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ATYPICAL I Platform: NETFLIX I Created By: Robia Rashid

‘There are shows that entertain and there are shows that educate. But very rarely do we come across shows like?Atypical that educate an entire generation, while they are busy binge watching them’.?

‘Atypical’ follows the life of Sam Gardner (Kier Gilchrist) a curious 18yr who is on the autism spectrum. This coming-of-age series chronicles his life, family, friendships,?relationships?and his constant love affair with the Antarctic Penguins. Along with Sam, we get a closer look at the role his family and friends play in helping him navigate through life and giving him the courage to dream.??

In season one, you realize that Sam is different or in other words atypical. Just like any neurotypical, he has emotions but the way he expresses them are a little different.?Creator Robia Rashid added Sam’s voice over through the series as she thought that would be?a good way to convey to the audiences what was really going on in Sam's head. ?I think this tool worked?perfectly.??

Sam's character loves penguins and specifically mentions how they can only dwell with an active support system. 'Atypical' highlights that families are imperfect, they are unpredictable and more often than not atypical but yet, without them everything seems so much more difficult. Through Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Doug’s (Michael Rapaport)?characters we get a glimpse of how different parents deal with the diagnosis and how therapy and support groups can really help in coping with the situation. In the later seasons, creator Robia Rashid also weaved in a track?of Sam's?overachieving, brilliant,?cool sister?Casey?Gardner?(Brigette Lundy-Paine) being the best at what she does and still battling with anxiety. She said it was her way of trying to normalize anxiety and depression amongst teens.?Something that seems like the need of the hour.??

Despite being a good intentioned well-researched series, the show did get some early criticism for?talking?about autism without actually deep diving into it. The creators took this in their stride and made the required corrections. In season two, Sam moves on from looking for a therapist and joins a peer group instead. All the actors in the peer group are?in reality- on?the autistic spectrum. Those scenes feel incredibility?raw and honest and give a deeper insight into the?life of a teen with autism.??

Personal Note: Though they say that no two children with autism are alike and the show has certain flaws in its representation, I'm highly certain that 'Atypical' and Sam Gardner's character will slowly but surely make people more aware about Autism and in some way influence their interactions with people on the spectrum. Atypical starts an important conversation and that in itself is half the battle won. #showreview04 #atypical #netflix #autism #awareness #sonypicturestelevsion