Harriet the Spy is an American animated television series for Apple TV+, loosely based on the book of the same name by Louise Fitzhugh. The series premiered on November 19, 2021. Season 2 premiered on May 5, 2023.
Contents
Cast and characters
Beanie Feldstein as Harriet M. Welsch
Jane Lynch as Catherine Myrtle "Willa" Galliano ("Ole Golly")
Lacey Chabert as Marion Hawthorne
Kimberly Brooks as Janie Gibbs, Mrs. Gibbs (Janie's mom)
Crispin Freeman as Mr. Welsch (Harriet's dad)
Grey Griffin as Mrs. Welsch (Harriet's mom), Beth Ellen Hansen
Bumper Robinson as Mr. Gibbs (Janie's dad)
Charlie Schlatter as Simon "Sport" Rocque
Michelle Trachtenberg as Dr. Wagner
Production
In August 2020, it was announced that Apple TV+ had given a series order to an animated television adaptation of the novel Harriet the Spy. The series is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Rehab Entertainment with Will McRobb as writer, Sidney Clifton as producer and Terissa Kelton and John W. Hyde as executive producer. It would star Beanie Feldstein as Harriet, Jane Lynch as Ole Golly, and Lacey Chabert as Marion Hawthorne. A trailer was released on October 12, 2021. 5 episodes aired on November 19, 2021, and 5 more aired on May 20, 2022. Season 2 was released on May 5, 2023.
In April 2023, it was announced that Michelle Trachtenberg, who had previously played the titular character in the 1996 film, would be guest starring as the voice of Dr. Wagner. This would end up being one of her final acting roles before her death from complications of diabetes in February 2025.
Episodes
Reception
The series received a mixed reception. Ashley Moulton of Common Sense Media described the series as a "so-so TV adaptation of classic kid sleuth story." She also said that Harriet "was never meant to be a role model" but has some qualities which are admirable and pointed to a "fair amount of consumerism", arguing that the "charm of the book" doesn't quite translate to the series, and that those into "sleuth stories" should read the original instead.