Geek Girlit is one of Netflix’s new successes, the show having even exceeded The Bridgerton Chronicles ! The series for teenagers features Harriet, a young woman who is far from unknown to the director. Is the red N platform show inspired by a true story?
It was time, after several weeks as number one series on Netflix, that The Bridgerton Chronicles finally gives up its throne to another series which is no less qualitative: Geek Girl. In this teen show, we find Harriet, a teenager who, unfortunately like many, finds herself confronted with harassment in her high school. The young woman is considered marginal and “geek” as the title of the series announces. While her interests lie precisely in this geek universe, she is led to discover a completely different world: that of fashion. Although the pitch does not seem that much out of the ordinary, it is mainly through the development and treatment of its characters that Geek Girl shines. They are so realistic that one might wonder if the program is inspired by a true story.
An autobiographical story
Series Geek Girl is adapted from the eponymous works by Holly Smale. In a thread on her Twitter/X account, the latter explains that through the story of Harriet, the author has in fact recounted her childhood:
”Geek Girl is based on me and my life.”
It is therefore not surprising that the character of this teenager is so realistic. Even more so, Harriet is treated as a neurodivergent person. We notice this several times in the show: many of her personality traits are similar to those of a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a particularity that she shares with Holly Smale. This authenticity in the treatment of the disorder is greatly praised and clashes with the sensationalist representations which usually abound in the shows concerned (Good Doctor, The Big Bang Theory, Tomorrow Belongs to Us…). However, the series seems to leave doubt about this diagnosis, is it really a good thing?
Why does Geek Girl never mention the word autistic?
Many shows expose characters as being “coded autistic”, meaning they are developed as autistic, but are never referred to as such to avoid community backlash. Moreover, these characters very often bring together the same traits, those belonging to the part of the spectrum that was formerly called “autistic Asperger” before this term disappeared. Criticized for spreading stereotypes, these characters do not reflect the reality of the disorder which is much broader than these few symptoms commonly found in series. Would Harriet fall into this category?
Exactly no, if Hariett is never called autistic, it is also for autobiographical reasons that the author develops in her thread:
”In the books, Harriet is NEVER described as autistic, because I’m Harriet and I didn’t know I was. It doesn’t make her any less autistic in the books either.”
Indeed, Harriet is then not a “coded autistic” character, but an undiagnosed person. The diagnosis of ASD is a significant change in the life of a neurodivergent person and can occur very late. Although in France such a request could take a few months, in the UK, where the show is set, it could take several years. Incorporating this dimension into the narrative and character development is not only realistic, but also extremely interesting from the point of view of Harriet’s evolution. For the moment, she is not yet diagnosed, but she probably will be at some point and her view of herself is likely to change drastically: a relevant theme for a series for teenagers.
A diagnosis in season 2?
Once again in the rich thread posted by the author, it is indicated that the choice to exclude the diagnosis only concerns season 1. Moreover, we notice that Harriet’s manager, Wilburg, seems to understand neurodivergence of the young girl and speaks about it to her father. This element is not present in the books and reflects a desire to incorporate this dimension into the series. We can expect this famous diagnosis to gain importance in season 2. This could be a way for parents watching the show to become aware of a potential neurodivergence in their children.
It may be good to remember that diagnostic criteria are constantly evolving and that audiovisual representations should not be taken at face value. The autism spectrum is extremely broad and concerns very different profiles. Geek Girl however, emphasizes one of the most widespread criteria: specific interests, these push neurodivergents with ASD to take a very advanced interest in subjects which can be diverse and varied, the geek universe strongly lending itself to this.
Netflix at €5.99/month
To find the story of Harriet and therefore of the author Holly Smale, go to Netflix.
Sources: Twitter, AutismInfoService
