This autistic woman’s thoughts on the Geek Girl Netflix show: I loved it but not all the changes

Spoiler warning: I reference specific scenes from the book and Netflix show so if you’re avoiding spoilers, stop reading and come back after you finish the book and/or show.

Originally published on Medium

I love the Geek Girl books. I even wrote about why I love the series back in 2022.

When I learned that Netflix turned the book into a TV show, I wondered “Will the adaptation be good or awful?” Netflix’s past book-to-TV adaptations are usually good so I had high hopes.

And I wasn’t completely disappointed.

I love the Netflix show.

Adaptations are rarely exact translations, more like interpretations of the book from text to visuals. The Geek Girl Netflix show interprets the spirit of the book while making many changes to the story. While I understood (and even appreciated) some of the changes, I didn’t like all of them.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE GEEK GIRL NETFLIX SHOW

The modeling makeover revealed to friends and family, not the love interest

In stereotypical teen movies, when the female protagonist dresses up for the first time, the love interest is the first person to see her. We expect this trope, this moment for the male gaze. But in Geek Girl, when Harriet’s modeling makeover is revealed, who is the first person to see her?

The love interest? No. It’s her dad. And for the second makeover scene, her family and friends see her and gasp in delight.

I liked that.

Because as great as Nick the love interest is, this makeover wasn’t about him. This wasn’t a 90’s movie protagonist changing herself to get the guy. She changed to become more confident in herself. And yes, Nick supports that but he’s new. Let the people who’ve known her rejoice first at her caterpillar-to-butterfly moment.

Wilbur

Wilbur is a major character in the book and getting him right is key to the story. The actor does such a great job with this character. He IS Wilbur.

I loved how he swapped from his pretentious accent to his normal voice to a Jamaican accent depending on the situation or to emphasize a point.

Betty the new character

She’s a totally new character invented for the Netflix show. Not in the book at all. Surprisingly, I like Betty. I can’t even explain why but she fits. She fills a hole in the show, I guess.

Harriet’s autism left undiagnosed

I honestly liked that they kept her undiagnosed. It felt more realistic since I was not diagnosed as a child or teen.

Harriet’s moment of honesty on Live TV

I loved Harriet telling off the modeling agency owner. It reminded me of the stories I used to write where the main character tells off another character, saying exactly what I wished I could say in real life.

Natalie joining Harriet to audition for Infinity Models agency

Nat finding out about Harriet being a model was very different from the book but I liked it.

In the book, Nat is upset at Harriet for lying and is absent for most of the modeling story. I support changing this for the show so we see their best friendship early on.

I like that we see how supportive Show Nat is of Harriet’s new modeling career, even though this was Nat’s dream first. This is the same as the book. Once Book Nat forgives Harriet, she’s totally supportive of the new modeling career.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT THE GEEK GIRL NETFLIX SHOW

Lexi the mild mean girl

This might be a strange criticism: the bully Lexi was too mild in the show.

In the book, Lexi is an evil mastermind, almost like Moriarty to Harriet’s Sherlock. Lexi is brilliant like Harriet, plus calculating and mean. I could respect a villain like her. In the show, the character feels like a Disney mean girl stereotype, not a fully fleshed out person.

Book Lexi still hates Harriet after the model shoot goes viral. She doesn’t care that Harriet is an internationally famous model now. Lexi isn’t swayed by a little fame. I totally respected her commitment to be Harriet’s archnemesis. She’s a worthy antagonist.

The moment that pushed Harriet to choose modeling

The Lexi-the-weak-bully problem weakens the moment that pushes Harriet to model. That moment is less impactful in the show.

Book Lexi is so awful and is peak awful in the “hands in the air” classroom moment. It was so awful that Harriet was willing to do anything to change her life, even modeling. I didn’t feel the full awfulness of the classroom moment in the show, though.

Annabel the generic mom character

Another strong character who didn’t survive the book-to-TV journey is Harriet’s stepmom Annabel.

I love Annabel in the book.

Book Annabel is a lot like Harriet. Harriet’s Dad jokes that Harriet is more like Annabel than him, her biological parent, because Annabel is organized, practical and factual like Harriet. She’s got a wry, dry sense of humor and can out-logic an upset Harriet. Harriet loves Annabel and doesn’t resent her.

Show Annabel was less endearing to me. She felt like a TV show mom stereotype.

Book Annabel is the opposite of an evil stepmom. But for the first few episodes of the Netflix show, I held my breath as the plot flirted with the evil stepmom cliche.

Show Annabel opposed the idea of modeling differently from Book Annabel. Book Annabel was concerned and confused about Harriet’s sudden interest in modeling. She opposed it based on feminist and logical reasons. Eventually, she supported Harriet’s new dream. Show Annabel’s opposition felt more emotional and irrational, like a Disney channel mom upset about her child growing up. Thankfully, the show course corrects and later shows a more supportive Annabel.

I also missed the book scene reveal that Annabel knew about the modeling jobs the whole time. She was behind the scenes supporting Harriet’s goal even after the lies.

Also, what’s up with Garden Party Annabel? It felt out of character. Is Annabel masking as the sort of person who throws outdoor birthday parties?

The kiss on the catwalk

Yeah, I know this was the “big moment” but it felt way too big and public. I preferred the quieter book kiss scene: Harriet’s friends and family eavesdropping behind a door while Harriet and Nick kiss alone backstage at a TV show.

Nick told Wilbur to get Harriet for the modeling campaign

I can’t believe we cut this majorly important plot out of the show! Nick is the whole reason Wilbur noticed Harriet! I loved that reveal in the book.

Also, I love the meet-cute under-the-table. From the beginning, Nick easily converses with Harriet’s random facts and questions and throws in his own random ones too. It’s clear to see why Harriet likes him so much.

I also miss when Nick tells Harriet that Wilbur keeps throwing him out to see how many pretty girls he’ll bring back and Harriet compares him to a maggot. That part made me laugh truly out loud.

The “Geek” sign on Harriet’s back

The book did not include Poppy putting the sign “geek” on Harriet’s back in the major fashion show catwalk. (Poppy isn’t even in the first book, but that’s not my point here.)

But how did NO ONE see that sign on her back? In the middle of a model show? When makeup artists are obsessively touching up makeup and clothing?

Come on Netflix. I love this show but that’s a biig stretch for me. I don’t know if I can suspend my disbelief that much.

Richard fired for skipping work

I did NOT like this change from the book.

In the show, Harriet’s dad skips work to accompany Harriet on her first modeling shoot in Canada. When his boss calls and realizes Richard lied about being home, Richard loses his job. In the book, Richard was fired BEFORE the modeling shoot and that’s why he was able to go.

This felt out of character for Richard, a dad who loves his family and tries his best to care for them. Richard is not always responsible but getting fired for skipping work felt too irresponsible even for him. Book Richard upsets a client and gets fired, which fits his character (I suspect he’s ADHD-coded). But Show Richard deliberately put his job in danger.

Also, why did Show Annabel never bring up his job loss? Did she not find out? Did he hide it? What happened?? In the book, his job loss is a major reason Annabel gets upset and leaves.

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed the Geek Girl Netflix show and recommend it to anyone looking for a wholesome, light story about a girl who makes new friends while she learns to love herself as she is.