What captivated viewers most during the first season of Netflix original series, "Atypical", was the show’s innate simplicity. The series steers away from over-dramatization, instead capturing small moments of an ordinary, run-of-the-mill family.
"Atypical" follows the story of Sam Gardner, a teenager on the spectrum, and the effect that his autism has on the rest of his family. While season one's narrative primarily revolves around Sam’s various attempts to navigate his way through high school, the second season expands its scope, focusing on all members of the Gardner family.
Season two of "Atypical" surpassed my expectations -- instead of focusing solely on Sam’s autism, the series delves into the struggles faced by all members of the Gardner family. What struck me most about this shift was the decision to make Sam’s story uplifting rather than portraying him as a victim. Specifically, Sam’s journey in season two engages the viewer so that we find ourselves celebrating Sam’s accomplishments rather than getting caught up in the inherent struggles associated with being autistic.
Each of the ten episodes is divided equally among the family’s various struggles. From Casey’s obstacles transferring to a school where she never seems to fit in, to Elsa and Doug’s marital difficulties, the show illustrates that dark moments are shared by all, not just those on the spectrum. "Atypical" subtly reinforces the idea that we are all trying to find our way in the world, that Sam is not the only outcast, and that his struggles are actually not far afield from those facing his non-autistic peers.
"Atypical" revolves around characters in Sam’s life who lift him up, not those who bring him down. Whether it’s his on-and-off girlfriend, Paige, walking with Sam in the hallway when the chaos of school gets to be too much for him, or his closest friend, Zahid, with whom he works at Technopolis, who helps Sam cope with the changes he will soon face in college, the show chooses to emphasize Sam’s growth as a character as opposed to the setbacks he faces. While season two does not shy away from Sam’s anxiety when put in overwhelming situations, these dramatic moments never feel out of place or unrealistic.
That is not to say the show does not have its flaws. For instance, the decision to keep in the cast Sam’s therapist -- whom he no longer sees -- felt unnecessary. Her personal issues failed to add anything to the show’s overall narrative and often seemed out of place, and interrupted the otherwise fluid structure of each episode.
Despite these minor shortcomings, season two reinforces that teenagers on the spectrum can and do lead very meaningful, successful lives. At the end of the season, Sam attends his high school graduation, preparing to attend a local university where he will study science illustration, an opportunity to bring together two of his favorite passions: art and science. Sam even finds the courage to speak in front of his entire graduating class, an enormous accomplishment considering that public speaking had long been one of his greatest fears.
By the show’s final episode, Sam’s mother reads to him a list that she had made when Sam was much younger, containing her hopes of all that he might be able to accomplish one day. Reading it aloud, Sam acknowledges that every item on that list had been checked off. This poignant moment epitomizes all that "Atypical" represents: the idea that the seemingly impossible can be achieved, even if the road to get there happens to be a little messy at times.