‘Geek Girl’ on Netflix Lets ‘House of the Dragon’ Star Emily Carey Shine as a Adorkable Supermodel

What is Geek Girl on Netflix? The new half-hour comedy series based on Holly Smale’s bestselling books is kind of like Funny Face for the Gen Z crowd. The show follows sixteen-year-old nerd Harriet Manners (Emily Carey) as she is inexplicably scouted to be an international supermodel. Harriet has little interest in modeling, preferring to do her darnedest to fit in. However, she’s coaxed into the world of high fashion — and “DING DONG!” Val Garland cameos — thanks to a crush on swoon-worthy male model Nick Park (Liam Woodrum). Over the course of Geek Girl Season 1’s ten episodes, Harriet will learn to not only be a superstar, but to take courage in standing out.

However, if you’re watching Geek Girl and wondering why leading lady Emily Carey looks so familiar, it could be because you’re a Game of Thrones fan. Emily Carey made waves two years ago playing the young version of Alicent Hightower in HBO’s hit House of the Dragon. Alicent, of course, was the daughter of schemer Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). When King Viserys (Paddy Considine) finds himself tragically widowed, Otto encourages his pretty tween daughter to “comfort” the grieving king. She dutifully does so even though she’s best friends with Viserys’s daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock).

Over the course of Carey’s five episode run on House of the Dragon, she became a child bride, forced to endure sex scenes and pregnancies. So it’s not only radical, but wonderful, to see the now 21-year-old actress leading a fun Netflix series that’s all about embracing one’s youth.

Geek Girl evokes the spirit of The Princess Diaries, following a totally charming, completely socially inept ugly duckling as they become a swan. The show encapsulates some of the same themes of this current season of Bridgerton, as well, following a ginger-haired wallflower as she takes control of her destiny and discovers she doesn’t necessarily wilt in the spotlight.

However, what’s most exciting about Geek Girl is how it lets Emily Carey shine as the adorkable Harriet Manners. Carey proved her mettle as a dramatic actress in House of the Dragon, but here she’s allowed to be awkward, funny, and, dare we say, cutesy? She’s an absolutely winning leading lady and you’ll find yourself rooting for Harriet to finally see that all the qualities that make her different are what make her intoxicatingly cool.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emily Carey (@theemilycarey)

For her part, Carey seems thrilled about the project. The actress has been hyping the show on Instagram for over a month, lovingly referring to Geek Girl as “our little show!” If you give Geek Girl a chance, you’ll understand immediately why she’s so sweet on the series. Sure, it treads the ground of an all-too classic trope, but there’s something universally endearing about watching a quirky, overlooked girl evolve into an enigmatic superstar.

It’s adorable when it’s Bridgerton Season 3, when it’s The Princess Diaries, when it’s Pygmalion or My Fair Lady or Pretty Woman or She’s All That. The “Funny Face” concept simply never gets old, especially when someone as charming as Emily Carey is starring in the story.

Geek Girl is now streaming on Netflix.