Netflix’s My Brilliant Career brings sassy, steamy reimagining of Australian classic

Netflix has released a six-part series adaptation of Miles Franklin’s 1901 novel My Brilliant Career, starring Philippa Northeast as the rebellious protagonist Sybylla Melvyn. The series, created by Liz Doran and co-directed by Alyssa McClelland and Anne Renton, premiered worldwide on 13 August, offering a departure from the elegant tone of Gillian Armstrong’s 1979 film adaptation.

The new production adopts a steamier, more pronounced love triangle compared to its predecessor, incorporating contemporary music and diverse casting to reflect modern sensibilities. Northeast delivers a high-voltage performance as Sybylla, a bullheaded author determined to pursue her craft in a deeply patriarchal society that expects her to marry and settle down.

Sybylla leaves her rural family life in Possum Gully to join her wealthy aunt, played by Anna Chancellor, at the estate of Caddagat. There, she encounters Harry Beecham, played by Christopher Chung, who is reimagined as a Chinese Australian suitor. Harry’s aunt, Augusta, portrayed by Kate Mulvany, is depicted as a raving suffragist who mentors Sybylla, urging her to write stories that sell rather than poetry.

The series also introduces subplots involving a gay couple, Julius and Alex, and a First Nations horse trainer named Nell, played by Sherry-Lee Watson. While the diverse casting and focus on underrepresented stories are notable, the review notes that the First Nations storyline feels tangential to the main narrative.

Despite a cloying photo album-like montage towards the end that critics describe as syrupy, the series retains a distinct gusto. The use of anachronistic music, a technique popularised by shows such as Dickinson and Bridgerton, signals that historical fidelity is not a priority, allowing the past to be viewed through a contemporary lens.