Netflix has released shows of every genre, from sci-fi to action, but one area where the streamer has been thriving is in romantic period dramas. Most notably, Netflix is the home of Bridgerton, which recently released its fourth season. The Regency romance series is an undeniable success and has remained a fan favorite since its premiere, becoming one of the streamer’s most well-known shows. However, the wait between seasons can be long for viewers who are eager for more episodes. Luckily, Netflix has just released a new show for Bridgerton fans to enjoy while they await more news about Season 5.
My Brilliant Career is a new six-episode drama that follows a headstrong young woman as she balances both her personal ambitions and unexpected romance. The series features many of the most-loved aspects of Bridgerton, from a spunky heroine who has no interest in marriage to surprisingly modern needle drops. With a distinct setting and tone, My Brilliant Career takes a different approach to the genre, but it’s still a perfect option for anyone looking for a new show to fill the Bridgerton-sized hole in their heart.
What Is ‘My Brilliant Career’ About?
Adapted from Miles Franklin‘s 1901 novel of the same name, My Brilliant Career introduces Sybylla Melvyn (Philippa Northeast), an aspiring writer with no wish to marry. Amid increased pressure to find a husband, Sybylla is sent from her family’s rural farm to her estranged and wealthy grandmother’s (Anna Chancellor) estate. While Mrs. Bossier intends to find her granddaughter a suitable husband, Sybylla sees an opportunity to experience life and work on her novel in hopes of finding independence. Her lively nature and unconventional ways quickly clash with her grandmother, causing no end of trouble that never fails to entertain.
Sybylla does find an ally in her suffragette neighbor, Augusta Beecham (Kate Mulvany), who encourages her dreams and helps her take the next steps. While she may know what she wants from life, she faces some surprises, especially when, during her time in society, she meets not just one, but two young men who could win her heart. Between her grandmother’s foreman, Frank Howden (Jake Dunn), and Augusta’s nephew Harry (Christopher Chung), Sybylla becomes entangled in an unexpected love triangle that tests her resolve never to marry. With an intriguing cast of secondary characters, from Sybylla’s kind Aunt Helen (Genevieve O’Reilly) to the Bossiers’ independent farmhand Nell (Sherry-Lee Watson), My Brilliant Career boasts an impressive variety of strong female characters.
‘My Brilliant Career’ Takes a Unique Approach to Familiar Period Drama Tropes
My Brilliant Career isn’t actually trying to be Bridgerton. With a drastically different setting and a far less eager outlook on marriage, the series carves out its own niche while embracing some of the same story themes. Perhaps the most obvious is that both shows combine unexpected love with aspirational female characters. Sybylla doesn’t run a secret gossip column like Bridgerton‘s Penelope (Nicola Coughlan), but she is constantly writing, often documenting her own experiences and impressions of the people around her, which comes with its own risks.
Another aspect these two Netflix series share is their modern soundtracks. While Bridgerton is well-known for using orchestral renditions of modern songs, My Brilliant Career also uses contemporary music, but rather than just embracing global favorites, the series specifically promotes Australian artists. It’s only been out for a week or so, but between a compelling story and a talented cast, Netflix’s latest period drama is one that fans of the genre won’t want to miss, especially with its 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Alyssa McClelland, Anne Renton
