By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
ABC’s new comedy series "Austin" stars Michael Theo, an autistic actor from the reality show "Love on the Spectrum," as a 28 year old autistic man who meets his biological father Julian for the first time. Julian, an author facing a public relations scandal, lives with his family in London, while Austin resides in Canberra. The show explores the dynamics of Austin's relationship with his father and Julian's family, who must adapt to having an autistic man in their lives.
"Austin" is notable for its portrayal of autism and neurodiversity. The first season is divided into two distinct halves, challenging both the characters and the audience to reconsider their preconceptions about autistic individuals. The show features a mix of comedy and drama, highlighting both the humorous and challenging aspects of autism.
Critics have noted that while Austin exhibits many traits commonly seen in media portrayals of autistic characters such as literal interpretation, difficulty with sarcasm, and strict adherence to rules these traits are used for comedic effect. This duality can be inclusive at times, but it can also feel like the character is the butt of the joke. One scene, for instance, infantilizes Austin when he attempts to demonstrate his independence by handling a situation with a toy guinea pig, only to be undermined by his family’s overprotectiveness.
Despite depicting Austin as an adult, his family frequently doubts his ability to live independently, tracking his movements and even secretly following him to England. The show labels Austin as "vulnerable" without adequately addressing how societal attitudes and inequalities contribute to this vulnerability. Important issues such as bullying and victimization of autistic individuals are touched upon but not deeply explored.
"Austin" has strengths, particularly in its latter half, where it challenges stereotypes by showing Austin successfully navigating new experiences, such as traveling to London and forming a romantic connection with a woman named Lucy. The show also avoids depicting autism as a burden, instead critiquing the "neurotypical savior" trope through Julian's character.
While the series could improve its representation of the autistic community's diversity and address more complex issues like masking and camouflaging, it makes significant strides in challenging stereotypes and lays a solid foundation for future growth in its second season.