Hearing your perspectives on things and experiences and reviews Is always nice. If I was more comfortable, I’d share those aspects of myself, you doing so is respectable
My wife and I started to watch the show together, and she was not able to finish the first session with me. I did finish it, and have some mixed thoughts. I also saw myself in a few of the characters, in some moments. One of the episodes that I really felt was when one character thought he was 'masking' enough to not be found out. But in fact, he was not ever masking "enough." And that hit him hard (and me for that matter). I've felt like that most of my whole life, always thinking and hoping that no one would know I was not normal. Only to find out years latter, that most of them knew I was not normal/typical. Amway, I give the show 2.5 out of 5 stars. I'll watch the next session when it comes out, to see how what happens next. But after that I'm not sure I'll keep watching.
I also didn't relate that much to the main characters. The most I felt related to that side character who wanted to be with violet and said "what's the point in being normal anyways". We didn't see that much of him but he was the one I could relate to. For me the main characters are a bit focused on one trait. Violet wants to find her love and breaks down easily. Jack is smart, but rude and can't show empathy very well, the other guy (I've lost his name) is easily sensory overloaded and afraid to go out with a lack of social skills and personal hygiene. For me it's like they intentionally gave them flaws so they have something to work on and so they represent parts of what makes an autistic person. I thought that they were authentic but also not authentic. Kind of too simplistic but just a bit. They are right between feeling real and not real. I was able to relate to many problems they had, especially the wish to fit in and be loved. I still struggle between Wanting to seem normal and wanting to be authentic. But I'm sometimes not even sure how I am authentic because I used masking so much. Well back to the series. I can see it's made to entertain an audience and kind of represent autistic people. So it also had much drama, up and downs and things like that. And somehow to me I would have liked to see more normal authentic life without all the drama. I would have been able to connect better to the characters. Although they would risk being a bit boring in times it would have been more personal to me and at the same time it would have made a bigger impact with its messages
Honestly, I have never seen the shoe before but you definitely got me convinced to watch it. It’s good that the show’s crew was able to be inclusive with autistic actors while some shows don’t. But there’ll certainly be ups and downs when it comes to portraying characters who are autistic. Great to hear your views on this, Stephanie 🙂💛💛
I really did not like this show. For me it set up the notion that autistic people are burdens on society that can't do anything for themselves, especially with the way the show treats Harrison and Violet. Also really was not a fan of how heavily infantilized the two were.
THISSSSS!!! As an autistic person myself, I felt horrible after watching this show. I felt like such a burden. Glad I wasn’t the only one who thought so🙃
I agree. And it made it seem like autistic people are super self absorbed which is not the case. I do know some people with ASD that may present as the genius guy. But, truly most of us want to please. Sometime we are too giving and caring. I think the women in the group home would probably do anything for her brother's approval in reality and not fight him so much. That is a stereotype- that Aspies are all about ourselves which isn't the case. We may even forget ourselves so we can fit in and please the ones we love.
I watched the first 3 episodes, but found myself slowly resenting it. I noticed the feeling of the characters being just a little off happens when the characters are written by autism parents and carers. The behavior is there, but the person just doesn't seem real. Their reactions to things don't seem genuine, they don't really seem to be learning anything. This is why I think autism speaks' involvement was problematic. I've also found Violet being constantly abused by her brother distressing and it's the main thing that got me to stop watching it. Neither the carer, nor the brother actually explain anything to her. The brother just takes her phone with no explanation, constantly berates her to everyone and when she's finally having the expected meltdown, the carer tells him "don't worry, we're all doing our best". How is she supposed to learn people are gonna take advantage of her if no one tells her?? I'm sure there's a redemption arc for her brother by the end of the season, but this wasn't meant to be about him. Dunno, maybe I'll give it another go seeing how quite a few autistic people liked it.
I wasn't happy with the brother either. I will say that it wasn't just about his behavior with Violet. He treated his girlfriend similarly. He wasn't able to express his feelings appropriately, had lots of stress and anxiety and felt a heavy weight of responsibility for Violet and so that seeped out with Violet, with his girlfriend, even with the support worker. Also, I think the show was trying to show how although Violet is an adult, her brother does not/cannot see her as an adult and the way she's been raised (which actually may be how he was raised by their parents -- not explicitly talking about sex or relationships) and talked to by her family hampers her development as an adult. The brother was also struggling with how to tell Violet that although she's physically attractive and a nice person that the NT guys she is crushing on might not see her as a serious prospect because she's autistic. He doesn't want to crush her. At the same time Violet isn't accepting of the autistic prospects he and the support worker try to steer her towards. I also think that when he did try to explain things to Violet in his inadequate way that she didn't believe him as 1) what her character wants besides sex is to be independent and not controlled by others and 2) he had no proof for what he said other than conventions she doesn't understand and experiences she hasn't had and that her immediate friends haven't had. Does she have the context to understand and accept that the people who seem to like her and be interested in her really aren't - that they are just being polite and performative? How do you point that out to someone? She believes it when her co-workers give excuses for not coming to her party, for example.
They also constantly throw in your face how they "got autistic actors". Bullshit. Although Sue and Albert are actually autistic, their characters were horribly misrepresented. Rick's character was portrayed in a slightly more flattering light, but the problem is that Rick is a neurotypical who diagnosed himself with autism so he could use it as a platform to make more money (sympathy bucks).
I really enjoyed the show! Though I do agree that something about it felt muted and it wasn't a show that I HAD to watch the next episode right away but I still really enjoyed it. And although I didn't feel like they represented ME quite well enough, I loved the diversity of the characters. I want to watch the show a second time soon to see if I can get more out of it a second time. I think it might be harder for for me to relate to the characters initially because I don't know all about their backstory and it isn't the same as mine. But I really really hope they make a second season!!! I think there is a lot of potential for this show. Or for shows like it.
As others said, it was hard for me to relate to any of the main characters. The most I could relate to Jack. I kind of liked that they tried to break with stereotyping autistics as just the "weird professor" type. On the other hand the three main characters and everything that happens around them is very loud and chaotic. It was exhausting to keep watching. And somehow I can't shake the feeling that this series was made with mostly neurotypicals in mind. In retrospect it feels like those teenage movies with big parties and big drama, sent through google translate to get an autistic version of the story. I see the effort that was made but the series didn't feel right for me.
I like the show. I am autistic myself. I know people are disappointed, but I like that the show doesn't make us comfortable. Keep in mind it is also for entertainment. Good actors and actresses. Tell you the truth, I have been a burden on people my whole life due to being autistic. I get it. Life isn't pretty. No one cared ever before, why would I expect anyone to care after this show? Never been rich or got support. Just straight ghetto. The show to me rocks. Those autistic programs can kiss my ass. They see me, tall and black they rather label me a retard or something else although I was diagnosed with autism.
That's a really insightful and thoughtful analysis, thank you! I was surprised at the critical aspects of your review, personally I love the show, I think it's amazing, unlike anything I have ever seen before. To me the characters are quite extreme, but I can relate to each of them in different ways. (I'm not formally diagnosed but quite late in life I've come to realise that I'm almost certainly autistic.) I have taken your comments on board however, and what you are saying makes sense. I've also been very interested to read some of the comments on your post. I guess I have mostly connected with the show on an emotional level; it's at times laugh-out-loud funny but also extremely moving. The scenes between Jack and Eyatomi where he is trying to work out how to connect emotionally with a potential girlfriend were fantastic. It felt like a more extreme version of situations I have been in. The final scene in episode 7 had me in tears, it was so moving. Jack connecting emotionally by reciting the words of a song: been there, done that, should buy a t-shirt. I do love that there are so many autistic people in the show, including the three main characters. The showrunner while not autistic himself does have an autistic child. So it's great to see autistic people not being portrayed by neurotypicals, that immediately gives the show some authenticity. It's really interesting to see your perspective, and what you were saying makes sense but I guess that I've connected with the show on an emotional rather than intellectual level. It's extremely well done in terms of acting and writing and story, and great entertainment , and I love it for that, but also I was able to identify with these characters in a way that I never have before, so I think the show overall is wonderful and I do very much hope there will be a second season.
As an autistic person myself, I'm glad to see autistic people being portrayed by actual autistics. Rain Man hasn't aged well, as Dustin Hoffman is a neurotypical. That being said, there are certain aspects of the show I didn't like. The first is the main characters - they're caricatures of the 3 most common autism archetypes. Harrison is extremely naive and fearful. Jack is an antisocial pseudo-sociopath. Violet is explosive and desperate to be normal. You've basically got Manchild, Jerk, and Meltdown.
Unfortunately, Stephanie... I disagree with you again. I think we just don't like the same forms of entertainment. I really loved It's Gonna Be OK or whatever it's called because I thought it was hilarious. And I love this show too, even though I'm level-1, I can see myself in all of them and I've only watched it for 5-minutes. I'll say that this show is the best depiction of how I am. The only difference is that I don't need an aid.
I came here to see if this was a solid portrayel of autistic people b4 I got into it since tintok is bombarding me with clips for this show lol. Looks like it's a very mixed and meh bag. I'm not autistic so I try not to get wrapped up in bad representations just like how we have so many bad reps for black people. Could anyone recommend some good autistic portrayals on shows? I've been let down too many times by a show like atypical which I hear is the worst rep
I enjoyed the show. It was a good show! But, it wasnt great or extremely attention grabbing for me. I really enjoyed the main actor's performances and i like that they portrayed different types of autistic experiences. But it feels a bit watered down or toned down like you said. It feels more like a show written with neurotypical people in mind. So like it feels like they're almost dumbing down autistic traits to them "understand" autistic people?? If that makes sense.
