‘My Brilliant Career’ Ending: Sybylla’s Choice Explained by Philippa Northeast

A new adaptation of the classic Australian novel My Brilliant Career arrived on Netflix on August 13, starring The Newsreader‘s Philippa Northeast as the spitfire protagonist Sybylla Melvyn, a role that previously made Judy Davis a global star after the 1979 film costarring the late Sam Neill.

My Brilliant Career is a six-episode season detailing Sybylla’s struggle to avoid marriage in favor of a writing career in 1900 Australia. Among the many firsts Sybylla experiences after moving into her wealthy grandmother’s (Anna Chancellor) Caddagat estate is falling in love. However, because of the limitations of society at the time, Sybylla couldn’t be both a full-time professional writer and a wife and mother. She could try to do both, and she spent the season trying to find a way to do that. Warning: My Brilliant Career Season 1 finale spoilers ahead.