Reviewish: "Atypical" on Netflix
Friday, August 18, 2017 at 9:00AM by Ben Miller
Keil Gilchrist headlines "Atypical" as Sam, a teenager on the spectrum.
Full disclosure: I am not objective.
Generally, a reviewer would attempt an unbiased look at how a piece of entertainment could appeal to the masses. We all know this is not the case in reality. Everyone comes in with their own experiences and assumptions, which we base our opinions on. I want you all to know that I did not review Netflix’s new series Atypical without my own preconceived notions.
My son has autism. I have been wavering on whether I wanted to give Atypical a chance. It could go the This is Us route and over-sentimentalize everything, or it could go down the I Am Sam road and make everything offensively “special”. There is a delicate balance with shows that deal with disabilities. On top of that, I know a whole lot about autism that a casual viewer doesn’t...