Atypical Episode 7 & 8 Review

Here is my last review for season 1 of Atypical. As always, I have filtered some of it, so everyone can at least read it. They way I do reviews if you don’t know is I break them episode down scene by scene trying to give you the important information and the overall tone of each episode, minus me breaking out of the third wall at times, like a tic but wordy and less annoying. I then put what I think below it but seeing as this is the last one of the season I have also spoke about the season as a whole and what I think of it completely.

Atypical Episode 7

It starts with Elsa and other members of the autism group help prepare for the silent dance. They all talk about different phases their child is going through, one or two were a little funny. Then the leader then pipes up and get a bit pretentious about ‘self-care’ she asks Elsa if they have done any self-care lately, it flashes over her ‘time with’ Nick. Elsa then says she has and she has taken up bowling. It’s an odd type of bowling but I guess it could count in an odd way. [Also look at one of the mums, her necklace is the autism symbol it’s so good to see the idea of autism has even affected what the clothing the actors are wearing].  Anyway, onwards with the review. The leader pipes up again and says that after the affect it has had on Elsa that she wants to take up bowling. 

It then goes to Sam talking about new rules when having a girlfriend and how he doesn’t like it. It goes over to Sherice and Casey they talk about how Sherice is going to be ‘abandoned’ when Casey leaves to go to Clayton Prep; but Casey thinks she isn’t getting in.  They then see Paige putting up posters for the silent dance, with Sam watching. Paige explains what the silent dance is; mainly that it is an autism friendly dance that everyone can enjoy rather than most people. Casey is then taken aback by it being slightly ‘impressed’ by what Casey has done for Sam. Sherice and Casey then leave after things between Sam and Paige seem to get a little awkward. Paige then pressurises Sam to know if he loves her within a time frame, where he will be in front of Paige’s whole family. Sam looks confused and like he’s over processing that last bit.  

It briefly goes to Julia talking to Miles’s voicemail. She talks about her and her pregnancy. She then goes to turn the TV on but then get upset because Miles took the TV and chucks the remote.

It then goes to Techtropolis where Zahid is selling something then Sam barges in and gets Zahid’s attention. Zahid unpacks some kind of trauma, I’m guessing. Sam asks Zahid how he will know if he knows if he loves Paige. Zahid is not helpful by saying you just know.

Casey & Evan are making out until Elsa interrupts them. Evan then leaves as Elsa has made things awkward. Elsa then makes Casey uncomfortable when she starts wanting to give her ‘the talk’ Casey says no instantly. Elsa then leaves a number of awkward times. 

Sam is in the therapy room talks about how some rules change.  It goes to Elsa looking at her calendar/day planner and finds she has a free day. She asks Sam if he wants to do something with her, Sam says no. So, she turns to the one character we can count on; Nick to see if he wants to do something instead. He says to come to the bar. Not before seeing Casey’s comment on the planner. Elsa then goes to the bar she finds out that it’s an impromptu memorial as one of Nicks friends has died and Nick wants her for support.   

Sam goes and meets Paige in school to help make decorations. She talks about how she needs bigger decorations, so Sam volunteers Doug to make an igloo. [Cuts to Doug and Sam at home] Doug asks if there is anything he can do? So, Sam asks him if he knows if he loves Paige. Sam starts to get flustered, but Doug manages to calm him down. He Then gives him three things to see if he loves Paige. So, Sam tries to follow the rules to see if they are right. So, he ticks the first one. Then whilst ticking of the second he asks why he can’t talk more about Antarctica. He then figures out that he loves Paige, just as Julia walks through the door of the Techtropolis, where he is at the moment, Sam goes to offer help and Julia gets a shock as she forgets he works there and Sam talks about how he can use the new trollies. 

We then see Casey at home as she is getting off the phone with someone. As she ends the call she starts dancing Doug, who is in the kitchen, asks what the problem is, and Casey says she got into Clayton prep. Then Casey and Doug celebrate a little she then chooses to ride her bike to see Evan.

It goes back to Sam and Julia as Sam has put her new Tv in her car. They both talk awkwardly for a while then Sam mentions the dance then Sam does some weird street dancing. So, Julia shows Sam how to slow dance in the car park because Sam admits he doesn’t know how to. In that moment he realises he loves Julia more than Paige. Then Julia realises she has overstayed slightly and leaves.

Elsa then turns up at the bar to talk to Nick. Elsa tries to end thing off...again. It than goes outside with Elsa still trying to call things off with Nick. She does, but first she has to give Nick a goodbye kiss. Then see Casey witnessing that kiss as she cycles by. Elsa then leaves Casey then gets to Evans place and they get bit ‘closer’, but as always nothing is shown. It then comes back after they have finished. Casey just looks numb, like something is on her mind. Evan tries to get a response from her, but she says nothing then the credits roll. 

Review: It was a good episode. It started to close a lot of ends which had made, and it didn’t really open any new ones. It was nice to see that they had done their research and made the clothing fit what some parents, mainly mothers, would wear like the autism necklace but also depending on where they were on the spectrum they looked more or less run down. Also, if you have lots of experience with autism you can gauge where the parent’s children are at from when they talk what phases they are in. It is nice that they stopped Elsa’s affair arc because by the end it seemed a bit corny, but I do like that Casey saw it as she finds interesting way to get back at people. Although I would like to of seen if they thought Sam or even Christopher should have witnessed Elsa having the affair.  As Sam could of have a point where he couldn’t have kept the secret or Christopher just says it in front of Doug. I know it was setting it up, but it is good to see Casey going to Clayton prep school as Sam seems semi-dependent on her, so it would be good to see how Sam grows from there.

Atypical Episode 8

It starts off with Sam saying something inside his hand in this case Julia. I think we’ve remember what happened a couple episodes ago. Anyway, as we hear Sam voice inside his head we see Paige’s whole family. Then Sam shouts Julia’s name the whole table goes quiet. Paige covers for him slightly. She asks Sam is okay? Sam replies no, because he no longer loves her- in front of the whole table- Who says autistics aren’t subtle 

Then the Titles

Sam speaks about how he has learnt a lot about love this year. Whilst showing Casey not answering Evans phone call. Elsa then comes into Casey’s Room, but Casey shuts the door in her face.

We then see Sam walking into Julia’s office Julia a bit surprised asks what Sam is doing there as he doesn’t have an appointment today. Sam then admits he likes Julia and tries to give a gift- Chocolate strawberries. Julia asks if he broke in to her house with chocolate strawberries. Sam kinda admits to it but says the window was open, so he didn’t technically break in to her house. Julia asks him to leave. Sam then doesn’t instead he talks about how he feels, not the best idea I would of thought. Julia gets upset, she says it (I will say now I didn’t realise, so I can’t blame Sam) and starts ranting and talking very fast at Sam. Sam can’t keep up with what Julia is saying. Sam then starts to sound. Sam starts to recite penguins quietly. We have been seeing Julia’s mouth move but with no sound since Sam started to sound out. We can see Julia realise that what she was doing was wrong, she tries to apologies, but it is too late, and Sam runs out of her office still reciting penguins. You then see things in the view of Sam whilst going through what I would call a small meltdown, but it may be big to someone else. Sam then gets on to the bus, the bus driver realises something isn’t right, but he carries on driving the bus. Sam sits down on the bus he then starts rocking and reciting penguins louder then it gets worse and he gets louder and starts rocking more violently. It gets to a point where most of the passengers are getting scared and it show Sam on the floor of the bus having a big meltdown.  

It cuts to black for a couple of seconds. It comes back after everything, but we are with Elsa and Doug’s perspective. The bus driver is panicking as he thinks it is something he did. Doug assures him it wasn’t to do with him. Whilst Elsa helps calm Sam down, we then hear Sam talk about volcanoes in Antarctica and how they are hidden pockets of warmth. We then see Sam wake up in his room, with Elsa and Doug around him. 

We then see Julia walk out to her car then Doug confronts her and asks how could let that happen. Julia burst into tears and keeps trying to say how sorry she is. Doug then stops her seeing Sam.

Evan then knocks on Casey’s door, Casey answers Casey says she has been really busy, in a completely quiet house. Evan ask if everything is okay? Casey then says yes. Even then tries to take something back what he said from last episode. Casey then gets annoyed and shuts the door in his face. We hear Sam talk about snow as Casey comes and see Sam in his room. We see Sam watching something on a laptop, Casey comes in to his room and ask what is he watching? Sam says Frozen Planet. Then Sam explains what the program is, about and what episode. Casey says that it sounds awful but still watches it with him. Sam then talks more about snow and how it absorbs sound and then that he wants it to snow and never stop.

It’s now a new day and Zahid has come with the wireless headphones for the dance to Sam’s house. As Elsa is doing all the girls hair dos for free. Zahid doesn’t know what do with himself when he finds the house full of girls. Elsa tells him to put all the headphones in the garage, Zahid looks a little sad when he couldn’t flirt with all the girls. Casey comes downstairs and ask why she is doing this as Sam isn’t going to the dance. Elsa says she made a commitment and she is sticking with it. Casey then give a snide comment about that she doesn’t stick with all her commitments. Elsa pulls her to one side and asks what the matter with her is and that she herself hasn’t done anything. Casey then does another snide comment about how Elsa is ‘perfect’ then leaves. 

Zahid comes in to see Sam and asks why he is wrapped up in a certain way. Sam says that he caused a scene on the bus. Zahid still tries to pull him out of bed to hit on girls. Sam says to Zahid what happened with Julia and Paige. I have to copy this bit from Zahid “Oh man chicks are the worse, now let’s meet a whole bunch of them”. Then we hear Paige shout from the front garden. First Doug comes out and asks for Elsa to come out. Then Sam & Zahid come out. As Paige is chucking his things all over the garden. Then all the girls in the house come out to watch. Sam then says Paige seems mad to Doug, he agrees as Paige makes a bit more of a scene. Then Paige gets emotional about a penguin necklace. Sam mentions, whilst Paige is talking, that most people think that people with autism don’t have empathy, but that isn’t true. Once he knows someone is upset he really feels for them- maybe more than neurotypicals. Paige then pulls out a massive toy penguin, which was going to be his Christmas present. Then Paige umm well… slits it throat and all the stuffing falls out. Paige then goes to her car then drives away. Then Elsa comes out. It then goes to Sam talking to Zahid saying that he might have to apologise to Paige, Zahid adds it needs to be a big apology. 

Casey then walks into the bar; where Nick works at. Nick is at the bar, Casey tries to order a drink, but he says no, then she shows him ‘her’ ID and shows Elsa’s. Nick then panics and gives her a drink- a lemon soda. Casey says that she saw them, but Nick says she ended things be Elsa wanted to be with her family. Casey tries to get answers, but Nick doesn’t have any. Casey then pours the drink over the counter then lobs the glass and leaves the bar. 

We then see Sam getting ready for the dance. As he makes a plan about how to find and get Paige’s necklace back to her. He also ropes in Zahid to help.  Zahid then takes a photo of Sam and sends it to Elsa. We then see Elsa receiving the text with Doug. 

Doug then asks why does Zahid have her number? She gave it him in case of emergencies, but he keeps sending her selfies when he is bored. Doug says would you think we would make it to a school dance? Elsa adds to it saying especially after yesterday, meaning it was a big meltdown even for Sam. They compliment each other on how good they were together. We then see Elsa admitting that it has been hard for her for Sam not to be depending on her but rather depending on Doug instead. Doug then admits that he knows about Julia before everything kicked off and that he didn’t say because he didn’t want to lose Sams trust. AS it has always been Elsa and Sam. Elsa then say its always been her and Sam because Doug left. Elsa then talks about the predicament she was left in when Doug left and how it felt and why she kept Sam separate from other people. Then Elsa says she so angry over it, but she is now done. The heart to heart continues a bit longer but they agree to have a clean slate. Doug then goes into the school to get some people to help unload the igloo whilst Elsa finds Nicks number and goes to delete it but doesn’t. 

We see Casey, Sherice and Beth in their dresses. Sherice asks Casey is she okay and did she get in a fight with Evan? Casey replies sort of. They walk up to a table to collect their headphones which is being done by Elsa and one of the mums of the autism group.  Casey picks up the headphones and walks off. They then open the doors to the party and we see a winter wonderland in complete silence with people dancing they slowly walk in. You can see Casey is impressed by it. Then Doug comes in to say hi. He also says that he uses the stuffing in ‘Paige’s murdered penguin’ for a snow base. He going to stand guard of the igloo, so no one wreck it then leaves. The girls the turn the headphones on and you can hear the music as they put them on. They start to dance as it shows everyone there having a good time. 

Sam and Zahid then go find Paige’s penguin necklace, with torches in a pitch-black school. As it is Sam he has remembered the whole of Paige’s classes for that day. Zahid says its stalkery but also kinda sweet. They first start with the Chemistry lab, it’s not there, but Zahid tries to make a joke with a skeleton. Then they check her French class, again not there. Zahid makes some comment about French women- its Zahid so I should be used to it but, yet I can’t figure out what he is going to say next. Then they check her History class, again it’s not there. Zahid actually gives a fact about George Washington, but Sam doesn’t care, and they carry one looking. Zahid cracks Paige’s school locker open but yet they still haven’t found it. Then Sam realises where I must be then... the swimming pool. They can see it in the swimming pool, Sam start talking about an Antarctic explorer who swam in the Antarctic waters to protect the waters. Sam point out hat he doesn’t like getting into water what people have touched, Zahid helpfully says people do much more then than in there guaranteed it been peed in hundreds of times. He realises how unhelpful it was and asks if Sam wanted him to get it for him. Sam says no, and we hear how he weighted things up in his head, if someone can swim in the waters of Antarctica and safe lots of marine life then a dip in a swimming pool should help things between him and Paige. It cuts back to the party and then we see Sam soaking wet walking over to Paige. He then goes to hand her the Penguin necklace back to her. Paige asks how and why? Sam says how, I retraced your steps and found it in the pool and Why, because I feel back for breaking up with you, so this is his apology. Sam asks do you forgive me? Paige then says meet me in the igloo in two minuets. Casey then pushes him on the dancefloor to speak to him. Casey dances with him and says to him she can turn down the scholarship if he wants her to. Sam says that would be stupid. She asks what would happen if something happen like yesterday. He says possibly the most autistic thing of the season. I have mum, dad and lots of other people- you can go. Casey then tries to ask what if what if you didn’t have mum and dad. He says, ‘you mean like dad was at work then I would wait for him to come home’. Then he leaves to go to the igloo. Casey phones someone to pick her up, but it isn’t Doug. IT then goes to the igloo.

Sam compliments the igloo then Paige ask what is happening here and what does he want. Sam says he wants to explain, but he has to use animals to help him explain and he know she get annoyed by this. Paige’s says to explain. Anyway, here goes my understanding of Sam’s explanation. Animals don’t have love or hurt feelings they just mate and then he goes of on a tangent on types of birds dancing. Then Paige’s pulls him on track again. He then says he wanted to make all the relationship things easy, but it isn’t he doesn’t know who he loves anymore but he likes her in lots of different ways and he is sorry about hurting her feelings. Paige says she appreciates his honesty, Sam cuts in and says but you didn’t like it at the Olive garden, the restaurant, Paige point out that was because it was in front of her whole family. Then Sam realises the boundary line. Paige says they shouldn’t be together until Sam is sure of what he wants, but it doesn’t matter if they ‘mess around a little’. They kiss then it cuts to Casey who is waiting for... Evan.

Evan asks if Casey is okay and Casey finally says to him that Elsa has had an affair. He then comforts her. He then apologies about some of the things he said. He then races Casey up some stairs- of course Casey was going to win. Then they kiss, and it goes back to the party. Christopher, Louisa, Doug and Elsa join up to be in the party. The Sam talks about how cold it is in Antarctica. AS he is we see Julia typing an email to Sam about how sorry she is. When then see Julia coming into her home to see miles inside waiting. Miles then proposes to Julia saying, ‘you win’. We then see Sam and Christopher enjoying the dance and joining in. Sam then sees Doug and thanks him for the igloo and hugs him- for the first time. Sam then joins back in with the dance. 

It goes back to Casey and Evan. Evan asks does Elsa know that Casey knows that she was having an affair. Casey says no she just left a passive-aggressive message on her board. It then shows Elsa staring at the message on the board. It reads, in through my filtering, “stop b***ing the bartender”. Doug then comes out of nowhere and ask why she [Casey] would put it up there?  Elsa and Doug look at each other.  Then black out – role credits and an end of a season. 

Review: Out of all of them I enjoyed this one the most for so many reasons. From the start, it shows Sam’s usual traits and using his traits that’s how he broke up with Paige.  Where Sam talks about how much he has learnt about love, you realise that he has gone from someone who considered him self odd to having a girlfriend, so he has changed. That is one thing this did well, and it grew an autistic character rather then kept him the same the whole way through. The Julia scene seemed a little rush, but it set up a meltdown perfectly. Especially when it showed everything from the viewpoint of Sam, even The National Autistic Society has done that any justice. It also showed the really vulnerable side to Sam and maybe people with autism in general. Also shows how well Elsa and Doug work together when Sam has any issues. I think it also showed how close Elsa and Sam are then Doug and Sam. Even with that Doug still stuck up for Sam, even when Sam needed to have an eye kept on him. When he stopped Julia seeing him and told her what she had done to Sam. The way we see Sam tucked in bed in a way of managing meltdowns, especially bad ones, is meant to stop the feeling of floating away. So, it there to keep the person ‘grounded’ and it has lots of pressure to get rid or help with that feeling. It just a pity we didn’t see a reference to a weighted blanket. One of the most fun scenes and one I liked the most was when Paige made a scene. Especially with pretty much with the whole house full of teenage girls and they all come out to see Paige shout at Sam and ‘murder a penguin’. It came from no where then it just went. Caseys confrontation with Nick was good as well. You could see Casey wanted answers, but you also knew Nick didn’t have many although he tried to say everything Elsa told him, to Casey that wasn’t enough.  We got another brief segment with Elsa and Doug together working as a team. It was good to see, I would have liked more time to see those charters together doing more but it they always showed when the other struggled the other steps in to help. When Sam and Zahid look for Paige’s necklace we can see some other strengths what Sam has, other then ignoring Zahid. We also see how Sam weighs things up, it shows how his why of thinking is just so slightly different from a neurotypicals. The dance it self was good. I liked the chemistry between everyone, it provided a good enough area for some charters like Sam to just be himself a bit more without anyone judging him. The clincher at the end with what Casey wrote on the board was brilliant. As Casey has always wrote funny or sarcastic things and also backed it up saying I only put it on there because it is true. So, it is odd to see Casey write something like this, but Doug already knows it true when Louisa is covering for one of Elsa’s lies and Christopher isn’t in on the lie and breaks it enough for Doug to have doubts.

Complete review: It was a good portrayal of people on the spectrum. I would very happily give it someone if they were curious about autism but not if they were going to be parents if that helps. It shows how a lot of the autism network groups are. It has a good gasp of everything. The only issue I had with it is that it seemed to take over a fortnight and that Sam and Paige had only been dating for days so I don’t know about that mechanic, but it was really good to see how Sam took on different challenges and grew with them rather than being the same person the whole time. They made a brilliant and semi-relatable character throughout the season. The jokes and humour at times is a little clunky and corny but that is how people on the spectrum tell their jokes, it either that or they are just offensive- so they made the best choice they could. I am really happy that they did their research about this and didn’t ask a charity like the National Autistic Society to get involved as they have made a Hollywood type thing that doesn’t portray everything but the important things. It also gets people talking which I think is brilliant. I wish we saw Jesse in this season at some point, but hopefully we will see him, and the timing will get better with season 2. I would give the season about an 8.5/10 as it has a lot of things right, but I just wanted to see a little bit more autistic proofing around the house or in class. Bring on season 2!

Things to spot: An autism awareness necklace, an autism awareness month poster in Julia’s office. There is no autism campaign link to it. The only labels are the producers and Netflix.

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