Atypical season 2 Episode 5 Review

Atypical follows a teenage boy named Sam who is autistic. As this a blog about autism, I thought I would share my opinions on it, as there are lots of vocal people who don’t like this because it doesn’t display autism correctly. I will say I am bad at emotions, so I do guess until they state what they are feeling. The way I do my reviews is slightly different to most. I will describe each scene and may interject my thoughts or opinions there and then. That is because I would like most people to read this, even if they can’t watch the program. I then sum up and give my overall opinions about the episode/s. On the final episode, I will sum up the whole season as well.

Atypical season 2 Episode 5

It starts at an odd place. It starts with Sam getting his diagnosis. Firstly, the doctor says he’s sorry. I don’t know what for? He then goes on to explain that people with his condition end up living productive and fulfilling lives. You have scraped back some points but not a lot thee doc. It shows Doug’s point of view. Where he just sounds out. Then it shows the year, 2004. Then we see Elsa trying to help Sam as soon as everyone is home. She looks it as now they know that Sam has autism they can now do things to help. Whilst Doug is still trying to process the news. I do get it is a big shock to some people, they are different enough they won’t be able to do things they did with their parents. Elsa is still firing 10,000 words a minute. Although she is talking about the noise cancelling headphones, in 2004 they were still pretty poor though.... Elsa says some more things there are like; early interventions and different therapies such as equine therapy (horse therapy).  Then Doug asks if they should get a second opinion. Elsa flatly turns him down and then continues to ramble on.  Then Doug looks at his cup with a picture of the whole family on it (Casey, Doug, Elsa and Sam).

Then it transitions from that to real time. Doug still looks like he is in shock, although I’m guessing from collapsing to the floor rather than over Sams diagnostic. Elsa comes into frame and says that his prescription is ready. Doug says to Elsa he doesn’t need medication. Elsa points out that having a panic attack is a big deal, it’s the body trying to say slow down. Doug tries to argue back, but Elsa points out the doctor said to take it easy for a few days. So, Elsa tries to invite herself back into the family. Doug keeps saying no until Elsa realises that Doug doesn’t want her in the house. Elsa then says she will sort out all the bedding, then she will leave; although she is still picking up his medication. Elsa then leaves the room, Casey then comes into the room and convinces Doug to let Elsa stay for a few days and Casey promises to continue to torture her still.

*Titles*

We see Casey opening her locker, as Sam takes about the rules of nature. We see Izzie come over to Casey and talk. Izzie mentions that her mum’s ex-boyfriend has moved back in with her.  Then we hear Sam expand what he was talking about. As always, he starts talking about penguins, this time emperor penguins. Sam talks how emperor penguins and skua although are birds are not alike. Then Casey explains to Izzie what has been happening to Doug. Then we see {Nathan} saying that he knew they would be friends and then he talks about something, I don’t understand. So, Izzie and Casey walk together to class. Whilst Sam talks about how polar animals survive that they need creatures like them.

Then it cuts to Sam talking in the peer group meeting.  Sam continues to talk say that if he was a skua that he would probably fly headfirst into an iceberg. Then the whole group is confused about what Sam is talking about.Then Ms Whitaker asks what it has to do with the topic they are talking about today- resources. Sam explains that it doesn’t matter if you have two penguins that are alike you still need resources like fish, krill or a nice mating rock. Ms Whitaker says that it actually does relate.  Ms Whitaker then talks about the unemployment rate of young adults with autism is close to 90%. I am guessing these are US statistics rather than worldwide ones. Even so, it sounds about right. Ms Whitaker asks if anyone has a job, Sam puts his hand up and then speaks. He says that he works in Techtropolis, but he does have one strike. Then a member of the group, Amber, asks what he does with his money, as she is going to buy a defibrillator. Sam says that every other Thursday Bob gives him a check. Then he gives the check over to his mother so she can deposit it. Then Amber picks on him saying that he is a baby for not having his own bank account. Ms Whitaker asks if she would like to rephrase what she has just said to be kinder to Sam. Without thinking, Amber says ‘no’. Ms Whitaker then steps in and says when Sam thinks he is ready I am sure he will have his own bank account. Then Amber adds in ‘but not a defibrillator’.

So, when Sam gets back home Sam goes up to Elsa and asks if he can have his own account. Elsa tells a joke, but neither me or Sam got it. Elsa says he doesn’t need a bank because he has ‘the bank of Elsa’. She gives some reasons why, so Sam ask can he close his account. Elsa then says that she understands that he wants his own bank but doesn’t think it is a good idea. As handling money can be very stressful. Then Doug chips in and say its fine let Sam have a bank account. Elsa asks why? Doug says that Sam is more responsible than most 18-year olds or adults he knows. Doug says he will take him to the bank tomorrow. So, Elsa tries to join them and... fails. With a vote of 2-0. I don’t think Elsa has much hold over the family any more?

Casey then talks to Izzie and {Nathan} saying that someone talked her into eating the quinoa bowl, but she is still hungry. Izzie says she should of ordered the pizza. Casey says that the pizza at Clayton tastes like a stale cracker. Then she points out that her pizza place is “the best”. So, Izzie suggests that they should go there then. Casey tries to block the suggestion, but Izzie makes up mind saying that she and the whole team are coming down Friday. Casey tries again to block the suggestion, but it again doesn’t work. Then {Nate} and Izzie then both leave.

WE then see Doug and Sam at a bank waiting to see someone. Doug tries to make conversation by saying the lobby is calm. Sam says yes, you probably won’t have another panic attack here. Then Doug makes sure Sam understand that he just got very stressed. So, Sam says to recite the four arctic penguins. It may be help if you think are dying, unless you actually are dying in which case it won’t help. Then one of the bankers meet them. Doug asks Sam if he wants him to come along. Sam says no, he should fine. It cuts past everything. The banker asks if he has any questions please feel free to ask.  So, Sam goes to ask some questions. It just shows Sam asking lots of questions, but the Banker is really nice to him and it looks like they understood Sam as well.  

Sam is at Techtroplis talking to Zahid, he is telling him about everything the bank has given him; like how he should spend his money, in a pie chart format. Zahid turns around to him and says that it is propaganda. Zahid tells Sam to invest in cryptocurrency because the banks are corrupt.  Then Sam tells Zahid he really has, and Zahid changes his mind and says to keep it in a bank. Then tries to ask for a loan. Sam says no.

We see Casey and Evan sitting with their feet in the air. Evan complains that it isn’t comfortable. Casey and Evan talk a little, but Evan tries to get a bit closer to Casey, then Elsa opens the door. So, they revert to what they were doing. Casey’s phone then goes off. Casey then explains to Evan that the whole team is excited to come to Don’s on Friday, but she doesn’t want them to because she thinks the whole team will realise how not wealthy she is to the rest of the team. Evan finds out that Izzie’s boyfriend is coming, so he decides to come with Casey to see all of her friends.

We can then see Doug come downstairs with some laundry as he sees the hole in the wall he made when he found out Elsa is cheating on him. When it gets to the laundry room, he is having another one of his panic attacks. So, Doug decides to recite the arctic penguins but only manages to remember three. Then Elsa comes into the room and helps him remember the fourth. She then hands him his uniform and then asks Elsa if she has seen some bills on the side. Elsa says yes, and I paid them. Doug then thanks her then leaves the room, so Elsa celebrates for some reason- don’t ask why I don’t know.

Sam is watching an egg on his phone, Arlo is going around with a hat trying to collect donations for his party. He then comes to Sam would he asks if he would want to. Sam says no, but if it is a charitable even then he is willing to pay up to $700. So, Arlo then goes to sell it as a charitable event and then tries to use the egg to sell it to Sam. So, Sam gives him the $700. I am bad with money, but even I could tell something was going on.  He then comes home and then tells Elsa that there is an event are Arlo’s, but Elsa can’t find that event on any of the school documents by the calendar, so she rings Arlo’s mother… I am guessing this isn’t good?

We then see Doug with Amber and her mother, by an ambulance. Ambers mother thanks him for doing this. Then asks how is doing. Doug says that Elsa is trying to weasel her way back in, by washing clothes, paying bills and cleaning the house. They then joke about sending Elsa over to hers. The mother then talks about her divorce and how her children aren’t as close with their father as she would want them to be. Then she points outs that he won’t be this angry all the time and that she will always be Sam and Casey’s mother. Amber finds lots of needles so Doug goes and see what she is up to.

We see Doug cooking, he then sees Elsa and asks her if she wants some food because he has made too much. Elsa says yes, but she says she gets cleaned up. So, she goes into her old room, I am guessing, and tries to try and make herself more pretty. Elsa then comes downstairs, grabs two glasses and a bottle of wine and pours it into both glasses. She looks in the sink and sees a bowl of food already eaten. Then sees Doug has laid out dinner for her- just her. So, Elsa then undoes some of the things she did like put her top up higher.

We see the whole of Casey’s team is at Don’s pizza place. Even then walks up to the to the everyone and Casey introduces the team to Evan. You can see everyone is laughing and joking without Evan. Then Izzie asks how is Newton high without Casey? So, Evan has to say that he goes to a different high school. Then Casey chips in saying because he is very smart.

Then we hear Sam speak before we see him. Sam says all spices have their bullies. Then we see him walk through the school grounds. Then Sam talks about the skua being a bully to the penguin, as it eats their eggs. He then says gets excited and sees Arlo and says the egg is pipping. Arlo asks if he can look and takes his phone before smashing it to the ground. Arlo then puts his foot on Sam’s phone. Sam asks why would he do that? Arlo says that Elsa rung his mum about the party and they were going to be out of town that night. How then calls Sam a stupid freak and pushes Sam to the ground. Sam then goes to the art room and calls someone, whilst reciting penguins- I wonder why? The call doesn’t go through. Then [enter name] comes along and gives her phone over to Sam so he can watch the egg. We then see the penguin starting to come out of the egg. The person then sits beside Sam and watches the egg pipping.

Evan and Casey then leave the pizza place. Casey thought it went well, but Evan didn’t. Casey tries to apologise for what she said about him. But Evan points out that she is a different person around them and that they know more about her then even he does. Casey thinks that Evan is overreacting he just has to get to know her friends and Evan then says that he doesn’t and that he doesn’t want to be around them.

Sam then comes home and sees Elsa doing some of the housework and asks if she is living here again. Doug replies for Elsa and says yes, she does. Elsa then gets really excited and says that she did really mess thing up, but she is willing to make something up to Doug. Then she offers that they could do couples counselling to help each other out.  Doug then says that it is better for the kids, but they are together anymore and that their relationship is too broken to continue anymore. Sam then shouts out that the egg is hatching so Doug goes over to Sam to watch it with him. Then Elsa comes into the room and watches from a distance. Then we hear Sam speak as Casey comes into the house. Sam talks about how dangerous the world is for a baby penguin. Then Casey watches the penguin hatching with the family. Sam then says what a great day, apart from the point where I lost $700 but what a great day. Elsa, Doug and Casey get dumbstruck as it goes to the credits.

Review: This was a good episode. It shows how some people on the spectrum can be taken advantage of. It also shows how special interest can keep us from having meltdowns or change our mood in the blink of an eye. This shows us the point of view of Doug when Sam got diagnosed, I thought it was well done, but I would like to see Sam’s point of view. Rather than about Sam, this episode seemed to be about Doug which I thought was well overdue as Elsa took the spotlight in the last season and Casey has took it at the start of this season. Doug seems to want to learn from Sam to see things from his point of view; which is nice to see. We also see that he is trying to pick up the pieces of his life. Elsa is around but is more of a house cat than a person in the house. He seems to have a good connection with Amber’s mother, so I wonder if anything will happen there? Evan seems to be pushed out by Casey’s friends, so I wonder what is going to happen between them, it seems odd that Izzie and Nate know more about Casey then what Evan knows.  Anyway, about Sam, he is becoming so independent within the last 5 episodes he has now open a bank and has found out the hard way of trusting everything at face value. The bullying what Sam receives is quite light compared to what some autistics get. That is partly what made me not trust people in the same way. Overall, I can’t really say much more. It was a good episode it filled out a lot of Doug’s character but there are a few strings left dangling especially are Doug and Elsa going to talk to Arlo or his parents?  

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