Binge-ness As Usual?

For some time now, I've been intending to post something about the Netflix TV series Atypical, and not really getting around to it. Though very straight-forward in premise, it defies easy description. Though I enjoyed it very much, I've found it a bit challenging to describe exactly why I think it clicks. But I'll give it a try...

Atypical is a show centered on the family of 18-year-old Sam Gardner, a high school student on the autism spectrum. His parents are going through a rough patch in their marriage. His sister gives him endless grief (while fiercely defending him from anyone else who would do the same). His friend and co-worker at his "Best Buy"-style job is constantly plying him with questionable advice on social situations. And while his therapist is helping him navigate the world of the neurotypical, Sam is developing the wrong idea about the possibilities of their relationship.

Series creator Robia Rashid has worked previously on How I Met Your Mother and The Goldbergs. From those experiences, she's developed her own half-hour show that's part sitcom (new school; no audience or laugh tracks) and part relationship drama. Atypical is never "setup-punchline," but it'll have moments that actually make you laugh out loud in almost every episode. It keeps a light tone, but doesn't shy away from topics like marital infidelity or paralyzing self-doubt. It's sort of a serious show that goes down like a fun and fluffy one.

The show's main strength is its cast. Keir Gilchrist stars as Sam, and he skillfully walks the tightrope of representing autism without it coming across like a caricature. (As the series continues over its so-far three seasons, it's better about introducing new characters played by actors who are actually on the autism spectrum.) Jennifer Jason Leigh is given most of the heavy lifting as Sam's mother Elsa; her hyper-controlling character is likeable while often daring to be unlikable, and there's no vanity in Leigh's performance.

Michael Rappaport plays Sam's father Doug, and Brigette Lundy-Paine his sister Casey. Both are given interesting story lines of their own as seasons unspool; before long, the series is not only about Sam, and their characters are used to great effect. Comic relief is delivered regularly by Nik Dodani and Jenna Boyd (though they too are given more serious moments at times). And regularly, guest characters that spark well in the mix are brought back for more in later episodes.

Though Atypical is not what most people would classify as "binge-worthy" TV, I flew through the existing 30 episodes at a truly brisk pace. A fourth and final season is said to be coming in 2021 -- though it will no doubt be delayed in its production by COVID. Whenever the last episodes do drop, I expect I'll breeze through them at the speed Netflix seems to normally demand of their subscribers. It's not flashy, or super-high-concept, but it's very well made and enjoyable. I give Atypical an A-.