular teenager. It reminds me of when people sometimes say 'you don't look autistic' and I think this is the perfect example. When Harriet is in the fashion dresses being a model with her hair and make-up done she is still the same Harriet and she doesn't change inwardly.

The way they didn't play into labelling Harriet as autistic was perfect just the same as the books. You kind of know she is but it's undiagnosed. There was no hint autistic stereotypes being played out here either which is very refreshing to see on screen. It felt very authentic. You could actually see Harriet masking and unmasking depending on the situation but the importance of the narrative inner voice was hearing a fully unmasked Harriet all the way. Emily Carey is perfect as Harriet. Every single part of her character is played to perfection. In fact, all the actors were so well cast and the chemistry was so good especially with Wilbur/Harriet Nick/Harriet.

There is plenty of source material for this to continue for another 3/4 seasons and beyond and I really do hope that Netflix makes more. It is really special and one of a kind, very much like Harriet Manners herself.