Geek Girl: Autistic representation reviewed by Aditi Gangrade

As an autistic filmmaker, watching a show that features an autistic actor playing an autistic character, written by an autistic author, is pure joy. 

I'm talking about Geek Girl, a Netflix series based on the book series of the same name by Holly Smale. 

Autistic people are often labelled as weird, rude, lazy, or in this case, “geeks.”

Geek Girl follows the story of Harriet Manners, a slightly awkward, not-so-popular, undiagnosed autistic teenager who gets scouted to be a model, along with all her struggles and shenanigans.

Btw, this is not a show review.  It's a representation review.

What makes this show so relatable is how it portrays an undiscovered autistic girl navigating her difficult school life and the overnight fame she receives from the modelling world.

While autism isn't explicitly mentioned in the show because the author, Holly Smale, didn't know she was autistic when she wrote it, the book is based on her personal experiences. 

Many neurodivergent people have lived somewhat similar lives - not knowing why we're different, feeling lost in a world that doesn't understand us. 

I really hope they mention autism and neurodivergence in upcoming seasons because just imagine the amount of realisations there will be among undiscovered folks. 

Ex-model turned successful teen author Holly Smale says, “The Geek Girl series is a story about being yourself, no matter what.” 

And that, in a nutshell, is unmasking!

Harriet’s internal monologue throughout the show distinguishes her inner world from the outer world, something I deeply relate to. 

It was almost healing to listen to her internal monologue.

While her peers are eager to get discovered by the fashion world, all Harriet can think about is where to hide at the fashion event she finds herself in. 

And despite this, she gets discovered by one of the top agents in the fashion industry. 

Being different often means being bullied. 

Harriet endures bullying and online trolling simply for being a “geek.” However, the fashion world embraces her with open arms. 

Amid the flashy lights and overwhelming sets, her modelling career begins to flourish as she establishes her support systems.

She finds a friend and mentor in Nick, a supermodel, and her agent Wilbur is shown as one of the most affirming people. 

Seriously, if you want a guide to being a good manager or boss, look up Wilbur.

Wilbur asks Harriet if she needs time or if things are too much for her. He even pushes her to claim her strengths.

The label “geek” becomes an important part of her identity that she starts accepting and even celebrating with the help of her village comprising her dad (also very autistic-coded), stepmom, agent, friends, teachers, and even the fashion designers who surround her.

Though in the beginning of the show, I didn't like it when Harriet’s dads says, “I don't want any labels on her,” and I think that’s just a wrong way of looking at things. 

Parents don’t want the neurodivergent label on their kids, but that just doesn't help. 

Still, throughout the show there are some heartwarming instances where they show Harriet being accommodated, her differences being understood by those around her, and her going out to claim her autistic identity.

If you look at the details, you’ll see Harriet and another neurodivergent character, Toby, stimming.

The thing I love about the autistic representation in Geek Girl is that it’s not stereotypical. 

And they haven't used the “geek” label as a stereotype either. 

Many neurodivergent people have gone undiscovered for years because, among other things, we’ve just never had real, honest, truthful representation. 

All people knew about autism was the savant-boys-and-men stereotype. 

Geek Girl has become one of the best autistic representations I've seen. 

And it is a lesson for all filmmakers, producers, and OTTs: Hire autistic actors, autistic writers, directors, producers, and filmmakers. 

There are so many of us who are good at what we do and have spent so much time unlearning ableism and learning about the right and affirming ways to address neurodiversity, and reframing the narrative. 

So if there’s one takeaway you should have, it’s definitely: “Nothing about us, without us.”

Watch the #RepUp: