Atypical (2017–2021)
9/10
Beautifully warm and funny
12 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is a show about the everyday life of a family with an 18 year old boy with autism. Not the extreme kind, but the kind that makes it just bearable for him to go to school and keep a part time job - and wanting girls hehe.

I fell in love with all family members (and a few others) in the very first episode, and the love just grows. I have to give kudos to the writers and actors for portraying a "normal" family with such real challenges given their situation, in such a realistic and beautiful way. Nothing is overly exaggerated like most other sitcoms, and this is not comparable to the Big Bang Theory and Sheldon. This is far more realistic, and thus touching. It's not funny because of punchlines, it's funny because of situations. And no background laughter.

Sam - the main character with autism - is brutally honest (I guess, like Sheldon), and is (like most people on the spectrum) highly fixated on a few key subjects, that he naturally is an expert at. Que laughter! :D But he seems real. His challenges are in fact very real, and I know this first hand from having a brother at his age with autism as well. It is clear that the creators of this show has some deep personal experience with this condition (sorry if that's the wrong term to use:S English is not my first language). To me, this ads a huge emotional thumbs up.

Whether or not you are invested in the subject of autism, I will be shocked if you don't fall for this show. The story follows all the characters, and so the show doesn't become too monotone in it's depiction. We follow the younger sister's challenges with having a big brother that depends on her at school, along with sports and guys, and the parents and their challenges with getting time for themselves, and dealing with their social group as the ones with an autistic kid. And a whole bunch of other things.

When I am watching this show, I feel like I am watching the evolution of sitcoms that, instead of making foolish situations and punchlines with background laughter that drive the show through humor, I'm instead learning and reflecting and smiling my way through each episode with, if possible, deeper respect for all people that have to make special sacrifices in order to create their every day lives. I almost feel like a better person, and kinda want to thank the creators for that.

I hope this places your expectations exactly where they should be, and that you put it on and enjoy it as much as I did! :)
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