Beyond the Tropes
For a long time, TV's version of autism was either a cold, calculating genius or a tragic figure in need of fixing. Dinosaur tosses both of those in the bin. Set in Glasgow, the show follows Nina, who works at a paleontological museum (hence the title) and finds her carefully ordered life thrown into chaos when her sister and best friend, Evie, gets engaged after a whirlwind six-week romance.
What makes this work is the authenticity. Ashley Storrie, who plays Nina and co-created the show, is herself autistic, and it shows in the writing. The humor doesn't come from Nina being 'weird'; it comes from Nina pointing out how weird the rest of us are for saying things we don't mean and playing games we don't like.
A Different Kind of Rom-Com
While the show is marketed around dating, the most important relationship is the one between the two sisters. It's a look at how life changes when your 'person' moves into a new phase of life. For Nina, this isn't just an emotional shift; it’s a logistical nightmare that disrupts her routines. The show handles this with a lot of heart and zero condescension.
If your family liked Atypical but wanted something that felt a bit more 'grown-up' and less American-suburban, this is the move. It’s got that dry, slightly cynical British wit, but it never loses its soul. It’s a great pick for parents to watch with teens, especially as a jumping-off point for talking about honesty, social expectations, and why we all pretend to like things we don't just to fit in.
