Abed is probably the best autistic character I've seen on TV and I think we should talk about that.
Aka, I would like to take the stage and info dump.
I don't know if it's just because Abed is the first character who's experiences and personality align closely with my own- but to me he is probably the most solid autistic rep out there.
1. Starting off, I really enjoy two things about how Abed's special interests are presented.
First of all how his special interest is easily stripped down to being what it is essentially: being passionate and liking something a whole lot.
Neurological society finds the joy that autistics experience to be "too much" or weird or geeky, they ostracise it, and villainise it. But the truth is that being passionate about stuff is part of existing. The intensity of our passion is just a bonus, as Abed puts it; "I guess I just like liking things".
Secondly I like that while simultaneously Abed's special interest is de-ostracised and de-villainised, it is still presented from the autistic perspective:
For me having special interests are a core part of my being; they are what motivate me and help me enjoy life. Being passionate about things is our religion. Our special interests are our religions.
2. I really like how instead of Abed falling into the unlovable autistic/geek trope, they flip it the other way: my man's pulling bitches left and right, (and has a continual bromance with his best friend). He's a self assured autistic character, which felt really refreshing and positive representation-wise. He is lovable, and is loved while still being his autistic self.
Specifically on the self-esteem-with dating-front, it was actually surprising to me to see Abed's kind of character represented like this. It was great.
3. I also enjoyed the little bits or jokes that Abed's character got throughout the series. These moments felt pretty relatable as an autistic, albeit them being made super obvious, for the joke. (E.g. At least in my experience a situation like the second image is more likely to be more of an internal, "did I misread something?".)
4. Abed's daydreaming is extremely relatable to me. Me and Abed both share a passion for film, and therefore we build detailed worlds and storylines in our heads. It was really nice to see the imagination and daydreaming that seems to universally come hand in hand with being neurodivergence, actually being shown.
The only times this ever confused me was with Abed's claymation episode. When I first saw it I really thought Abed was experiencing psychosis or something similar. Rather than Abed retreating into an intense daydream to process his real world feelings. Seeing it again I realised that was what it was, and it hit hard.
The maladaptive-type-daydreaming I get creates situations similar to this, where I'll slip into a daydream and struggle to snap out of it and interact with the real world. I can't say I've ever gone full claymation though. But it was really nice to see that side of neurodivergence shown in media, since I've never seen it discussed elsewhere.
5. Abed changing himself to be palatable and likeable.
This is such a universal experience for neurodivergent people. I experienced this throughout my whole childhood. I would go so far as to wear the same style of clothes, and adopt the same mannerisms, and like the same thinhs as the people I thought I was "friends" with, since they liked me more when I was a mini version of them.
Recently my sister (who we suspect to have some type of adhd- yes my whole family is neurodivergent lol), went through the same experience as me- of changing your entire personality to fit with the people who are supposed to be your friends.
She even managed to convince herself she was a swiftie while she was friends with one, then a a few years later, tells us how much she loathes taylor swift in reality.
The above quote is important to me because it shows that Abed being Autistic doesn't make him a robot with no feelings, (love you Data, but you did lowkey set us back a bit), he cares about his friends and how people see him. He wants to be loved and he loves.
In my lifetime most neurodivergent people I've met hugely and deeply care about other people. We might seem selfish or aloof due to the complications of being neurodivergent in a world that makes your existence an uncomfortable battle- but we care so much. I really like that that Abed is shown to be like this. Even if his character does slip into the monotone robot archetype at times, it's mostly for humour related shenanigans.
6. I really appreciate how Abed has his person- Troy. Seeing their friendship makes me hopeful that I'll be able to have friends like them someday. An autistic character having a best friend is great, because so often they are the side kick, without being the half of a whole.
Overall I like that Abed is humanized as a character. He has flaws and he has qualities. Just like the rest of the study group, even though he's autistic, he is still valued. He is still an important member of the study group, (or should I say, "the greendale seven") ((Or should I say "peirce hawthorn and the greendale six"?))
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