# Atypical (2017)

> An 18-year-old on the autism spectrum sets out on a funny and painful quest for love and independence that upends his Connecticut family.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/62496

## Facts

- Seasons: 4
- Episodes: 38
- Episode runtime: 33 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy, drama
- Created by: Robia Rashid
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Keir Gilchrist, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Haven, Michael Rapaport, Raúl Castillo, Andrew Secunda, Michael Rady, Eric McCormack
- TMDB rating: 8.2/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6315640/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: heartwarming, funny, sincere, earnest, bittersweet, warm

## What critics say

Viewers broadly find Atypical a warm, well-acted and unpatronizing portrait of an autistic teenager and his family, with audience ratings that are solid if slipping in later seasons.

## Synopsis

Atypical (2017-2021) is an American single-camera comedy-drama created by Robia Rashid for Netflix. Keir Gilchrist plays Sam Gardner, an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum whose hunger for romance and independence sends ripples through his household. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays his protective mother Elsa, Michael Rapaport plays his dependable father Doug, and Jack Haven plays his caring younger sister Casey, while Raúl Castillo appears as Nick, a friend who anchors Sam's social life. Across four seasons and thirty-eight episodes, the engine of the show is Sam's concrete push for a girlfriend, a job, and a life of his own, while his family struggles to loosen their grip. Each episode is built around a theme Sam introduces directly to the camera, then plays out through school, workplace, and dating misadventures in suburban Connecticut. Its tone is warm, earnest, and frequently funny, with sincere attention to how Sam's blunt literal thinking affects the people around him. The result feels intimate and unjudgmental, a heartfelt family comedy-drama. Fans of The Wonder Years, Speechless, and Please Like Me will find real resonance in its mix of humor, tenderness, and coming-of-age longing.

## Shows like Atypical

- [Transparent (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/54750)
- [Please Like Me (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/54705)
- [Freaks and Geeks (1999)](https://ember.film/tv/2262)
- [Everything's Gonna Be Okay (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/77902)
- [Ginny & Georgia (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/97853)
- [Love on the Spectrum (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/124195)
- [As We See It (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/115169)
- [SMILF (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/62604)
- [Better Things (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/58877)
- [Speechless (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/59020)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt