Some would say tearing this episode a new one is inappropriate, given a very focal character in this is autistic and is part of the story's point. Let me tell you this: I'm autistic and my brother as Asperger's Syndrome; I think I have some authority on this.
Let's start with Ferdie, obviously named after a gentle bull. This guy is said as a high functioning autistic, when really he's low functioning with savant syndrome. High functioning individuals are hardly recognizable, but they'll still have a few tendencies. On top of that, he has a heavy dosing of misconceptions that I'm not too happy about.
To be honest, this was the 90s, and there was still some ignorance in the air about representation. However, that's an inherent problem, not an excuse to have the lines "They're those people that live in their own world" and "He's high functioning" back to back. That's not an exaggeration; that happens. He's easily low functioning and a potential sociopath, but they say he's one of the better adapted ones! Bull!
The people around Ferdie are horrid too, being quicker to judge and fear than CHILDREN RAISED BY A NEO-NAZI IN THE SAME SERIES. The ignorance of the 90s, and his qualities akin to a sociopath, can easily explain this, but they still act like they're under Hitler's teachings. They're meant to ignorant of his issues, but the insanity of this town is deep.
I can't be critical of the technical aspects in this episodes, but they were all brought down by an inappropriate script. It is true that being autistic doesn't mean they're mentally ill, but that doesn't mean the two can coexist.
Basically, the Savant Syndrome trope can kill itself, Ferdie needs psychological therapy, and skip this episode.
Let's start with Ferdie, obviously named after a gentle bull. This guy is said as a high functioning autistic, when really he's low functioning with savant syndrome. High functioning individuals are hardly recognizable, but they'll still have a few tendencies. On top of that, he has a heavy dosing of misconceptions that I'm not too happy about.
To be honest, this was the 90s, and there was still some ignorance in the air about representation. However, that's an inherent problem, not an excuse to have the lines "They're those people that live in their own world" and "He's high functioning" back to back. That's not an exaggeration; that happens. He's easily low functioning and a potential sociopath, but they say he's one of the better adapted ones! Bull!
The people around Ferdie are horrid too, being quicker to judge and fear than CHILDREN RAISED BY A NEO-NAZI IN THE SAME SERIES. The ignorance of the 90s, and his qualities akin to a sociopath, can easily explain this, but they still act like they're under Hitler's teachings. They're meant to ignorant of his issues, but the insanity of this town is deep.
I can't be critical of the technical aspects in this episodes, but they were all brought down by an inappropriate script. It is true that being autistic doesn't mean they're mentally ill, but that doesn't mean the two can coexist.
Basically, the Savant Syndrome trope can kill itself, Ferdie needs psychological therapy, and skip this episode.
