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Characters that are not specified as on the spectrum but probably are. Discuss.

Cloudy Mountains

We watch our films, TV shows and read our books. Some might listen to radio plays, play video games or indulge in other forms of entertainment.

There was a thread the other day where someone mentioned Melvin Udell from As Good as it Gets may be on the spectrum.

So in this thread we discuss characters that have never been expressly named as being Autistic but more than likely are in our opinion.

I'll start. The Driver from Drive. He has a specific interest, cars and driving them. Doesn't seem keen on physical contact. Seems awkward around other people. Doesn't make friends easily but when he does he is very loyal. Lots of other hints there imo.

Cadet Sylvia Tilly from Star Trek Discovery. She has lots of traits, extroverted for sure but very direct (awkwardly though) and was introduced as someone who had lots of aversions to fabrics and materials. Has her own quarters because she was deemed to have "special needs". Was clearly bothered when someone slept in her bed even though both beds were identical. Was fast tracked because of her aptitude in specific things but is inept at others, sometimes. I was pretty disappointed when they toned it down in the second half of the series. I was enjoying watching the way the character was sort of Aspie. I found her relatable.

So has anyone else seen a character they have an idea about?

  • in reply to Misheard Lyrics

    Greetings, to Miss 'Flo. Forrest Gump, I think, was written at a time when "Hollywood" was beginning to realise/accept "Autism", thus you are likely correct: The most famous (and declared) example of Autism back then is certainly Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain Man". But Forrest Gump is not much specified to be Autistic, despite his acting like the StereoType. In movies and popular culture, I do not think that NTs could tell the difference. There is also one in the TV series "Quantum Leap", but this is a lot less well known.

    P.S. - You know what I am going to say, lastly... (!)  Your Icon is a Pokemon STARMIE! Yayyy! Yippeee!    ;-)

  • in reply to nexus9

    ...Greetings. As I keep seeing this Thread pop up, despite many others like it, I say something here - especially after the mentioning of Seven (-Of-Nine), and Mr. Spock and Mr. Data.

    I would add ODO (DS9) as well. In the The links I try to post, there is a very good example, a conversation between Worf and Odo:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R11vEULd7QQ

    ...The TEXT of it can be found here: http://www.chakoteya.net/DS9/485.htm

    ...I agree with all of what they say, and actually do it! Stopping people from casually dropping by, and attempting to keep order in one's life. Not always allowed, but I try to do it anyway!     :-)

  • I think maybe Forrest Gump is autistic. He shows various traits, taking things literally and misunderstanding irony and sarcasm. He can be obsessive, such as when he takes up running, and after running across America twice (and unintentionally acquiring a group of followers along the way) simply stops and says "I'm tired now, I think I'll go home." While in the army, he breaks the platoon record for reassembling a gun, and when asked by the sergeant how he did it so quickly, simply says , "You told me to."

  • in reply to Cloudy Mountains

    I'm going to have to re-watch Drive now, it's ages since I saw it Slight smile I remember really liking the soundtrack and having to close my eyes for some of the more violent bits! I've not seen any of Refn"s other films; will make sure to avoid The Neon Demon! Have you seen Nightcrawler? 

  • in reply to Cloudy Mountains

    Yes. For Seven and Spock their culture is their neurotypical.

    Not sure it is cheating. Their creators were humans, imagining alien civilizations.

    Data opens the whole AI question. Data as on data is not in itself able to make sense of the world, it requires a Kantian ability to draw a priori conclusions about what our senses bring to us. It is I teresti g though that Data has his psychopathic evil twin, Lore.

  • in reply to PoGoAddict

    There are lots of things in that movie I find relatable. Nicolas Winding Refn's best film. The Neon Demon was one of the worst films I've ever seen. Ever. Valhalla Rising was style (and violent content) over substance. Drive was well paced, shot and just generally put together.

  • in reply to Trainspotter
    Trainspotter said:
    Dylan from Casualty.  He appears to have social awkwardness and a lack of empathy. But he is a doctor!  Likewise Doc Martin.  Something about him strikes as being a bit like me!

    Lol, I think Dylan strikes as being like me. I don't lack empathy though, I just get frustrated with pointless stuff. I can be sharp and the OCD thing too.

    I've only seen Hearbeat a few times. I don't so much see it in Kirk. Roy was written like that for a reason, it's only a matter of time before Roy has an AS storyline!

  • in reply to Song

    I haven't watched it but lots of people say it's good. I haven't got Atlantic anymore but I'll find an "alternative" way to watch it!Wink

  • in reply to nexus9

    So Sherlock is pretty much a lock in. Especially in the books.

    Mikael does ponder over Lisbeth having Autism. Who says people on the spectrum are to be messed with?Wink

    Here's an article on it that sums up the way that they didn't really run with it though.

    https://thetattooedgirl.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/does-lisbeth-salander-have-asperger’s-syndrome/

    Ah, if you read my post to Cassandro, I sort of think some of the Star Trek characters are cheating! Seven, Spock and Data aren't human. Seven and Spock also come from a culture where their behaviour is the "norm".

  • in reply to Cassandro

    I'd agree with Boo Radley. The book was great but Robert Duvall does sort of portray him with a sort of Autistic prose in the film. Duvall is pretty much always good though. I'd agree with Holmes it's never implied but it's written so well. Eerie considering Doyle couldn't have really had much subject material to draw on.

    Cassandro said:
    Star Trek is full of them, surely: Spock being the original, then Seven of Nine and Barclay.

    I should have included it in the title but I wouldn't include Spock of Seven of nine because they aren't human characters. Spock is half human but Vulcan born and bred. Their behaviour can be attributed to their origin.

    Barclay however............ Yeah, the holodeck. Next Generation was the best.

    Cassandro said:
    Here's another caricature

    They don't need to be caricatures! Never thought about Boo Radley, that one was pretty subtle.

  • When I was younger (and undiagnosed), I saw a lot of myself in the character of India in Jacqueline Wilson's book "Secrets". India is very studious and eloquent but really lacks the skills needed for making friends and fitting in at school. She is obsessed with the diary of Anne Frank, knows most of it off by heart and will talk about it at great lengths to people - not realising if they are not interested. I didn't recognise these traits as Aspergers at the time but it did help me feel better to see someone similar to me in print.

    The only other example I can think of is in the novel "The Makioka Sisters"; one of the sisters feels upset and overwhelmed by a lot of life and her family struggle to understand her. She finds relationships difficult and her family cannot find a suitable marriage match for her as she refuses all the men they introduce her to (book is set in 1920s)

  • Yes! I thought The Driver from Drive was probably on the spectrum too. Might have been why I related to his character so much.

  • in reply to Trainspotter

    Dylan definitely has stories where he is said to be suffering from OCD and he hates parties and socialising. He is cynical and sardonic, so less sure that these would be typical Special trim things. 

    What about the new ambulance crew member of staff? Ruby?

  • in reply to nexus9

    I'm glad you mentioned Lisbeth Salander, she was one of the first characters I thought of for this thread. 

  • Dylan from Casualty.  He appears to have social awkwardness and a lack of empathy. But he is a doctor!  Likewise Doc Martin.  Something about him strikes as being a bit like me!

    Then there is David from Heartbeat.  Originally shown as a bit simple, in later episodes he had a lot more about him, just liable to misunderstanding and taking things literally.  And Kirk from Coronation Street, as well as the 'prime candidate' for autism in that programme of Roy.

    Enough to be getting on with!

  • I don't watch much tv but Elise Wassermann in 'The Tunnel' played by Clémence Poésy.

  • What about Dr Elliott from Scrubs??

    She does learn to be more sociable in some areas as the series goes on...but never really seems to "get it" going by the reactions of those around her.

  • What about Sherlock Holmes himself? I have heard him describes as on the spectrum. 

    Someone also brought my attention to Lisbeth Slander, from the book and film, the dragon tattoo badass whom the writer suggests was on the spectrum, but proves herself definitely not to be messed with. 

    Trek always seems to have a spectrum character somewhere, in all of its series. First there was Spock and his logic. Then we had Data, who yearns to be human. Then there was 7, who is still pretty Borg.