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Reviews
Atypical: Antarctica (2017)
Great Episode!
I loved the pilot episode of Atypical. It does a great job of introducing Sam and his daily navigation through life while being surrounded by neuro normative people. The show communicates autism in a very realistic way which I appreciate. I especially appreciate how this episode of Atypical depicts Sam's family. He has a father that struggles to connect with him, as they have nothing in common. He has an overprotective mother that fears him trying new things as she is afraid of the risk that comes along with it. He has a sister whose entire personality is shaped by her need to protect not only her brother but other people that are mistreated. Atypical shows how the world of autism shapes family life and communicates that in a way many people can empathize with. Autism not only affects the autistic person, but also the people around them. Atypical demonstrates this to the fullest extent in the debut episode. In under 45 minutes, it is able to set the tone for the entire series. I have no complaints! Looking forward to watching more!
The Good Doctor: Burnt Food (2017)
Pilot Episode
This was a great pilot episode. I like how the episode opens by bringing the viewer into the world of autism. When Shaun walks on the street, a white straight line appears, showing the audience a visual representation of how his brain functions. This imagery continues throughout the episode. Then, as he walks through the airport, the sound volume and intensity in the show models what those sounds actually sound like to Shaun from a sensory standpoint. The board room meeting scene also shows the challenges autistic people face with how others perceive them. The board immediately questions the decision of Shaun's hiring because he is autistic, even though he meets all of the standards and qualifications of the job. To convince the rest of the board, Shaun's savant syndrome had to be brought up, he had to save someone's life, and socially communicate with the board, which may be a challenge to many autistic people. Just to get the job, Shaun had to do a lot more than other candidates may have had to do. The show does a great job in showing how Shaun's extraordinary intelligence and struggles with normative social communication skills come to a crossroads in important situations. This really helps the viewer empathize with persons with autism. At the end of the episode, we see Shaun finally get approved as a resident. Yet, he is still not accepted, as he is told he doesn't belong there by a coworker. This shows that the challenges autistic people face don't end after a good day, and that they are constantly forced into proving themselves to society daily. Nevertheless, this pilot episode did a great job at building awareness for autism and communicating autism in a positive but realistic way. I'm looking forward to watching more.