By Variety | Created at 2026-08-13 14:09:30 | Updated at 2026-08-13 16:20:59
3 hours ago
Based on the feminist writer Miles Franklin’s 1901 novel of the same name — and having been previously adapted in Gillian Armstrong’s acclaimed 1979 film starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill — Netflix’s “My Brilliant Career” has a lot to live up to. The Australian period drama, adapted into a series by Liz Doran, is a vibrant, sexy and energetic adaptation that honors the original story and film while offering a sharper, more honest depiction of 20th-century Australia, particularly through the female and Indigenous gaze. Whimsical and sharp, “My Brilliant Career” remains just as poignant and plucky as it was when Franklin first shared her words with the world 125 years ago.
The six-episode series opens with an erotic poem and a scandalized grandmother. Yet, this is not where Sybylla Melvyn’s (an incredible Philippa Northeast) story begins. Just one month prior, she is swimming in the lake with her younger sister, Gert (Ella Oliphant), near their rundown home in Possum Gully. Despite her father’s drinking and her parents’ mounting debt and numerous children, Sybylla is content to help work the family’s modest farm and focus on her true passion, writing. The Melvyn family’s fortunes change after Mrs. Bossier (Anna Chancellor), Sybylla’s maternal grandmother, whom she calls Granny, invites her to stay at her sweeping estate, Caddagat, so that she can be properly presented in society. Though Sybylla has no interest in marriage, she packs her bag, determined to see the world, which has previously been beyond her grasp.
Coming from the humble ruralness of Possum Gully, Sybylla is immediately swept away by the grandeur of her mother’s childhood home. There, her stern Granny and poised Aunt Helen (Genevieve O’Reilly) are horrified by her lack of refinement and her indifference about finding a respectable husband. When Sybylla recites an erotic poem at the birthday soiree of Augusta Beecham (Kate Mulvany), a neighbor and friend of Granny’s, even Frank Hawdon (Jake Dunn), an accomplished Englishman working as Caddagat’s temporary foreman, is alarmed by her behavior.
Still, not everyone is so scandalized by Sybylla’s unruly hair, brash words and determination to carve out her own path. Augusta, whom Frank calls a “raving suffragist,” is enthralled by the young woman’s tenacity and decides to do everything in her power to help Sybylla get published. Augusta’s nephew Harry (Christopher Chung) also finds himself totally enamored of the carefree young woman. Unfortunately, previous promises made and the fledgling finances at his estate prevent him from seeing Sybylla as a viable romantic option.
Doran and co-directors Alyssa McClelland and Anne Renton give “My Brilliant Career” a contemporary look and sound. The show has a modern soundtrack and even a blush-worthy masturbation scene. However, what truly distinguishes the series from its predecessor is its awareness of societal issues beyond sexism and misogyny. As Sybylla tries to subvert the trappings of a traditional marriage, Harry, a wealthy male landowner, is repeatedly racially antagonized due to his Chinese Australian heritage. Moreover, Sybylla finds friendship with Indigenous sisters Nell (Sherry-Lee Watson) and Betty (Miah Madden), Caddagat’s horse trainer and housekeeper, who face hurdles in life that Sybylla can barely even conceptualize.
Even amid Nell’s disapproval, Betty is carrying on an ill-fated secret romance with a local police officer. Nell’s aspirations of taking over as Caddagat’s foreman are incredibly unlikely due to her race and sex. Additionally, a secret gay romance emerges midway through the show. While these characters and plot points don’t get as much space to flourish as Sybylla’s do, they are important not only in anchoring “My Brilliant Career” in this particular time period but also in offering both Sybylla and the audience perspectives beyond their own narrow understanding. The trappings of patriarchy, sexism, homophobia and racism reverberate throughout all aspects of society, affecting us all.
Netflix’s “My Brilliant Career” isn’t a complete reimagining of the beloved tale. Yet Doran and an outstanding performance by Northeast allow a 21st-century audience to view Sybylla’s story through a new lens. This is a series about resilience, the boldness it takes for anyone, particularly women and other marginalized groups, to embrace life on their own terms and why, despite the ever-present propaganda surrounding equal opportunities, the sacrifices some people are forced to make to chase their dreams are far more challenging than others could ever fathom.
“My Brilliant Career” is now streaming on Netflix.
