Criminal Minds
Summary
Does Spencer Reid have autism or doesCriminal Mindsonly code him that way ? It ’s a similar motion that many fans have of their favorite character reference from classic TV show . A wider understanding of autism spectrum upset has led to more characters in flick and boob tube exhibiting characteristics of autism and even sometimes being diagnosed in the show as on the spectrum . world TV has even branch into moreneurodivergent programming withLove on the Spectrum . There are now many more popular characters who could be touch on to as autistic than have ever been in mainstream TV .
While some characters are specify in the show as being on the autism spectrum , others are coded that way by the writers . An autism - take in character march one or more personality traits or habit that are commonly associated with someone who is diagnosed with autism . These characters are often confirmed as such by the actors and/or author but not in the level . There are now many fantastic television set characters who are autism - coded and each brings something unique and fresh to their show , while not solely defined for being on the spectrum .
While neurodivergence is often take up for sealed TV characters , some writers acknowledge it , whether behind the scenery or with diagnosing in canyon .
Spencer Reid (Criminal Mind)
Spencer Is Played By Matthew Gray Gubler
Cast
Dr. Spencer Reid is one ofCriminal Minds’most popular characters . He ’s a Supervisory Special Agent with the Behavioral Analysis Unit in the show , as well as a genius with an eidetic memory . No one on the show has ever diagnosed Spencer as being on the autism spectrum , but he often behaves in a way that points to that . He has difficulty expressing empathy , omit social cues , and often goes off on long tangent about things he ’s knowledgeable about , which is a considerable list . Spencer actorMatthew GrayGubler conceive Spencer is on the spectrum , once say , viaExpress ,
" He ’s an eccentric genius , with hints of schizophrenia and minor autism … "
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Sam Gardner (Atypical)
Sam Is Played By Keir Gilchrist
The principal and one of thebest characters on Netflix’sAtypical , Sam Gardener is an 18 - twelvemonth - honest-to-goodness new serviceman on the autism spectrum , and the serial follows his come - of - years chronicle and how his diagnosis affects the Gardener family . The first time of year is a bit clumsy in its depiction of autism , making Sam ’s neurodivergence a reference of his family ’s frustration in slipway that do n’t always seem fair .
However , season 2 and on worked hard to break Sam aside from some clichésassociated with autistic character in tv set show . Sam was give an interest in the arts rather than mathematics and skill , and it was made clear that the Gardener family ’s problems were extension of everyone ’s decision and error , rather than being solely entrap around Sam . Sam is a fully earn character whose autism is an important part of who he is , but it does not define him .
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Abed Nadir (Community)
Abed Is Played By Danny Pudi
When Dan Harmon createdCommunityand depart workshopping Abed Nadir , he looked into autism spectrum disability to better understand themeta - notice and motion-picture show - referencing Abed(viaVulture ) . He quickly realized that many of the symptom he obtain of autism were ones he recognized in himself . Harmon went to a doctor who diagnosed him as being on the autism spectrum , and as Harmon identifies most close with Abed more than anyone in the work group onCommunity , it ’s wanton to draw the connectedness that Abed is autistic .
Abed miss social grace of God and prefers to watch the world through his camera lense . Intimacy does not come easily to Abed , but the reason he is such a great autistic - coded role is that this does not exclusively determine him . He can surprise with his confidence and Abed extract a earnest understanding of people better than many other character on the show . It can just be unmanageable for masses to undertand what he is actually endeavor to say .
Max Braverman (Parenthood)
Max Is Played By Max Burkholder
Max Braverman is diagnosed as autistic betimes in season 1 ofParenthood , the NBC clowning - play about three generations of the Braverman family line in San Francisco , California . It ’s a very realistic portraying of someone on the autism spectrum and the untested Burkholder is impressively capable to channel the traits that signal Max ’s autism without being over - the - top in his enactment . Max ’s breakdowns can be harrowing , but it ’s what kinfolk with autistic children experience in actual liveliness .
Max does n’t like to keep centre link , and he can be free-spoken to the point of insulting , which is often used for risible outcome . However , he also develops throughout the show , which puts him in rare air as some other poorly indite autistic persona tend to stay the same . Max learns how to fit in at shoal , lean into the bailiwick he like , and even has a romantic kinship in later time of year .
Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
Sheldon Is Played By Jim Parsons
Sheldon Cooper , buff - favorite character ofThe Big Bang Theory , and its prequelYoung Sheldon , is an awkward , blunt , and improbably chic character working as a older theoretic physicist at the California Institute of Technology . As is sometimes the case with people on the autism spectrum , Sheldon has a difficult grasp on humour and irony , and he does not easily show humility or permissiveness . Parsons has said that he believes Sheldon is on the autism spectrum , viaSlate ,
" The writer say no , he does n’t . I can say that he could n’t display more facets of it . "
Sheldon is often mocked for his outrageous and inappropriate behavior , but the witticism never feels target at his neurodivergence . For one , all the characters onThe Big Bang Theoryare exaggerated to an extent . And more significantly , it ’s Sheldon ’s specific character traits and quirks that make him gentle to tease , not because of his potentially being on the autism spectrum .
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Jerry Espenson (Boston Legal)
Jerry Is Played By Christian Clemenson
Boston Legal is a legal comedy - drama series created by David E. Kelley and ab initio premiered in 2004 . The serial publication follows the exploit of the Crane , Poole & Schmidt law firm stave helmed by Denny Crane ( William Shatner ) and Alan Shore ( James Spader ) as the attorneys dabble into the legal hoar surface area to take on suit deemed " unwinnable . "
Jerry Epsenson is a recurring character inBoston Legalseasons 2 through 5.Boston Legalpremiered in 2004 and at that time , there were very few histrionics of people with autism on television , much less accurate agency . This puts Jerry in a strange spot because , while some of his actions are exaggerated and wrong to be attributed to autism , he is still a case of a supporting character enjoying a regular life and job while also likely being on the autism spectrum , which is very unusual for a boob tube grapheme at the sentence .
Jerry’sstruggle to maintain eye contact lens , his constant noise - making , and his disfavor of social fundamental interaction are all classical characteristicsof someone on the autism spectrum . However , the age of the show is also apparent when they assign Jerry ’s second of rage and incident of violence to his autism , which is unfounded skill .
Brick Heck (The Middle)
Brick Is Played By Atticus Ronald Shaffer
Brick is the exceptionally thinking untried son of the Heck menage inThe Middle . With an eidetic computer memory , Brick should do well in school , buthe is easily and often perturb , a symptom of being on the autism spectrum ( viaNCFL ) . Brick has trouble with social interactions and often repeats countersign in a quiet voicelessness . While he has not been name on the show , his love of info and other quirks are declarative of someone on the autistic spectrum . Brick is a specially loveable character and a realistic example of a young piece present some traits affiliate with autism .
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Sonya Cross (The Bridge)
Sonya Is Played By Dianne Kruger
The Bridgeis an American adjustment of the Danish - Swedish law-breaking seriesBron / Broen , and it stars Diane Kruger as Detective Sonya Cross , a penis of the El Paso Police Department who is name as on the autism spectrum . Some aspects of Kruger ’s portrayal experience like stereotypical autism tease , such as her refusal to make centre contact and her extreme dullness that slue into almost fast-growing conduct .
However , it ’s still noteworthy that the lead case of a crime drama is diagnose as autistic . Kruger ’s performance is true and heartfelt and Sonya shirk some classic autistic - fibre clichés by being in touch with her sexuality , an aspect TV writers often incorrectly ignore or outright deny when writing about character on the autism spectrum .
Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor)
Shaun Is Played By Freddie Highmore
Doctor Shaun Murphy is a operative occupant at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital inThe Good Doctoras well as the protagonist of the ABC medical play series . Shaun is diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum , which is represented on screen with graphics and illustration of complicated medical graphics and models . Shaun is uneasy and stoical , but he is also miscellaneous , and his autism does not constrain him to a one - dimensional characterization . He memorize , grows , and changes throughout the series .
Astrid Farnsworth (Fringe)
Astrid Is Played By Jasika Nicole
Astrid Farnsworth may not be autistic onFringe , but her doppelgänger from a parallel universe who get in season 2 most likely is . Though the character is never diagnosed , the alternating Astrid does not care eye contact lens , has little emotion or empathy , and has a talent for math and science . Jasika Nicole has even said that she base her execution on her sisterwho is diagnosed with autism ( viaWhedonverse ) . Nicole ’s performance as both the real and alternate Astrid is an telling vitrine of how small playacting decision can completely change a character .
Boston Legal is a legal comedy-drama series created by David E. Kelley and initially premiered in 2004. The series follows the exploits of the Crane, Poole & Schmidt law firm staff helmed by Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) as the attorneys dabble into the legal gray area to take on cases deemed “unwinnable."
