Love on the Spectrum has been a breath of fresh air in the world of reality dating shows, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of neurodivergent individuals seeking romance.
The Aussie original series first hit Netflix in 2020 and paved the way for an American version that released on the streamer in 2022. It has since bagged multiple Emmy Awards for its standout casting and direction.
With three seasons under its belt – the latest just released on Netflix – Love on the Spectrum U.S. has garnered a dedicated fanbase and catapulted some of its stars to fame.
Season 2’s Connor Tomlinson, who became a fan favourite, has turned into a social media phenomenon and now sells merchandise featuring his iconic phrases from the show. After struggling to find his perfect match, the latest season saw him finally finding love with Georgie Harris.
Meanwhile lovebirds Abbey Romeo and David Isaacman, who met in season one, are nearing their four-year anniversary, proving their relationship is as strong as ever, reports Surrey Live.
Cian O’Clery, the series’ co-creator, director and producer, shared his vision behind the show, sharing that he was aiming to showcase “a breadth of people” across the spectrum with different support needs.
“For us, that was the most important thing, representing that, so that people don’t make assumptions about someone just because of a diagnosis,” he shared with Netflix’s Tudum. “I think the most important thing is to never assume that you’re an expert, which I’m not.”
While numerous neurotypical viewers have lauded the show as a heartwarming and a feel-good watch, some of those on the autism spectrum have revealed that their viewing experience has varied.
Individuals identifying as autistic have taken to the internet to detail their candid reactions to the show and its effects on them.
One Reddit user described feeling ‘hope’ after watching the series, saying: “I’ve never actually been on a date or ‘dated’. It gave me hope that maybe one day I can go on a date. It made me realise I haven’t dated because I need to probably date someone who is autistic, or at least someone a bit ‘odd’ that won’t get annoyed by my autistic habits.”
They continued: “I liked that some of the cast were older than their twenties, because I am older and it made me realise that starting to date late is better than never.”
Another viewer said they tuned in due to being “desperate for autistic representation on TV,” but ended up feeling let down by the series.
“It kinda feels like it’s just made for neurotypicals and portrays some of the people in a bad light. I also very much felt that it was just way too focused on the family of the participants,” they expressed.
Echoing these sentiments, another viewer raised concerns that autism is depicted as “childlike and cute” on the show, which “is not necessarily” the case.
They continued: “People who think they know about autism because of those shows, at least to my experience, tend to not take the struggles serious [sic].”
However, writing for Autism Speaks, Kerry Magro, an author and speaker on the autism spectrum, lavished praise on the “wholesome” series.
“Imagine the barriers that would be broken down for those with autism if dating-reality shows like Love on the Spectrum, which is so wholesome and pure, became the norm in the entertainment world instead of shows like The Bachelor,” she said.
Love on the Spectrum Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix
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