Atypical

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 11, 2017
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 163 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 148 out of 163
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 163
  3. Negative: 7 out of 163
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User Reviews

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  1. Nightmare_L
    Aug 18, 2017
    0
    Atypical is a show that claims to be about an autistic lead character and how neurodiversity is a good thing, but in reality it is yet another glurge-ridden stereotypical "woe is me its so hard to raise autistic kids" spiel made by non-autistic people who don't care at all about what actually autistic people think.

    The show straight up justifies abusive relationships and bigotry. Sam,    Atypical is a show that claims to be about an autistic lead character and how neurodiversity is a good thing, but in reality it is yet another glurge-ridden stereotypical "woe is me its so hard to raise autistic kids" spiel made by non-autistic people who don't care at all about what actually autistic people think.

    The show straight up justifies abusive relationships and bigotry. Sam, the protagonist, is being abused by his mother, his therapist breaks confidentiality about his case and he have very unhealthy ideas about dating that nobody thinks to try and help him understand are wrong. Its one of those shows where "quirky" means "dysfunctional family on the brink of implosion", and cringe is the go-to tool of expression. It also peppers in a unhealthy amount of racist and sexist remarks and plays them off as cute too, which is not funny.

    The show also constantly makes fun of Sam's autistic traits, and he is portrayed as a burden on his family that is somehow responsible for his mother's abusive behavior. This is not a positive portrayal, this is creating a caricature for cheap laughs and even cheaper tugs at the sympathy heart string for other abusive or neglectful parents so they will feel less bad about being horrible to their kids.

    If you care at all about autistic people or want a show about how its okay to not fit into the usual definition of normal, stay far away from this. Also, please, listen to actually autistic people when they say something is not a accurate or positive portrayal. This is no more positive or accurate than Rain Man was 30 years ago.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
37
#37 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    Aug 14, 2017
    70
    In its finest moments Atypical is warmhearted, sincere, funny, and shrewd. It’s hard to tell whether its inconsistency is due to a blurry conception of what tone it should strike, or whether producers simply wanted to appeal to as broad a swathe of potential viewers as possible--the show skews so wildly from slapstick to gritty drama to teen soap to family sitcom that it should come with Dramamine.
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  2. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Aug 13, 2017
    90
    Extraordinary.
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  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: John Hugar
    Aug 11, 2017
    33
    This show desperately wants to get its depiction of autism right, and wants to pat itself on the back for doing so. All of which makes the uninspired characterization of Sam all the more infuriating.
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