Is Love On The Spectrum Problematic?

You may have heard of the Netflix series Love on the Spectrum from adoring fans or through social media, and if you haven’t, I’m here to tell you that a new season just came out and now is the perfect time to watch during this love-filled month of February.  

In a world with no shortage of dating shows, Love on the Spectrum stands out with its focus on the dating journey of those on the autism spectrum. It is a reality documentary-style series with two U.S. seasons and one Australian season. It follows the dating lives of people from different backgrounds and locations and shows the challenges as well as the joys that come with the romantic world.  

Jennifer Cook is an autism expert and advocate who appears on the show to coach and mentor the cast on dating. As someone on the autism spectrum herself, she empathizes and uses her personal experience to help the cast with dating etiquette and advice.  

It’s hard to avoid falling in love with the cast as they are vulnerable throughout the show and put their best foot forward while going on dates and meeting new people. This is already a difficult task for those who are neurotypical, making it even harder for those who are neurodivergent. Those on the spectrum lack understanding of social cues, have difficulties with social communication, and adhere to routines, all of which can interfere with a person’s dating life. Throughout the show, it is evident that a lot of the cast is out of their comfort zone, which makes it admirable to watch them overcome fears and anxieties.  

The series has received both negative and positive feedback, mainly concerning the representation of adults with autism. Licensed psychologist and autism therapist Dr. Tasha Oswald wrote an article about her thoughts on Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum. Oswald shares her appreciation for the show, “Overall, I found the quirkiness, humor, kindness, and blunt candor from the autistic adults in the show delightful and endearing.” Oswald goes on to educate readers on dating for those on the autism spectrum by touching on topics such as anxiety, black-and-white views of love, and the struggle to connect if both parties do not share the same interests.  

The kindness shown in this show was what personally drew me to it. Many dating shows are jam-packed with sex and drama, which I won’t lie, is fun to watch. But the authenticity and genuine desire to find a connection in this show was refreshing. David Isaacman and Abbey Romeo are in seasons one and two of the show. Spoiler alert: they met in season one and have been together ever since. They bonded over their love for animals when they went on a date to the zoo which led to a trip to Africa in season two to see Abbey’s favorite animal, the lioness. The couple seems to have a sweet and loving relationship and are a joy to watch. The two have gained a large following on social media because of their fans.  

If any of this has interested you, I encourage you to give it a watch, and hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did! 

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