My roommate and I recently stumbled on a quirky tv show called “Atypical” on Netflix. There were only four seasons with about 10 episodes on each, so we finished it fairly quickly. The main character, Sam, is a teenager in high school who is on the autism spectrum and is obsessed with Antarctica, more specifically, penguins. The show focuses on Sam and his close friends and family as they all guide him through his teenage years. It also explores other themes such as LGBTQ+ teenagers, bullying, sex, and major conflicts within a family. While diving deep into these social issues, it also discusses other topics such as dating, going to college, and trying to fit in as an autistic teenager.
There was a lot of growth within the characters from the beginning to the end of the show and it was evident that all of the things that occurred in the show truly shaped them. I really enjoyed how this show was more realistic in showing how people with autism are all very different, and that they can be just like everyone else. They did this by having more actors with autism on the show, which gave them a platform to show other people on the spectrum that their potential is limitless.
In my opinion, this show does have some mature themes that may not be suitable for younger viewers, but I think it would be very influential for teenagers and anyone older watching it. It truly provides a different perspective that is not provided by any other show. It is genuinely one of a kind and a must watch if you want something heartwarming as well as dramatic.
Overall, I would rate this show a 9/10 for its quality and how entertaining it was to watch. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to watch the next episode each time I finished one (causing me to binge it in less than a week). I fully recommend putting it on your watchlist if it seems like it would be interesting to you.