“Antarctica is the most remote continent on the planet. It has 90 percent of the world’s ice, but it’s considered a desert because the annual rainfall is only about eight inches. You wouldn’t think of it as a dessert when you looked at it. That’s why I like it. It’s not what it looks like.” Released on August 11, 2017, the Netflix original television (TV) series Atypical portrays the struggles of a family of four with an autistic member as they overcome social conventions and expectations. This arduous journey sends the ultimate message that love and confidence are the keys to keeping the iceberg of the family afloat.

Currently in its third season, Atypical is a bildungsroman series centered around the life of Sam Gardner, an 18-year-old teenager with autism. The series encapsulates the challenges and changes that arise as he attends high school and enters university. As of now, Sam is on the search for self-identity and independence; the old Sam that had to rely on his family for everything is no longer.

Although the main character of this series is fundamentally Sam, Atypical does not solely focus on this character; it also explores the problems arising for other members in the family. The show opens with the initial issue of Sam’s reliance on his family and the family’s effort to mold their lives around him. This, however, later extends to a more deep and personal conflict for each of them that emerges after Sam slowly becomes more independent. As each family member overcomes their struggles, they discover a new part of themself.

A New Approach to Autism on TV

Be it accurate or exaggerated, there have been several interpretations of people with autism on TV throughout the years. One of the most representative and recent TV series that illustrates such a character has been The Good Doctor. In this series based on a South Korean drama, the main character is a young surgical resident who has autism as well as Savant syndrome, which means that he excels in memory abilities but has difficulties when applying social skills. This character essentially represents the extremely intelligent part of the autistic community on a somewhat exaggerated note.

Another similar characterization can be found in the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Although the creators deny that Sheldon has autism, many of its audience members have claimed that his actions correlate to those of autistic people. If autism were to be acknowledged only through these examples, the conclusion would be that autism is associated with abnormally high intelligence and a challenging but successful career.

Atypical takes a slightly different approach from other mainstream TV series. It portrays a hormonal teenager who is facing environmental changes as he commences his own journey towards independence. Although afraid of these changes, he puts effort into accepting and adapting to the shifting world that comes with growing up.

Furthermore, Atypical tries to illustrate the psychological issues that emerge in autistic people in certain situations. In other words, the show tries a more direct approach with the objective of raising awareness of the disability itself, creating a setting and plot revolving around such symptoms. Atypical, unlike other series, attempts to incorporate a more thorough and diverse perspective of what autism is, which is the reason why the show has mostly received positive reviews.

First Step to Self-Discovery

As mentioned previously, the plot of the series revolves around Sam. He is the main reason for all the events that occur, especially those relating to the family. This makes Sam both the tornado and the pacifier of the family. Therefore, the moment he decides to set on his journey to independence, the family system that was established around Sam crumbles. From that moment on, as the family’s focus is no longer required to be on Sam, issues start to emerge from all members’ lives. Despite these changes, however, Sam undergoes new experiences that were previously difficult to have as an autistic kid, slowly joining society. Love, friendship, academics, and dreams do not have to be foreign anymore.

Atypical does not solely narrate Sam’s adventures, but also explores the life of his younger sister, Casey. In the show, she is the epitome of the mainstream media portrayal of “woman’s power” – with the quote literally on her wall. However, this characteristic is not innate, but is rather built as the plot progresses. Like her brother, Casey also has issues as a teenage girl such as sexuality, love, friendship and bullying. These are revealed as her brother slowly becomes independent and she starts to have more time for herself.

The Key Is Love

What is the core of the problem? Where does it all begin? In addition to the lives of Sam and Casey, Atypical also illustrates the life of their parents. They are, in fact, the hidden Big Bang of the show, the ones that rupture the harmony. Although Sam does have a huge impact on the changes that occur, he is not the initiator. It turns out to be the mother, Elsa, who willingly but unwisely gives up her family, ultimately disrupting the peace.

Due to this event, throughout the show, she tries to redeem herself and glue the broken pieces together. Despite this initial betrayal, the family’s love for each other is what allows all members to stick together. It is what allows all members to live under the same roof. In many ways such as this one, Atypical demonstrates that love is universal and a fundamental factor for happiness. The fact that the concept of love is understood by Sam, who has difficulties understanding others’ feelings due to autism, further proves that love is essential, as it is something that transcends all differences.

Like Sam’s love for penguins, love never stops for the Gardner family: family love, friendship love, relationship love, and so on. Despite any errors that occur, love keeps the ice floating. Sometimes it is thin, and at other times it is thick as an iceberg; however, it is always there, and that is what matters.

Television Series Information

Genre: Comedy-Drama, Coming-of-Age

Creator: Robia Rashid

Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Rapaport

Running Time: 26 to 38 minutes

Streaming Platform: Netflix