Anybody watch Parenthood?

[pklemica]

I just saw Season 4, Episode 6 (the most recent episode)

One of the children on the show, Max, has Asperger's - it's one of the main storylines in the show actually, it's the whole reason I even started watching: somebody posted to this comm that there was going to be this show with as Assperger's storyline.

Comments

[place_to_hide]

I actually did not get to see Max's speech because I fell asleep.

It made me smile when I watched the clip of Max's speech. Because he got his point across and once Max came out and said he has Asperger's and briefly explained and the whole speech, I think made it easier for the other kids to kind of understand or not laugh AT him.

[pklemica]

That spread of understanding, how everyone is able to empathize with him a little better and cheer for the vending machines... oh it just made me so happy for him! I also feel like this showed me he's grown a lot, in ways that his family making decisions about him has not: his noticing the crowd's reception of his original speech, his ability to alter the plan and incorporate points his sister had suggested, speaks far louder to me than all those significant glances his parents shared when he happened to invite a friend over, even if they clearly were thrilled and I was happy for their happiness. This move on his part to me feels a lot more like development than chance :)

[place_to_hide]

Right. I had to admit, I was a little nervous on how the kids would react to Max's speech. I know the parents were nervous too.I mean I can see why they would feel the way they do. They just didn't want Max to be bullied or laughed at. Max has come a long way.

[precious_muse]

I was actually pleasantly surprised. I mean, this is coming from a show where his father didn't want to discuss the positive aspects of Asperger's Syndrome because he considered it "a lie." This is coming from a show that focuses mostly on the frustrations of raising an autistic child. But I was glad to see Max himself say he considered Asperger's his greatest strength. Maybe the show is growing and changing. I wonder if they'll ever address autism advocacy (somehow I don't think it'll be favorable).

And I also kinda wonder why he won; was it a pity vote? My experience when I revealed my diagnosis at that age is that students react very strongly at first, but in the days after they act like nothing happened. How strongly will he be affected? And will the vending machines really be his only platform? (I personally think that's not going to go well, like he's going to find out from the principal that the board of education made the school get rid of the vending machines to prevent childhood obesity.)

[pklemica]

Yes, I'm very interested to see how his presidency goes!

I might be naive, but I feel like this was something more than just a pity vote. I feel like once the students were able to realize why he was acting the way he was acting, that maybe he was actually the only one on that stage who actually made them care. Like he said, his going last was nice because it meant that his speech would be more likely to stick in their heads... I'd bet for a lot of the students, his is the only one with a message they really retained, because it was straightforward and real, rather than just a lot of promises and platitudes.

[simoriah]

That is true.

It could also be as simple as, all the kids wanted the vending machines back. And now they got this tenacious kid will will fight for their "rights" to candy cars and soda and such.

I am also sure a couple of unscrupulous kids actually want to see if they can manipulate him. But whatever. He is very honest. And straightforward.