Netflix's new period drama My Brilliant Career has stormed into the UK top 10, with viewers hailing it as “sensational” and already clamouring for a second season. The six-part adaptation of Miles Franklin's 1901 coming-of-age novel landed on August 13 and has quickly climbed to number four in Netflix's UK TV chart, according to FlixPatrol data.
Rapid Rise in the UK Top 10
The series currently sits behind Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes, while Mourinho, My Life with the Walter Boys and Ricky Gervais's Alley Cats are also near the top of the chart. Its swift ascent is particularly impressive given the stiff competition from true crime, returning favourites and new releases, but viewers appear to have quickly fallen for its mix of romance, rebellion and period-drama setting.
Developed and co-written by Liz Doran, the show follows Sybylla Melvyn, a sharp-witted young woman in early 20th-century Australia whose biggest ambition is not marriage, but becoming a writer. Her family has other ideas, however, and she finds herself being pushed towards the conventional future expected of women at the time. Then she falls in love.
Viewer and Critical Acclaim
One viewer described it as “one of the best shows of the year”, while another posted: “How fantastic is Netflix's #MyBrilliantCareer. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” Some have already raced through all six episodes. “I need season two of this,” one fan wrote after watching the series in just two days. Another viewer, five episodes in, called the show “SENSATIONAL” and compared it to Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, but transplanted to Australia.
Critics have been equally enthusiastic. The Guardian gave it a five-star review, describing it as “witty, intelligent and absolutely glorious to watch”. Variety called it a “vibrant, sexy and energetic adaptation”, while The Telegraph awarded the drama four stars. It currently holds a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 13 reviews.
Cast and Availability
Philippa Northeast leads the cast as Sybylla, with Slow Horses star Christopher Chung playing Harry. The ensemble also includes Anna Chancellor, Genevieve O'Reilly, Jake Dunn, Kate Mulvany and Miah Madden. Netflix's official synopsis teases Sybylla as a “shockingly modern young woman” with an “irrepressible taste for fun” who is determined to break the conventions of 1900 Australia as she searches for independence through her writing.
For viewers wondering about a second season, there has been no official announcement yet. For now, the first six episodes of My Brilliant Career are available to stream on Netflix.
