Atypical is an American comedy-drama television series created by Robia Rashid for Netflix.

[1] The series takes place in Connecticut, and focuses on the life of 18-year-old Samuel "Sam" Gardner (Keir Gilchrist), who is autistic.

[4][5][6] The second season featured autistic actors and writers, giving them an opportunity to work and represent their community, and received mostly positive reviews.

Doug shows a girl from Sam's support group around his ambulance, chatting to her mother about his situation with Elsa.

Doug offers Elsa chop suey for dinner and she dresses up for it, but he ate his meal separately and left.

Doug and Elsa go to visit Theo and Holly, Arlo's parents, who apologize for his behavior, returning the money and buying Sam a new phone.

Zahid rushes in to explain that Sam has autism, but the cop ignores him and makes them get on the ground, arresting them.

Doug still can't sleep because of the dreams he has about Chuck playing tennis with 54-to-zero score, but he later makes the connection when he tells Evan that he has 54 vacation days saved up.

The coming-of-age[9] series, originally known as Antarctica, was created and written by Robia Rashid,[12] who previously worked on How I Met Your Mother and The Goldbergs as a producer.

[17] For a more accurate portrayal, she consulted with Michelle Dean, a professor who worked at UCLA's Center for Autism Research and Treatment.

The website's consensus is: "Great performances and a likable, realistic family dealing with autism lift Atypical above its alarming tonal shifts and predictability.

Sam's decision to go to art school deviates from common depictions of autism, and his being autistic is no longer "the source of [his family's] misery".

Luterman praised the involvement of more autistic people as writers and actors, but criticized that Sam's misogyny is unaddressed and that he is "still portrayed as more of a checklist than a person".

[25] In a negative review, Jen Chaney of Vulture wrote that the show "loses some of its focus" in the second season, such as with the "unnecessary side plot" of Julia, an "underdeveloped side character", or by attempting to make Zahid a "lovably wacky sidekick".

Chaney stated that the show's situations "often seem contrived or aim blatantly for the easy joke", and criticized scenes between Doug and Elsa which "don't seem reflective of actual human behavior".

[40] Merrill Barr of Forbes wrote, "Season three of Atypical is the show's boldest to date and truly feels like it has reached its stride.

"[41] Holly Edwards of Film Inquiry concluded that "the dramatic and comedic beats almost always hit the right notes and know when a shift in tone is required."

She also noted the season "cement[ed] the show's legacy as one of the best series to deal with autism and its butterfly effect on family, friends, and loved ones".