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Atypical wrapped its fourth and final season (now streaming on Netflix) with beautiful symmetry.
From the beginning, Sam (played by Keir Gilchrist) has been obsessed with penguins and their really cool eyelids. He always dreamed of venturing out to Antarctica, where it’s cold and isolated, to hang with the black-and-white endothermic birds. The final episode featured a full circle moment in which Sam steps outside and we see Antarctica in the background, confirming that he fulfilled his childhood dream.
Because it was such a fitting ending — it was originally pitched as a Season 2 ender — the memorable moment was held for the series finale.
“We saved it, so we knew all along that that was going to be the ending,” creator and showrunner Robia Rashid tells TVLine. “We didn’t plan on having Doug (Michael Rapaport) going with him, but that ends up feeling really full circle in terms of where Doug and Sam started out.”
As you’ll recall, Sam and Doug began the series feeling very disconnected from each other. Doug was overprotective and didn’t really understand his son, who just wanted to have more independence. “They started out feeling not very connected and like they had nothing in common,” Rashid adds, noting that the trip marks serious growth in their relationship. “You don’t feel like they’re going [to Antarctica] together out of any sort of fear. [Doug]’s not going to watch out for Sam. He’s going because he wants to hang out with his kid, and he’s curious.”
Rashid says she found that moment, in which we see Sam smiling in Antarctica, to be “really powerful.” As she observes, “It’s so cool to see somebody on the spectrum doing this massive thing and it’s so ambitious, not just for someone on the spectrum, but anyone. To be that ambitious at that age and to really believe in yourself like that, it’s very moving to see.”
But not all moments in the finale were happy ones. In a bittersweet scene at the Olive Garden, Sam and Paige (Jenna Boyd) break up. As difficult as it was to split this perfectly matched pair, Rashid says it makes sense in the end.
“There are things in the show where I break my brain trying to figure it out, and then there are some things that just feel like that’s what needs to happen. And from the beginning, I felt like [their break up is] what needed to happen,” she explains. “Sam started out feeling like he could never find a girlfriend. He just never thought that he’d find love, and now he’s in this place where he so believes that he can find love, he’s willing to let it go because it feels like the right thing. That is so badass and powerful, and so amazing.”
Paige, meanwhile, “started out in this confident place but then got beaten down at college,” Rashid notes. “This is a scary decision and she’s not making it out of fear. It’s the right thing for her… She’s going to be there for a year, and who knows what’s going to happen in Antarctica?”
If you found yourself reaching for the Kleenex after that crushing scene, you’re not the only one. The Atypical boss reveals that the cast and crew also found the breakup to be difficult, and were sobbing while filming. “I’ve never seen Kier crying in a scene, and he was really crying in that scene,” she shares.
Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine) also underwent a transformative journey in the final season, exploring her identity in an unexpected way. The final episodes saw her cope with anxiety, realize she’s bisexual and overcome the fear and humiliation of public failure after choking during a huge track meet with a UCLA scout present.
“She comes across as so strong and such a source of consistency and strength for her family and her friends. In this season, she falls apart and it’s too much, and that is so relatable,” Rashid explains. “The relationship with Izzie (Fivel Stewart) ends up being a place that she feels really safe, and I think she needed to kind of go through that, to know.”
Casey had always expressed a strong desire to just get away from her family, so when she finally gets the opportunity to attend a school that’s far from home, it’s surprising to see her decide to stay local instead. Knowing that her anxiety played a role in that choice, Casey’s mom Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) convinces the teen track star to reassess her goals and hopes for the future. Casey ends the series in a much better place and with a world of options ahead of her.
“If and when she does decide to go away, it’s going to be in a more adult way. It’s her going from this childlike kind of rebellious thing to this really thoughtful, ‘What do I want my life to be?’ kind of place,” Rashid says.
In typical Atypical fashion, the series tackles difficult subjects with well-balanced humor. Season 4 found self-proclaimed ladies’ man Zahid (Nik Dodani) forced to reckon with his idea of masculinity after learning he has testicular cancer and must have one of his testicles removed. According to Rashid, the writers viewed the story as their “takedown of toxic masculinity.” After all, Zahid took pride in being a “playa” with his cheesy one-liners and penchant for objectifying women.
Throughout his cancer ordeal, Zahid makes both good and bad decisions. He rekindles things with his ex-girlfriend Gretchen (bad), breaks up with her (good) and forms a genuine friendship with a woman named Honey (very good) — all contributing factors to his change for the better. “I personally think that Honey is his soul mate, and he gets to a place of did he change because he lost his testicle? I don’t know, but he did do some real thinking,” Rashid adds.
With the series officially wrapped, Atypical’s creator is proud of what she’s accomplished over four seasons, including the show’s light-hearted approach to everyday life.
“I think there is a lot of power in comedy to amplify voices and stories. Our show, even when it’s dealing with the most intense issues, is at its soul a comedy. There’s a genuinely hopeful message at the center of this and I feel proud of that. I don’t need it to be dark and upsetting,” Rashid concludes. “I think it ends in this lovely, kind place and I feel like I need that after the year we just had. I’m proud of the work we did.”
My biggest complaint about the series finale is the fact that Casey is so troubled regarding being bisexual. I understand that her biggest stressor this season was the pressure put on her by the recruitment by UCLA and the fear of failure. But Casey’s being bi was ridiculous. They should have made the issue that she was non Binary. That would have made her issue of not fitting in at either school or the GSA more understandable. Gender fluidity is totally different than sexual fluidity. She even referred to herself as Izzy’s “bad boy” regarding her discussing getting her tattoo. That was obvious subtext regarding her gender fluidity, which they chickened out exploring. Also Sam saying he was not surprised she was bi because she dated a boy then a girl made absolutely no sense. Izzy dated boys before Casey as do many gay people date the opposite sex before realizing or accepting they are gay. The bi excuse was ridiculous and being non binary would have made so much more sense for Casey
I think you are over thinking it. Casey is much more stressed about finding a place in the world. She left her old school for a new one that didn’t really feel like somewhere she belonged. That created anxiety about leaving the state and going to UCLA where she again might not fit in. Add to this the pressure of competitive running and the fear of failing and she just started to come undone. I am not disagreeing with your central point, I am just saying it wasn’t the central issue. A lot of people who grow up with a passionate activity that they turn to for stress relief become anxious when that activity becomes the source of stress. Running is and should always be Casey’s escape. But when running and training took over her life and felt like pressure cooker, she had no way to process the stress and no outlet to release it. Her sexuality was an issue that contributed as was her identity, but that wasn’t the focus of the story.
Agree with all you said. I don’t think any of her stress was coming from her being bi. Her realizing this was just a sign that she was becoming more comfortable with herself and understanding herself better. It was a result of feeling better not a stressor causing problems. Admittedly the realization could be said to not be earned with what they put on screen, but it was a show about her brother and what he overcomes. They just had some really well drawn out characters around him. Seems like reading more into it to see it another way.
Maybe Brigette Lundy-Paine didn’t want to bring their own sexual identity onto the show.
Lol you’re hilarious 🤣
Come on, no one on Earth has gotten to the finale yet.
I have.
I loved this show! So well-written and acted. This is the way to end a series and to not make something drag on for too long.
Atypical made me laugh, cry and everything in-between!
Thank you 🙏 for creating this beautiful show!
I kinda wish they had warped all the season long stuff by episode 9 and then done a 5/10 years later episode as series finale. We would get to see these characters finish their journeys instead of simply preparing for them. For example, did Casey go to UCLA, did her relationship with Izzie survive, or did she find her way back to Evan? Did Sam and Paige find their way back to each other or did both find new partners? Did Doug and Elsa make it work, did Doug retire from being an EMT and pursue something new. I could go on, but you get my point. Knowing it was the series finale I wish they had shown more of how things turn out rather than short term growth with hope toward long term progress.
I kinda liked the ambiguity. It was about getting to them to that place. Not tell us how the rest of their life goes. Do we really need to know if Casey and Izzy end up at UCLA? If Sam and Paige ever come back or if it was an ending? Almost all the characters had completed their arc. Everything else would just be an epilogue.
.
And from a show running perspective it probably was smart because as many recent examples have shown if you give definite answers then half the people (at least) are going to hate it because it didn’t match their head cannon. This way the Izzie people and the Evan people are happy. The Sam and Paige shippers and those who found them annoying can both be happy. They all probably have a lot more life arcs so to say what happens here ultimately leads to the endgame seems very tv but not like life.
Absolutely beautiful. Funny, thoughtful, inclusive.
Every character is many dimensional, thoroughly drawn. I would recommend it to be shown to high school students.
I work with people who are autistic and thought San was portrayed perfectly. I came across this show by accident and was hooked. I’m hoping at some point you will maybe consider having a special, bringing back all of these characters and having a reunion show a couple of times a year. Excellent program !!!
Well, I just finished watching the final season. this is one of my favorite shows and I cannot believe it’s over. It’s a great show and love the character arcs of all the characters.
dang I’m still mad….
My son is autistic which is why I started watching Atypical. Much rang true and the acting was so chilled and believable…..or just hilarious!!! The last episode was, quite frankly – beautiful and quite simply – couldn’t have been bettered. AMAZING. Thank you!
An English Mum x
Binge watched the whole show in 3 days and can proudly say it had me laughing like a lunatic and blubbing like a baby in equal measure. so sad to see that it has ended. Excellent series and one of the very best i have seen.
Damn take your time, you must be an animal at an all you can eat buffet lol
At typical was smart, funny, and thought provoking. My absolute favorite show over its four year span!!!
So glad it’s finally over 🙌