Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that is becoming more visible every day, leaving behind the stigma by which it has been marked for years. Given this, many dramatic productions have developed new stories, where they have leading characters with some condition within the spectrum.
Today, the series have been able to show reality using fictional stories that often do not come close to the reality we know. Faced with this, the low visibility that the characters within the autistic spectrum had left viewers who suffer from this condition with very low expectations, who have seen an interpretation that has been poorly studied or highly stigmatized, which differs greatly from the truth.
Over the years, dramatic productions have begun to study a little more on the subject, creating stories more focused on relatively everyday characters, who have extraordinary abilities, which generate harmony and a pleasing dramatic line for viewers.
For this reason, we created a list of the series most acclaimed by specialized critics, which feature characters with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
Love on the Spectrum – Netlix
Although it is not fiction, this docuseries shows real stories of people on the autism spectrum, who seek opportunities to find their better half. With 2 seasons released, the production follows various men and women with ASD, who have not been lucky in love or have not found a stable partner.
The way in which each participant describes their routine, their favorite hobbies and how they get along with their surroundings, reveals the personality of each of themgenerating a bond with the viewer, who becomes fond of each story and situation that happens.
Atypical – Netflix
After 4 seasons on the air, Atypical tells the story of Sam, an 18-year-old with autism, who shows the daily life of his life, facing various challenges and obstacles despite his condition. It is a portrait that tries to be as faithful as possible to what autism spectrum disorder is, bringing viewers closer to reality and the difficulties of people who live with it every day.
For the preparation of his character, Keir Gilchrist, protagonist of the series, commented to Variety on his preparation to play Sam Gardner: “The most helpful research was the book The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger’s Syndrome, and a Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband.” The book ended up being a big factor in creating Sam.”
Woo Lawyer Extraordinaire – Netflix
One of the most acclaimed series in recent weeks follows the life of a young lawyer with autism (Woo Young-woo), who is hired by one of the most successful law firms in Seoul, where she has to face various cases and prove his great ability to find all the necessary options to solve cases.
The character, played by actress Park Eun-Bin, was formed with the help of professionals who study autism spectrum disorder, as well as being inspired by book characters, the actress said in an interview for The Swoon.
The Good Doctor – Prime Video
The remake of the 2013 South Korean series, is a series that has become popular among fans of dramas involving medical issues. The plot follows the life of the young surgeon Shaun Murphy, who suffers from autism and Savant Syndrome, who lands a position at San José St. Bonaventura Hospital in San Francisco, California. There he will have to overcome several challenges within the world of medicine, in addition to fighting against the prejudices of his environment and his own patients against his condition.
Freddie Highmore, the actor who has been nominated for the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Television Awards for his role, explained for Los Angeles Times that in his personal life there are people with autism, so he was aware of the condition. She also added that she watched the documentary “Autism in Love”, which focuses on the deepest human emotion that can be felt, which is love.
Changes to Heaven – Netflix
After losing his father and being left under the guardianship of his uncle, who has just been released from prison due to his Asperger’s, the young Han Geu-Roo has to manage the business that he developed with his father: cleaning houses after his death. of a person. With this they are involved in mysteries and crossroads that surround the death of their clients, which they will have to help solve so that the family of the deceased remains in peace.
The non-existent relationship that is formed between uncle-nephew, is marking each chapter of the series, which is developing while both try to reconcile their differences and protect each other.
Everything’s Gonna Be Okay – Hulu
This American comedy series, which was canceled after two seasons, portrays the life of Nicholas, who must return to his hometown -after the death of his father after a terminal illness-, for which he will have to take care of his two younger stepsisters, where one of them has autism.
Although its protagonist is not the one who is within the autistic spectrum, the point of view that the series delivers in front of a close one with ASD, shows a representation close to reality. Faced with the male representation of autism, in recent years there has been an increase in autistic girls and women who had not properly received their diagnosis.