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| Shows Like My Brilliant Career. (Photo: IMDb) |
If My Brilliant Career has left you wanting another period drama about ambitious women, complicated romance and characters who would rather argue with society than quietly accept the life handed to them, there is plenty more to watch. Netflix’s Australian drama, created by Liz Doran and based on Miles Franklin’s novel, follows Sybylla (Philippa Northeast), a fiercely independent young woman in rural Australia in 1900 who dreams of becoming a writer and earning her own freedom.
Ber growing feelings for Harry (Christopher Chung) only make the choice between love and ambition more complicated. Thankfully, television has never been short of women making perfectly respectable decisions and then immediately finding themselves in a social catastrophe.
The best shows like My Brilliant Career share more than corsets, countryside and handsome men standing dramatically in doorways. They explore women trying to define themselves within restrictive societies, characters questioning marriage and convention, creative ambition, class divisions, changing communities and romances that refuse to behave conveniently. Some lean more heavily into romance, others into social history or personal ambition, but all offer something for viewers who connected with Sybylla’s determination to live life on her own terms.
Shows Like MY BRILLIANT CAREER
1. Dickinson (2019-2021)
Dickinson, created by Alena Smith, is probably the closest match for viewers who connected with Sybylla’s determination to turn writing into a form of independence. The series stars Hailee Steinfeld as a young Emily Dickinson, reimagining the celebrated poet as a rebellious and sharp-minded woman struggling against the expectations of 19th-century society while trying to make sense of her artistic ambitions, family life and relationships.
Like My Brilliant Career, the series puts a young writer at the centre of a world that keeps trying to tell her what she should become. Emily refuses to treat creativity as a pleasant hobby that can be abandoned once adulthood arrives, while Sybylla similarly sees writing as central to the life she wants. Both shows understand that ambition becomes particularly complicated when the people around you think they already know your future.
2. Anne with an E (2017-2019)
Anne with an E, created by Moira Walley-Beckett, follows Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty), an imaginative orphan whose arrival at Green Gables changes the lives of siblings Matthew (R.H. Thomson) and Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James).
Set in the late 19th century, the series expands on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic story by exploring Anne’s struggle to find belonging while challenging the assumptions made about her background, personality and future.
Its connection to My Brilliant Career lies in the determination of both heroines to remain themselves despite constant pressure to fit in.
Anne is outspoken, imaginative and unwilling to make herself smaller for the comfort of others, while Sybylla is equally determined to protect her ambitions. Both dramas also use beautiful rural settings to contrast with the surprisingly complicated business of growing up.
3. Little Women (2017)
The 2017 adaptation of Little Women, written by Heidi Thomas and directed by Vanessa Caswill, follows sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March as they grow up during the American Civil War.
While each sister develops her own ambitions and relationships, Jo (Maya Hawke) provides the strongest connection to My Brilliant Career, thanks to her determination to become a writer rather than simply accept the conventional path expected of her.
Like Sybylla, Jo understands that independence comes with a price. The series explores the tension between family, financial realities, romance and creative ambition without pretending there is an easy solution. Both shows are especially interested in what happens when a young woman wants a life that does not neatly fit the options available to her.
4. The Buccaneers (2023-)
Created by Katherine Jakeways and based on Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, The Buccaneers follows five ambitious American women who enter London society in the 1870s.
Nan St. George (Kristine Froseth), Jinny St. George (Imogen Waterhouse), Conchita Closson (Alisha Boe), Lizzy Elmsworth (Aubri Ibrag) and Mabel Elmsworth (Josie Totah) find themselves surrounded by traditions that expect them to secure suitable marriages and behave accordingly.
That sounds straightforward until the women start having opinions of their own. Much like My Brilliant Career, the series asks whether marriage should determine a woman’s future and what happens when personal ambition refuses to stay politely in the background. The difference is that The Buccaneers delivers its rebellion with considerably more parties, dresses and social chaos.
5. Gentleman Jack (2019-2022)
Gentleman Jack, created by Sally Wainwright, stars Suranne Jones as Anne Lister, a determined landowner who returns to Shibden Hall in Yorkshire in 1832 and sets about rebuilding both her estate and her future. Anne is fiercely practical, financially ambitious and entirely unwilling to behave according to the expectations attached to her position.
The connection with My Brilliant Career is clear in the way both stories treat independence as something worth actively pursuing rather than simply wishing for.
Anne’s relationships matter, particularly her connection with Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), but romance never completely overwhelms her larger ambitions. Sybylla would probably approve of Anne’s refusal to let other people write the script for her life.
6. Sanditon (2019-2023)
Sanditon, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, centres on Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams), a spirited young woman who arrives in the developing seaside resort of Sanditon and finds herself caught up in its ambitions, rivalries and complicated relationships. The community is changing rapidly, and almost everyone seems to have an idea about what it should become.
Charlotte’s journey mirrors Sybylla’s in its emphasis on independence and self-discovery. Both women enter environments where social rules and expectations constantly threaten to dictate their choices. Romance becomes part of their stories, but neither character is defined solely by who they might end up with, which is rather refreshing for period television.
7. North & South (2004)
North & South, directed by Brian Percival and adapted by Sandy Welch from Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel, follows Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) after her family moves from southern England to the industrial town of Milton. Her unfamiliar surroundings expose her to a sharp divide between mill owners and workers, while her relationship with proud businessman John Thornton (Richard Armitage) becomes increasingly complicated.
The series shares My Brilliant Career’s interest in women developing their identities while navigating social expectations and romance. Margaret is not content to stand quietly on the sidelines, and her understanding of class and society evolves alongside her feelings for Thornton. Like Sybylla, she discovers that personal independence becomes much harder when emotions and social structures get involved.
8. Miss Scarlet and The Duke (2020-)
Miss Scarlet and The Duke, created by Rachael New, follows Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), a Victorian woman who takes over her late father’s private detective agency rather than relying on marriage to secure her future. Working in a profession dominated by men, Eliza has to prove herself while repeatedly crossing paths with William Wellington (Stuart Martin), a detective and childhood friend.
The premise makes it an obvious companion to My Brilliant Career. Sybylla wants writing to provide independence, while Eliza sees professional success as her route towards the same goal. Both women refuse to wait for somebody else to provide them with security, although Eliza gets considerably more murder mysteries along the way.
9. The Pursuit of Love (2021)
Written and directed by Emily Mortimer, The Pursuit of Love follows cousins Linda Radlett (Lily James) and Fanny Logan (Emily Beecham) as they navigate adulthood, relationships and the expectations placed upon women between the two world wars. Their personalities could hardly be more different, with Linda chasing an idealised version of romance while Fanny approaches life with considerably more caution.
The series complements My Brilliant Career by questioning the idea that there is one correct route into adulthood. Sybylla is suspicious of marriage as an automatic destination, while Linda actively pursues it, giving the two stories an interesting contrast. Both ultimately ask what happens when a woman discovers that the life she has been told to want may not be the life she actually wants.
10. Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011)
Lark Rise to Candleford, created by Bill Gallagher and based on the novels of Flora Thompson, follows Laura Timmins (Olivia Hallinan) as she leaves the rural hamlet of Lark Rise for the larger market town of Candleford. Her new surroundings expose her to different social classes, friendships, conflicts and opportunities, with her cousin Dorcas Lane (Julia Sawalha) becoming an important influence.
Its appeal for My Brilliant Career viewers comes from the rural setting and the focus on young women discovering that the world is considerably larger than the community in which they were raised.
Both stories explore the push and pull between belonging somewhere and wanting something beyond it. There are no shortage of village problems either, because apparently historical communities were incapable of having a quiet Tuesday.
11. Victoria (2016-2019)
Created by Daisy Goodwin, Victoria traces the early life and reign of Queen Victoria, played by Jenna Coleman, beginning with her accession to the throne as an 18-year-old in 1837. The series follows her development from inexperienced young monarch to a more confident ruler while exploring her relationships with Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell) and Prince Albert (Tom Hughes).
Although the scale is very different from Sybylla’s rural Australian world, the underlying idea is surprisingly similar. Victoria enters adulthood with other people already convinced they know what her life should look like.
Her challenge is learning how to define her own role within those expectations. My Brilliant Career takes that struggle down to a personal level, while Victoria places it at the centre of British political and royal life.
12. The Paradise (2012-2013)
The Paradise follows Denise Lovett (Joanna Vanderham), a young woman who leaves her home in Scotland to work at a pioneering department store in 1875. Owned by John Moray (Emun Elliott), the store is changing the local economy and creating new opportunities while putting pressure on traditional businesses.
Like My Brilliant Career, the series is interested in young women encountering possibilities beyond the lives originally mapped out for them. Denise finds professional opportunities in an unfamiliar environment, while Sybylla sees writing as her chance to build an independent future. Both stories also use changing communities to show how social transformation can create opportunities for people prepared to seize them.
13. Wives and Daughters (1999)
Wives and Daughters, adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell’s unfinished novel, follows Molly Gibson, a young woman growing up in a Victorian community where family expectations, social standing and marriage prospects constantly influence daily life. Her relationship with her father and new stepmother introduces further complications as Molly tries to understand the complicated social world around her.
Fans of My Brilliant Career may appreciate the series for its careful attention to the restrictions placed upon young women and the importance of finding an identity within those boundaries. Molly is less openly rebellious than Sybylla, but both stories understand that growing up means deciding which expectations deserve to be followed and which should be quietly ignored.
14. Cranford (2007-2009)
Set in a small 19th-century English town, Cranford explores the lives, friendships and everyday concerns of its largely female community. Based on the work of Elizabeth Gaskell, the series features characters negotiating changing social values while trying to preserve the traditions that have shaped their lives.
Its similarity to My Brilliant Career comes through its attention to community, class and the changing role of women. Rather than relying entirely on grand historical events, Cranford finds drama in ordinary decisions and social expectations. That makes it a particularly good choice for viewers who enjoyed the quieter character work and period atmosphere surrounding Sybylla.
15. Poldark (2015-2019)
Poldark, based on Winston Graham’s novels, follows Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) after his return to Cornwall following the American Revolutionary War. While Ross is at the centre of the story, the series gives considerable attention to women such as Demelza Poldark (Eleanor Tomlinson), whose journey from humble beginnings to a woman with considerable influence forms one of the drama’s strongest arcs.
For My Brilliant Career viewers, the appeal lies in its combination of romance, class tensions, changing social structures and characters trying to improve their circumstances. Demelza’s growth is particularly relevant, as she gradually develops confidence and agency in a world that initially offers her very few advantages.
16. The Forsyte Saga (2002)
The Forsyte Saga follows the wealthy Forsyte family and examines relationships, property, social expectations and the pressures created by Victorian and Edwardian respectability. Rather than focusing on one simple love story, the drama uses the family’s interconnected lives to explore how wealth and convention influence personal choices.
It makes a strong companion to My Brilliant Career because both stories question the assumption that social position should determine personal happiness. The scale is larger and the family politics considerably more exhausting, but the central tension remains familiar: what happens when individual desires collide with the future society has already selected for you?
17. The Luminaries (2020)
Based on Eleanor Catton’s novel, The Luminaries is set in 19th-century New Zealand during the gold-rush era and follows Anna Wetherell (Eve Hewson) as she becomes entangled in a complicated web of relationships, money and mystery after arriving in the country.
Its connection to My Brilliant Career comes through its historical setting, its focus on a young woman trying to establish herself in an unfamiliar society and its interest in the ways personal choices can be shaped by economic and social circumstances. It is darker and more mysterious in tone, but the sense of a woman trying to understand where she belongs makes it a worthwhile follow-up.
18. The Essex Serpent (2022)
The Essex Serpent, starring Claire Danes as Cora Seaborne, follows a recently widowed woman who leaves London for the Essex countryside to investigate reports of a mysterious creature said to be appearing in the area. Her arrival brings her into contact with local residents, scientific questions, religious beliefs and the charismatic Will Ransome (Tom Hiddleston).
Like My Brilliant Career, the series places an independent-minded woman in a society where people have plenty of opinions about what she should be doing with her life. Cora’s interest in science and discovery gives the story another strong connection to female ambition, while the complicated relationship at its centre adds the sort of emotional uncertainty that period-drama viewers clearly cannot be allowed to escape.
19. The Miniaturist (2017)
Based on Jessie Burton’s novel, The Miniaturist follows Nella Brandt (Anya Taylor-Joy), a young woman who arrives in 17th-century Amsterdam after marrying the wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell). Her new household initially appears prosperous and respectable, but Nella soon discovers that the people around her are hiding far more than they reveal.
The series is a good choice after My Brilliant Career because both centre on young women entering environments governed by strict social rules and gradually realising that appearances can be misleading. Nella’s struggle to understand her place within her new life echoes Sybylla’s determination to retain control over her own identity, although The Miniaturist adds a mysterious edge to the period-drama formula.
The reaction from fans to these recommendations will naturally vary. Some viewers will want another fiercely independent writer at the centre, making Dickinson or Little Women the obvious next stop, while others may prefer the romance and social tension of North & South, Sanditon or The Buccaneers. Those who enjoyed the rural atmosphere and slower character development of My Brilliant Career may find Lark Rise to Candleford, Cranford or Wives and Daughters a better fit, while viewers looking for a woman determined to build a career against the odds have plenty to choose from.
Ultimately, My Brilliant Career works because Sybylla’s ambitions never feel like a decorative subplot. Her desire to write, earn her independence and decide what kind of life she wants remains at the heart of the story, even when romance complicates everything. That is exactly why these 19 period dramas make such strong companions: they are full of women questioning convention, chasing independence and occasionally making everyone around them deeply uncomfortable by having their own opinions. Which one would you put at the top of your watchlist, and which show do you think deserves a place alongside My Brilliant Career?