The second season of any TV show is by far the most important. Its job is to expand on the world introduced to you in the previous season. But more importantly, it helps viewers decide whether or not to keep watching. “Sophomore slump” is a term used when a second effort fails to live up to the first. This term can be applied to many shows today, including 13 Reasons Why’s controversial and mundane season two. But there is one show that this condescending term cannot be applied to: Atypical.
This season, the Gardener family deals with the aftermath of the affair-sized bomb dropped on them, and struggles to rebuild the bridges that were burned in the previous season. Everyone in the family is forced to adapt to the circumstances produced by the challenges found in season one. These challenges include marital issues, a love triangle and even dismembered body parts. Sam (Keir Gilchrist), the show’s main character, is faced with new roadblocks, including the fact that he not only lost his mom, but also his sister. But don’t worry, neither is dead, this season just calls for each character to think for themselves and do what's best for them. Atypical finds a way to beautifully represent the many difficult choices that teens are faced with today, especially in school. The most refreshing thing about this show is the fact that it corrected last season’s mistakes. Season one got some backlash for its portrayal of a character on the autistic spectrum and most importantly, for its lack of actors who are on the spectrum themselves. However, members of the autistic community have spoken out about their relief after watching the second season. Not only was Sam’s autism no longer the center of the family’s issues, but the show included many actors who are on the spectrum. To me, this is Atypical’s most redeeming factor and is why I will continue to watch. What made the Netflix original stand out last year was it’s brilliant use of dry humor and pure innocence. And moving into this season, these qualities were perfected. Atypical remains on the top of my favorites list this Fall because of not only its desire to swim against the current, but its attention to detail when it comes to pleasing the viewer. |