Good and bad news for fans of Netflix’s Atypical comes at the start of this week, with the streaming service announcing its renewal of the show for a fourth and final season. However, audiences shouldn’t expect to see it until at least 2021.
The coming-of-age dramedy stars Kier Gilchrist (of United States of Tara and It’s Kind of a Funny Story) as Sam, an 18 year-old on the autism spectrum who attempts dating, among many other milestones, for the first time. Atypical additionally features Jennifer Jason Leigh as Sam’s overprotective mother, Michael Rapaport as his father, Doug, Brigette Lundy-Paine as Sam’s younger sister, Casey, and Amy Okuda as Sam’s therapist, Julia.
Created by Robia Rashid, formerly known for her work as a producer on The Goldbergs and How I Met Your Mother, the series has received praise for Gilchrist’s portrayal of its leading character on the autism spectrum since premiering in August 2017. Despite initial criticism centering on the show’s lack of real-life autistic actors and crew, Atypical has since gone on to feature more writers and actors on the spectrum themselves. Its third season, which premiered in November 2019, went on to earn the highest critical praise of all, with critics noting the show had found its stride. The second season was nominated for a Peabody Award in 2018.
Rashid stated she is “thrilled” to learn of the series’ renewal in a statement, adding that while she’s “so sad to be nearing the end of this series, I am extremely grateful to have been able to tell this story,” continuing, “It’s my hope that the legacy of Atypical is that more unheard voices continue to be heard and that even after this series ends, we keep telling funny, emotional stories from underrepresented points of view.”
Atypical’s fourth season will consist of ten episodes, most likely wrapping up Sam’s journey as he continues college and moves out of his childhood home. It is expected to premiere in 2021.