What are some recommendations for some good shows with aspergers characters (don't have to be the main character)?
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Fictional Aspies
- Thread starter FayetheAspie
- Start date
There's been a flurry of shows produced in Australia recently that try to portray autistic people, autism is a hugely popular topic here these days, but I wouldn't call any of them good.
Here's a link to Austin, about an autistic man and the main actor is autistic in real life too. I've never watched it, I saw a few shorts and thought it looked a bit lame.
Austin
Here's a link to Austin, about an autistic man and the main actor is autistic in real life too. I've never watched it, I saw a few shorts and thought it looked a bit lame.
Austin
Au Naturel
Au Naturel
The problem is that nobody will come out and say a character is autistic, even if they took the traits out of a textbook or directly copied someone who was diagnosed as autistic. Someone will be outraged because it doesn't match their idea of how it should be portrayed.
I recently watched a PBS TV called The Tunnel. One of the main characters is clearly autistic and I believe she was described as such. I’m not sure about that. I enjoyed the show.
Another TV series I watched was called Astride. The main character is identified as autistic.
Nothing in either show screamed false.
Another TV series I watched was called Astride. The main character is identified as autistic.
Nothing in either show screamed false.
I don't understand why people get so mad just because the presentation was not 100% like themselves.
Au Naturel
Au Naturel
Big Bang Theory is probably the best example. Every major character in the show has some autistic traits. Sheldon and Amy are the most obvious. Their sharp edges have been rounded off, and it is a kind of loveable autism you don't see much in real life. They will NEVER say that Sheldon is autistic because they don't want to deal with the hate.
Nerds = "Little Professors".
I heard that Sheldon was modeled on the autistic son of Chuck Lorre's co-worker.
I have always seen Sheldon as an autistic role model.
He is the most loved character on the series.
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Another series I would like to see is Upright but it's only available on Amazon and I don't pay for TV shows. I'll have to wait until it's on free to air. In this one both main characters are autistic as well as both main actors being autistic in real life.
Upright (TV Series 2019– )
8.4 | Comedy, Drama
Upright (TV Series 2019– )
8.4 | Comedy, Drama
I liked Broen (The Bridge). It's well made and the main character is interesting. A woman with Asperger. They made an American version of it, but I think the original Danish/Swedish version is better.
The Bridge (2011 TV series) - Wikipedia
The Bridge (2011 TV series) - Wikipedia
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AuroraBorealis
AuuuuuDHD
I can recommend "Geek Girl", on Netflix. As usual, the main character isn't officially labeled as autistic, but in one episode's conversation, it is at least hinted at (if you know what to look for). I very much liked this series, because the main character's representation of undiagnosed autism is the closest I have seen so far to my own feelings and experiences. The plot isn't very deep, it's more of a light-hearted show, but, as I said, with a very good representation of neurodivergence. If I'm not mistaken, the actor/actress (NB) is openly autistic.
"Atypical" is also one of my preferred ones. The main character is officially diagnosed, but the actor isn't (officially) autistic.
"Heartbreak High" has one autistic character, with whom I don't resonate too much, but some things are very accurate, and, interestingly, the actress is also autistic.
"Young Royals", a Swedish queer teen-drama, has one officially autistic/ADHD character, and the actress is openly autistic (don't know about ADHD).
I'm re-watching the sit-com "Friends" right now, and although no one is officially diagnosed, the character Phoebe Buffay is generally known as inofficially autistic (or "quirky", depending on which webpage you look).
"The Big Bang Theory" was already mentioned - Sheldon Cooper is the main "Aspie" character among fans, but many (myself included) also see it in his best friend and roommate, Leonard. Some pages attribute autism to each one of the 4-man gang. Amy is also portrayed as Aspie.
"Young Sheldon" - Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory as a child, portrayed as a stereotypical savant autist.
"Gilmore girls" - unofficial, but many attribute ADHD to Lorelai Gilmore, and some label Rory as autistic. My opinion there isn't really set. There are some other characters with autistic traits. It's more of a fan-theory, though, and Gilmore Girls isn't everyone's taste. Just thought I'd mention it.
Those are the shows which come to mind. Boy, I do watch a lot of shows with ND characters.
"Atypical" is also one of my preferred ones. The main character is officially diagnosed, but the actor isn't (officially) autistic.
"Heartbreak High" has one autistic character, with whom I don't resonate too much, but some things are very accurate, and, interestingly, the actress is also autistic.
"Young Royals", a Swedish queer teen-drama, has one officially autistic/ADHD character, and the actress is openly autistic (don't know about ADHD).
I'm re-watching the sit-com "Friends" right now, and although no one is officially diagnosed, the character Phoebe Buffay is generally known as inofficially autistic (or "quirky", depending on which webpage you look).
"The Big Bang Theory" was already mentioned - Sheldon Cooper is the main "Aspie" character among fans, but many (myself included) also see it in his best friend and roommate, Leonard. Some pages attribute autism to each one of the 4-man gang. Amy is also portrayed as Aspie.
"Young Sheldon" - Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory as a child, portrayed as a stereotypical savant autist.
"Gilmore girls" - unofficial, but many attribute ADHD to Lorelai Gilmore, and some label Rory as autistic. My opinion there isn't really set. There are some other characters with autistic traits. It's more of a fan-theory, though, and Gilmore Girls isn't everyone's taste. Just thought I'd mention it.
Those are the shows which come to mind. Boy, I do watch a lot of shows with ND characters.
2014 movie "A Brilliant Young Mind"
Descriptions of the movie will say "about a teen autistic boy who finds love" . Ignore that description. Such drivel!
The movie is really about the autistic experience. There are two autistic characters in the movie and, while they are both autistic and of similar ages, talents and backgrounds, they experience the world in vastly different ways.
It was a freebie on Amazon Prime when we watched it. It might still be out there.
Descriptions of the movie will say "about a teen autistic boy who finds love" . Ignore that description. Such drivel!
The movie is really about the autistic experience. There are two autistic characters in the movie and, while they are both autistic and of similar ages, talents and backgrounds, they experience the world in vastly different ways.
It was a freebie on Amazon Prime when we watched it. It might still be out there.
I can’t find a decent free version of the Swedish/Danish one and that has subtitles instead of dubbing. I hate dubbing. I enjoyed the Brit/French version.
I had to google that and I see now that the series you mentioned further up, The Tunnel, is actually a Brit/French remake of The Bridge.
I had no idea. So there are three different versions of it. Danish/Swedish, American/Mexican and British/French. Wow.The woman playing the detective in the original version did a good job I think. It's all in the details. No matter how many versions they make, I'm a Saga fan.
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I can’t see the video. Not licensed for my country. :-(I had to google that and I see now that the series you mentioned further up, The Tunnel, is actually a Brit/French remake of The Bridge.
The woman playing the detective in the original version did a good job I think. It's all in the details. No matter how many versions they make, I'm a Saga fan.
I vaguely remember there was a US-Mex version, but I can’t imagine it is better than either the others. On more than one occasion I have found the “foreign” versions far superior to American.
In the Brit/French version, I did like the autistic character. What she played was how I felt much of the time throughout my life. But I learned early to mask and mask hard.
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lisalisalisa
Member
I think Jess on New Girl is autistic.
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