Atypical: Being Normal Doesn't Suit My Way (A Netflix Original Series)

Let me introduce you to someone. His name is Sam. Sam Gardner. In this series titled Atypical, he roles as an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum. Sam makes me wondering, can I have his real existence here?

Source: Instagram.com/atypicalnetflix

One thing: He got me captivated every time he talks. His pupils dilate and his eyebrows go up and down, his lips move fast, his two hands are busy on their own, or sometimes he gonna scratch his tip of back hair with that frown. He will say "Okay" if he allows it and frankly "No" if it doesn't peer his way. What I like the most is that he always be certain with his words, never hesitate at all. He knows for sure what he says: penguin, hippocampus, The Antarctica, college, or... love.

There's no way you can be mad at him no matter how bothersome he is. At least I think I am.

With all respect, the producer had consulted with a professor from UCLA's Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Michelle Dean, for Sam's character (Keir Gilschrist) and how his environment works. So, I think no offense about how these series represent people on the spectrum. 

As an autistic person, Sam kinda "selective", is that the right word? But.. I love it and sort of want it! He only has one best friend, but the real best one, Zahid (Nik Dodani). He got the most loyal girlfriend that he would never expect he could have, Paige (Jenna Boyd). He got the most protective yet know-how-to-have-fun sister, Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine). And of course, the most supportive parents ever who stay beside him, Elsa and Doug (Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport).

How blessed he is, right? Sam makes me realize that buzz of having many friends, being nice to people, playing with the trends, oh geez. He already has those-albeit-only 5 persons who rained him with endless genuine care and love, what's more to ask? If God let me, I wish I am gonna stay with that five persons kinda like that for the rest of my life.

Fun fact: this series is practically about Sam and The Penguin. Adelie, Chinstrap, Emperor, and Gentoo. The four species of penguins which is also Sam's magic recitation whenever he got stressed. (It's cute tbh!)

Also, there is my favorite line that Sam told about Penguin. "Unlike most animals, the lens of a penguin’s eye changes shape. When it’s on land, it becomes flatter like a human’s. When it’s underwater, it becomes round like a fish. So no matter where a penguin goes, everything it sees is on focus.”

Source: Netflix

Sam devoted himself to Penguin, ever since her mom taught about it when he was a kid. Until in the fourth season, he finally decided what he really wants to do for his life: HE WANTS TO MEET THE PENGUIN AT ANTARCTICA! I'm delighted with that idea become the main plot of Atypical season 4.

Along with that substance, there are many conflicts that happen among Sam's people. Zahid with his understanding-relationship with Sam. Casey with her boyfriend, Evan (Graham Rogers), and her girlfriend, Izzie (Fivel Stewart). I like that love story too. Paige with her career and lovey-dovey-uneasy dating life with Sam. Elsa and Doug, both as parents and as a married couple.

They all are grip important roles for Sam and vice versa. For example, Casey is the frontier for Sam. But so does Sam, as a big brother, he could take care of Casey too, in his not-so-typical-but-sweet way. Or, Elsa as Sam's mom. She doubting him too much, but they will find a compromising point eventually.

Not only between them with Sam, but they also have their encounter each other among them. Paige with Casey, Casey with Elsa, Elsa with Doug, Doug with Izzie, Izzie with her mom, and so on.

Source: Instagram.com/atypicalnetflix
These two dorks are my favorites! Amazing chemistry and hilarious sibling goals!

Those are the intriguing part about Atypical. Though maybe they are very uncommon and quirky, what does it really mean to be normal, anyway?

There is part of me who wants to be admitted as an "atypical" person. Some things about me cannot be explained because I'm not sure you will understand them. And maybe.. to have a relationship, friend, boyfriend, with an atypical person like Sam, I would really love to! That's why I adore this show very much!

Oh, in the last episode, Sam makes me screaming out loud about how he could be a freakin so sweet boyfriend for Paige. He said... "But just because we’re taking a break from being girlfriend and boyfriend doesn’t mean I’ll ever take a break from being in love with you." That was so freakin cute looking at how he developed with this character since the first season.

This is what I said before, to have someone so pure and genuine like people on the spectrum in my life, I might do not want to lose them ever.

Source: Instagram.com/atypicalnetflix
They are jolly!

So, here I am writing this, just want to share the excitement of Atypical with you all. The lines are witty, hilarious, yet so relate. Their acts and mimics, make you laugh yet sob within minutes. The flow and the matters, brought in an entertaining way. With only about 30 minutes of average duration, this show will never get you bored. And the background music just perfectly placed every moment!

Wish you had the same joyous as I am watching this series on Netflix. Gather, Atypicals!

Notes: When I wrote this, I just finished watching the fourth season and didn't rewatch the previous seasons. You will find many more entertaining things than those above. Let's talk about it when you finished it. Reach me at gmail daniahindonesian87@gmail.com or my Instagram @daniahsipidt. Cannot wait to talk about Sam and The Penguins!

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Cerita Cerita Jakarta a.k.a The Book of Jakarta (Review Buku)

“Jakarta, kota yang senantiasa bergegas tapi kerap kita rasa tak bergerak kemana pun.” -Catatan Editor Cerita Cerita Jakarta, Teddy W. Kusuma dan Maesy Ang.

Saya benar-benar tertawa saat membacanya. Memang selalu seperti itu, Jakarta dan segala hiruk pikuknya, lampu merah dimana-mana yang selalu membuat saya tak berhenti melihat jam tangan, mata yang perih setiap menghabiskan empat puluh menit perjalanan berangkat dan pulang kantor, memastikan jam berangkat setiap kereta komuter atau transjakarta jangan sampai ketinggalan karena sekali ketinggalan hancur sudah rencanamu seharian, atau bagaimana mengantri obat dan layanan publik yang minimal menghabiskan setengah jam mungkin? Kita semua tahu itu, Jakarta selalu bergegas, kalau tidak kamu akan ketinggalan.

Tapi pada kenyataannya, saya hanya terjebak dalam kota penuh romansa, suka cita, masygul, dan pelik kehidupan ini, yang selalu membuat saya jatuh cinta lagi dan lagi. Jatuh cinta pada setiap sudut tempat pedagang asongan atau tukang ojek mangkal, pada proyek-proyek mangkrak yang entah kapan akan berhasil mengurangi kemacetan Jakarta, pada sudut-sudut kedai romantis di Blok M atau Jalan Sabang, pada gedung-gedung pencakar yang selalu membuat kepala saya mendongak sepanjang Jalan Sudirman, pada setiap halte dan trotoar yang dipenuhi pejalan kaki yang entah kemana tujuan mereka hari itu, hingga pada setiap langit senja atau malam pekat penuh polusi, namun saat bulan purnama atau langit jingga tiba, saya tak pernah berhenti bersyukur pernah menjadi bagian dari kota ini.

Sekali lagi buku atau tulisan tentang Jakarta memang tak pernah mengecewakan. Setelah sebelumnya menggandrungi Affair yang didapuk sebagai obrolan urban homojakartanesis oleh Seno Gumira Ajidarma, semalam saya baru saja menyelesaikan kumpulan cerita pengalaman dari sudut pandang 10 spesies homojakartanesis lainnya.

Dokumen pribadi

Kumpulan cerita dalam Cerita-Cerita Jakarta terasa ditata sedemikian rupa sehingga sejak catatan editor, pilihan cerita pembuka, hingga pilihan cerita penutup, semuanya berhasil mengiringi emosi pembaca dengan sangat tenang sekaligus menyenangkan. Tidak terkesan buru-buru untuk mencapai klimaks, menyebut setiap sudut tempat di Jakarta yang ingin disebutkan, menciptakan apapun tokoh yang ingin diciptakan, memanggil latar peristiwa manapun dan kapanpun yang ingin diungkit, hingga berakhir dengan bagaimanapun ending yang diinginkan. Tanpa peduli dengan bagaimana pembaca akan merespon.

Hal itu saya rasakan pada cerita pembuka. Judulnya saja sudah mengganggu saya sedemikian rupa. B217AN. Ratri Ninditya berhasil membuat saya menikmati setiap kalimatnya tanpa jeda. Ringan dan cukup membuat saya can relate. Namun tiba-tiba di akhir bagian, saya hampir dibuat mengamuk dengan penyelesaiannya yang tak memberi kejelasan. Bahasa kerennya open ending mungkin ya? Tapi lebih tepatnya yang ada di pikiran saya: apakah saya terlalu bodoh masa tidak paham dengan ending ceritanya?

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Karena tak mau dianggap kalah, saya membaca ulang cerita tersebut, saya telusuri setiap bagian, meski tetap saja saya tak mendapat jawaban. Apalagi judulnya yang saya kira terbaca “Brijan”? Sampai akhirnya saya menyerah dan menelusuri google. Setelah mendapat jawaban atas judul tersebut, saya hanya terkekeh dan merasa benar-benar bodoh. “Berdua Satu Tujuan”. Sesimpel itu bodoh!

Dan setelah mengetahui arti judul tersebut, barulah cerita tersebut mulai terasa logis dalam otak saya.

Kisah-kisah berikutnya diwarnai latar yang sangat bervariasi, dan itu yang saya tunggu! Mulai dari kantor pemerintahan, Jalan Gatot Subroto-yang sehari-hari saya lewati-hingga Senayan, Kampung Melayu Pulo Gebang di Jatinegara, Dunia Fantasi di Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Stasiun Pondok Cina dan Margonda City milik Kota Depok, serta Kramat Tunggak dan Pantai Mutiara di Jakarta Utara.

Salah satu cerita favorit saya jatuh kepada Matahari Tenggelam di Utara gubahan Cyntha Hariadi. Sebuah realita persahabatan dua manusia berbeda kelas sosial dalam lingkungan sekolah, dua remaja naif yang baru tahu rasanya melumat bibir manusia dan menjadi ketagihan, dua jiwa yang meskipun sedalam apapun kalian jatuh cinta, kalau sudah ditampar dengan kejamnya dunia, naluri untuk menyelamatkan diri sendiri memang akan selalu menang. Menampik keras sebuah omong kosong “aku rela melakukan apapun demi kamu, meski harus mengorbankan nyawaku.” Tai kucing! Realistis bro realistis, Cyntha berhasil merangkai kenaifan remaja yang kebanyakan ditutup-tutupi oleh anak-anak zaman sekarang dalam cerita ini. Hats off!

Dari dulu saya selalu jatuh cinta dengan tempat-tempat yang menemani saya tumbuh, jatuh cinta, tersandung, dan bangkit lagi. Salah satunya Jakarta, tempat saya tumbuh lima tahun terakhir. Buku ini membuat saya ingin membuat kompilasi cerita sejenis, namun judulnya saya ganti, Cerita-Cerita Bintaro. Ya, secara teknis saya memang hidup di pinggiran Jakarta, Bintaro.

Dokumen Pribadi

Sepuluh cerita yang saya rasa tak akan membosankan mau dibaca berapa kalipun. Menemani masa-masa karantina di ibukota, jauh dari orang tua dan saudara, pun sahabat dan rekan kerja yang juga sedang menyelamatkan dirinya masing-masing. Kalian bisa mengunjungi @post_santa untuk mengantarkan buku ini sampai pada rumah tercinta kalian. Selamat membaca!

 

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