New series of A Kind of Spark.

I don't see why you couldn't have lots of shows with characters who happen to be autistic, just like all the other characters who don't happen to be autistic but are interesting in some normal way, not in a freak type way.

I am borderline-obsessed with Astrid who is a bit freaky, but I think the message we need to be sending is "we are normal people".

That said, I crave anything that will make me forget about the orange jesus and his hitler saluting friend for an hour or two.

A said:

I agree though that more exposure to autistic people would be a good thing for breaking the stereotypes.

But the stereotypes are interesting to the public - they want novelty, they want a character with interesting challenges, they want them to fail sometimes but recover and do something amazing.

Everyday autists just aren't interesting enough for shows whose purpose is to entertain the masses and make them forget the storms, fires, high cost of living, difficulty finding a job, the fact the orange Jesus is in power now in the USA etc.

Depends on the form of jazzing up I suppose. Patience and Astrid add the savant stereotype, but are otherwise positive and empathetic characters.

The good doctor character is just horrible though. I wouldn't want people to think that's "how autistic people are".

I agree though that more exposure to autistic people would be a good thing for breaking the stereotypes. Ideally they'd just be ordinary people in soaps or whatever, who happen to be autistic. No super geniuses like Sherlock Holmes or horrors like the good doctor.

A said:

Unfortunately some of them are really terrible and perpetuate incorrect stereotypes.

While this is true, in out natural form we are not that entertaining I suspect which is why they have to "jazz it up" a bit to get people to want to watch it.

Is the exposure of autism, even in this form, better than not having autistic people seen in entertainment?

My opinion is that we need the exposure to get more people to understand that autism isn't the mute in the corner who plays with their rubics cube all day.

We need to find ways to grow the exposure but it has to be ways that get us seen in a positive light but still highlight out suffering.

Unfortunately some of them are really terrible and perpetuate incorrect stereotypes.

The Good Doctor is dreadful. Sheldon in BBT is an entertaining character but doesn’t remotely portray the experience of being autistic and the writers themselves said he wasn’t written as autistic.

SpikeyMark said:

Before Patience, it was the only show we had.

I've put together a list of TV series and films where the lead characters or a significant character is autistc - there is actually quite a lot out there:

Lead characters in a TV series who are autistic
Sam Gardner — Atypical
Dr. Shaun Murphy — The Good Doctor
Woo Young-Woo — Extraordinary Attorney Woo
The Big Bang Theory - most male characters
Joe Hughes — The A Word
Josh Thomas — Everything’s Gonna Be Okay

other autistic characters in a TV series:
Julia – Sesame Street
Lola — Cha Cha Real Smooth
Quinni — Heartbreak High
Abed Nadir — Community
J.J. Jones — Skins
Max Braverman — Parenthood
Spencer Reid — Criminal Minds
Sonya Cross — The Bridge

autistic characters in films:
Temple Grandin — Temple Grandin
Arnie Grape — What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Raymond Babbitt — Rain Man
Samuel Dawson — I Am Sam
Kyle Graham — After Thomas
Linda — Snow Cake

This does not cover documentaries and I'm sure it is only a partial list - does anyone hace any idea if there is a more comprehensive list anywhere?

It's a great show whether for kids or not. Before Patience, it was the only show we had. The school scenes in the first series really hit home for me.

I just watched the first episode of this (having read that the star of Patience was in it).

I know it’s a kids programme and primarily aimed at girls but there were a couple of things in it that brutally hit home with me. Particularly when the main character’s friend basically dumps her because a popular girl told her to and said “things are more complicated at high school”.

I really hated high school and the way it made me feel about people.

I didn't know it was on audiobook as well. It's good though isn't it? I like both the series and the book. It's nice there's something out there like it, and characters I can relate to in different ways. I haven't read any of other Elle's other books but I will get round to it at some point for sure. Her writing is excellent.

I really enjoyed the first series, thanks for sharing!

Hi, I listened to the audiobook before I watched season one, have you read any of Elle’s other books? I enjoyed ‘Show us who you are.’ There is a prequel book to AKOS, its called Keedie, it follows her as an undiagnosed autistic person through school.

I'm so excited for season two... I watched season one and I loved it from start to finish. It was soo good, warmed my heart and made me so happy. Did you know there's a book as well? It's written by Ellie McNicoll. Highly recommend if no ones read it.