Netflix’s latest period drama, My Brilliant Career, has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide, with one memorable scene leaving a particularly strong impression—the now-iconic bullwhip scene.
**Spoilers for My Brilliant Career Episode 2 “HE,” available now on Netflix**
While the show dazzles in its entirety, Episode 2, titled “HE,” stands out as a sparkling display of romantic tension and chemistry. At the heart of My Brilliant Career is the protagonist, Sybylla Melvyn, played by Philippa Northeast. Invited by the wealthy suffragist Augusta Beecham (Kate Mulvany) to her stunning estate, Five Bob, Sybylla aims to launch her writing career and avoid the societal trap of marriage for support. During her stay, however, she forms an electrifying bond with Augusta’s charming nephew, Harry, portrayed by Christopher Chung. Building fences, sharing ideas, and indulging in playful apple-eating sessions define their budding connection, but the moment truly ignites when Harry unveils his favorite spot on the estate to Sybylla.
In a twist of playful daring, Sybylla decides to dive into a serene pond, only to playfully feign distress. Alarmed by her stillness, Harry leaps into action to save her, only to discover it was a mere prank. His initial fury subsides almost instantly—a testament to their captivating dynamic.
“Sybylla has this extraordinary ability to swiftly pacify Harry’s emotions,” Christopher Chung shared with DECIDER. “After she hops into the pond and he storms off, she simply places her hand on his chest, reminiscent of calming a spirited horse with a gentle ‘Whoa.’”
“I think that moment…is very important and special to the two of them.”
Also very important and special? What happens next: the bullwhip scene.
After their little moment in the pond, Harry and Sybylla ride across the ranch. At one point, Harry impressively uses a bullwhip to redirect cattle. Syb immediately wants a go. Harry lets her try it for herself, but when she fails at the first try, he takes it upon himself to give her a lesson. He comes up behind her, his arm coils around her waist, and the two begin moving as one, cracking the whip.
“So that was one of the first things I did when I came from London to Sydney to start prep for the show was learn how to whip,” Chung said. “There were definitely a few duds there because it’s all in the wrist. There’s nothing about power. It’s just how well you can use your wrist to flick it out to crack the air. But when you get it, the satisfaction that you get when you crack a whip nicely and it makes that proper earth-shattering sound that goes out against the landscape is just wonderful.”
Then, Harry takes the moment one step further. He asks Sybylla to stand still and then asks, “Do you trust me?” The music intensifies as he begins to whip at her feet. We crosscut to Sybylla getting into a bathtub to pleasure herself to the memories of Harry cracking that whip.
So I think when we were doing the actual day, surprisingly, I don’t know why, they wouldn’t let me crack a whip next to Pip,” Chung said, sarcastically. “I was really good at it by then, too, so I was surprised that they wouldn’t. I guess we still had to get through the rest of the shoot.”
Chung also revealed that the steamy scene was one of the first things that he and co-star Philippa “Pip” Northeast shot together.
“So we had to find that chemistry very, very quickly. But we were both really game to make sure that we did these characters justice,” he said. “So it was the way that [director] Alyssa [McClelland] had told us how the shots were going to be, we knew that it was going to be very suggestive, and it was gonna be used later on in montages.”
“We kind of knew what the moment had to be charged with so that was that was really fun and also, like, if you start your shoot from that point having that chemistry, it takes all the other awkwardness away.”
To experience the bullwhip moment for yourself, watch My Brilliant Career on Netflix (and then maybe consider a bath).