Sweet YA-based coming-of-age story has mean girls, romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a little
Some mild verbal hostility, including using insults like "geek" (a label the main character reclaims). Several mean characters engage in bullying behavior, like posting embarrassing videos online or taping a sign that says "geek" on Harriet's back.
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Teenage characters share a romantic kiss, and teenage romance is a fairly big plot point. Adult characters are flirtatious and (spoiler alert) later announce a pregnancy. Since the series is about the main character becoming a model, conventional beauty is an undercurrent. Yet the teenage romance is driven by personality, and physical appearance is not emphasized in the plot. Main character sings along to the "I'm Too Sexy" song.
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Main character Harriet is neurodiverse and self-identifies as a "geek." She says that "my brain is wired differently," and she is living with anxiety and some sensory processing difficulties. In the media, the author of the book series has said that the Harriet character is autistic, as are the author herself and the actor who plays Harriet. Harriet is also White, thin, and conventionally pretty (so much so that she becomes a model). Supporting characters are diverse: Her best friend Nat is played by a British Sri Lankan actor, her agent Wilbur is played by a British Nigerian queer actor, and admirer Toby is a person of color.
Main character Harriet is not perfect—she desperately wants to be someone other than the shy, smart, anxious person she is. However, when she gets the chance to take on a new identity as a fashion model, she stays true to herself. Harriet's best friend, love interest, and parents all have a strong moral compass and support Harriet on her journey. There are some "mean girl" bullying types, but their actions are clearly shown as wrong and they face consequences.
Positive Messages
some
Strong positive messages about staying true to yourself and standing up for your beliefs, the importance of liking yourself, and that what's on the inside matters more than appearance. The story is set in the fashion industry, but the positive messages counterbalance the stereotypes. Though everyone in a story about modeling is beautiful and thin, physical appearance is not centered in the storylines. There's positive modeling of techniques to dispel anxiety.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Geek Girl is a TV series inspired by Holly Smale's same-named YA book series. It follows neurodiverse teenager Harriet Manners (Emily Carey), a self-identified "geek" who becomes a fashion model. Harriet has to endure "mean girl" behavior, like the "cool girl" posting an embarrassing video of her on social media, and being called insults like "freak" and "loser." And it's not just other teenagers—adults in the fashion industry are also cruel to Harriet. While it's not the main storyline, a big part of the plot is Harriet's romance with fellow model Nick (Liam Woodrum). They (possible spoiler alert, but it's super predictable) kiss on-screen. While they're both conventionally beautiful models, their relationship is personality based. Despite being a show about modeling and fashion, the plot isn't focused on characters' bodies or appearances. It does glorify modeling as being "cool" but otherwise has very positive messages.
Loved this show. It seems a little over acted in the bullying, but the idea/message of finding your confidence and being true to yourself are perfect. I love how all the characters have a “quirk” and it doesn’t stop them from being successful.
What's the Story?
In GEEK GIRL, 16-year-old Harriet Manners (Emily Carey) excels at school but feels misunderstood by her classmates who tease her. Her brain is "wired differently," and she prefers trying to be invisible to standing out from the crowd. Everything changes when she attends London Fashion Week with her classmates and is "discovered" by a model talent scout. Suddenly Harriet is thrust into the world of catwalks and beauty. She's excited for the opportunity to become someone new, and can't believe her luck when she begins dating fellow model Nick (Liam Woodrum). While she looks different as a model, she eventually learns that it's impossible for her to become someone new on the inside. With the support of her parents, Nick, agent Wilbur (Emmanuel Imani), and best friend Nat (Rochelle Harrington), she stands up for herself. She plays to her strengths and puts an end to mean girl behavior in her school and in the fashion world. Harriet (spoiler alert) gets the guy, reclaims her "geek" label, and is no longer content to blend in.
This series has all the contours of a well-worn tween media trope: a nerdy "ugly ducking" is plucked from obscurity and made beautiful. But it would be a disservice to lump Geek Girl in with questionable titles in this vein (the She's All That's of the world). Main character Harriet is complex, and since she narrates her innermost thoughts, viewers get a good sense of her nuance.
While some grown-ups might prefer a different setting for a tween-focused series, the glitz and glam of the modeling world is an irresistible hook for some kids. The appearance-focused setting is a great contrast to the point of the series: Harriet's inner transformation toward radical self-acceptance. Geek Girl is a sweet story about growing up and staying true to yourself. Like fellow ugly-ducking story The Princess Diaries, it's enjoyable for grown-ups to watch alongside their kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Harriet's path to self-acceptance. How does she go from feeling invisible and like she's different, to valuing herself exactly as she is?
What do you think about the fashion industry being the catalyst for Harriet's discovery of her true self? Does the focus on beauty and physical appearance affect Harriet's inner acceptance?
Like Harriet, do you ever feel like you're different from other kids your age? Do you think any other kids feel that way too?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
