Speechless
[Devin Dayley]
Years Airing: 2016-present
Stars:
Mason Cook
Micah Fowler
John Ross Bowie
Summary of the Show:
A teenage boy, JJ (Fowler), has cerebral palsy. He has a know-it-all brother, a competitive sister, an abrasive mother, and an unexciting father. The show is about navigating to adulthood while attempting to be a normal teenager and working through the extra challenges that come with a special-needs teenager.
Review:
I am a special needs person, so I feel like I am uniquely qualified to review this show. This show does many things well and portrays many things accurately, I think. So let’s dive into the deep stuff of this show, shall we?
I really like and think it is incredibly accurate to show that JJ does not have the normal things of life, all the time. Sure, being someone with disabilities does get you special treatment, some of the time. Someone with special needs might get, for instance, a handicap parking pass, get into places for free, and/or get to skip lines that able bodied people have to wait in. They do not, however, get special treatment things like love or feeling included and part of a group. That is why I thought it was accurate in season 1 when JJ did not get the girl he had a crush on. It would have been expected and very “TV” of the show to allow JJ and the girl to get together, but it didn’t. Thus proving that this show is more of a representation of real life and not a cheesy, happy-go-lucky show that no one can relate to.
Something else in this show that I, personally, hate but can appreciate because of its accuracy is Minnie Driver’s character, Maya. I can tell you, for certain, that mom’s who have children with special needs will do anything, ANYTHING to help their child belong and be included. Some of the things a mother will do may seem comedic because they may seem ridiculous or border on illegal. She may make enemies along the way, but mother’s, generally, just want their kids to be happy so they will whatever it takes to make that come to pass.
One more thing I appreciate from this show is Marin Hinkle’s character, Dr. Miller. People do not want to be politically incorrect, ever, so they will often go to great lengths to prove that they are not. This phenomenon is shown here by Dr. Miller, the nervous school principal who will pretty much do anything in order to make the school more accessible. Plus, Marin Hinkle is from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and I love that show so I would love her character anyway.
I think that not all of the jokes land and, at times, the show forces you to think it’s funny. Some of the jokes are SO funny, but some of them are not, which is a shame. I would say that overall, the show has gotten funnier since season 1, but it is still kind of ‘hit or miss’ on particular episodes.
I would rate this show a 5.6/10. I appreciate it for being about a disabled person, but, sometimes, that’s it.
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