About “Atypical” in a few words:

“Atypical” is a Netflix original series that explores the life of Sam, an 18-year-old with autism, and his family as they navigate the challenges of adolescence, relationships, and growing up. The show offers a realistic and heartwarming portrayal of the experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, as well as highlighting the struggles and joys of everyday life. The series has received critical acclaim for its nuanced portrayal of autism and its effect on individuals and families, and has been praised for its diverse cast and inclusion of actors with autism.

Meet the characters from Atypical

Elsa Gardner

Elsa is the sort of mom who reads ten parenting blogs before breakfast and still trusts her gut more than any expert — fierce, anxious, and impossibly devoted. She hovers in that best-worst way, like she’ll schedule your dentist appointment and then cry about the waiting room wallpaper for 20 minutes. Has an almost terrifying capacity to do emotional triage (love that phrase? she totes uses it) but also sends passive-aggressive texts at 2 a.m., which is adorable and alarming. She’s simultaneously the family glue and the alarm system — protective to a fault, and secretly way more vulnerable than she lets on. Also, fun fact: she probably hoards inspirational mugs and will fight you for the good one.

Sam Gardner

Sam is exactly as earnest and literal as you remember — big feelings, blunt honesty, and a fascination with rules that somehow makes him endearing instead of robotic. He obsesses over trains and routines (or was it penguins? don’t quote me), and his emotional honesty is both awkward and devastatingly pure. He navigates the world with a kind of focused logic but keeps surprising people with unexpected warmth and stubborn courage. There’s a quiet heroism to him — he practices social scripts and also writes the most sincere apology notes you’ll ever read. Sometimes he’s surprisingly snarky, like, who knew? Not me, honestly.

Casey Gardner

Casey is chaotic protective energy — hockey pads, clipped hair, and a permanent scowl that melts when it’s really important (cue the big, dramatic eye-roll followed by saving-the-day behavior). She acts like she hates feelings but also organizes everyone’s life behind the scenes and will fight three people and a bureaucracy for family honor. She’s rough-edged and loyal, with a softer core she denies even to herself; she cries in private, probably to sappy indie movies, then swears she’s fine. She’s the sibling who draws the line and then carries the invisible weight for everyone else, and she’s both abrasive and painfully generous in the same breath. Occasionally she’ll be weirdly sentimental about lunchboxes or something, I’m not joking.

Doug Gardner

Doug is dad-energy incarnate: warm, slightly clueless, and full of bar-quiz-level optimism even when the world is on fire. He means well, tells dad jokes with alarming confidence, and is genuinely trying to be present — like, bless him, he’s learning. He can be awkward in emotional moments (there will be a forced hug, probably) but he is steady, kind of a literal soft place to land, and embarrassingly sentimental about family photo albums. He also has this stubbornly cheerful streak that’s equal parts admirable and infuriating, depending on whether you want him to change or not. Oh, and he’s terrible at technology but insists he’s “so modern” — classic.

Zahid

Zahid is chaos in the best possible way: social butterfly, sharp-witted, and fashion-forward in a way that makes you question your entire wardrobe. He’s goofy and flamboyant and somehow the person everyone confides in despite being delightfully unserious half the time. He’ll make a joke about feelings and then actually give you the most practical, oddly profound advice — like emotional fast-food wisdom but it works. He cares fiercely and loudly, and I swear he’s the glue for the friend group even when he’s off making a ridiculous TikTok or whatever. He also has an inexplicable obsession with novelty hats — it’s a thing, just accept it.

Paige

Paige is soft-spoken but complicated, the kind of person who appears shy and is secretly braver than anyone gives her credit for. She tiptoes through social situations with a nervous grace and actually listens, which is revolutionary in its own way. She’s empathetic, artsy maybe, and more than once will surprise you by speaking up or making a bold choice — then immediately apologize for being dramatic, classic Paige energy. There’s a sweetness to her that’s not naive though; she’s learning boundaries on the fly and kind of killing it, awkwardness and all. Also she wears ring lights like armor sometimes? Not sure, but it fits.

Evan

Evan vibes as the quietly intense type — he’s gentle, low-key, and has this soft smoldering presence that’s oddly comforting. He’s thoughtful, maybe a bit broody, and tends to process things internally which makes him mysterious if you don’t know him well. He’s also unexpectedly funny in dry, deadpan ways and has the patience of someone who reads manuals for fun (or that’s what I tell myself). Loyalty is his baseline; he won’t shout about love but he’ll show up at 3 a.m. with coffee and a very specific playlist. Occasionally he gets flustered at group texts and then becomes the meme king, so like, multi-layered.

Izzie

Izzie is sunshine with edges — upbeat, earnest, and maybe a little too trusting until reality smacks her, which she then turns into a learning montage. She’s the friend who will volunteer you both for a cause and then guilt you into enjoying it, and somehow it works because she’s so relentlessly optimistic. She can be scatterbrained (loses keys, phone, dignity occasionally) but also surprisingly grounded when it counts; emotional multitasking is her secret skill. She’s bright, loud in small bursts, and terrible at keeping secrets but in the cutest possible way. Also she collects postcards from places she hasn’t visited yet — metaphorically or literally, who knows.

Julia Sasaki

Julia Sasaki feels like the responsible one who secretly misses chaos — organized, direct, and maybe a little dry, but with a soft laugh that breaks her stern face at the best moments. She’s a professional kind of empathy, the person who sets boundaries and actually means them, which is so refreshing. She balances competence with an unexpected warmth, and you can tell she cares by the little administrative magic she does for people (appointment reminders? perfectly color-coded files? yes). There’s a quiet rebellious streak — she’ll break a rule if it’s humane — and she has a secret love for terrible reality TV that she swears she doesn’t like.