What do I mean by Big Neurodivergent Energy shows? It’s not just an abundance of ND-coded characters (in my case, autistic and/or ADHD,) although that’s definitely a factor. It’s something in the bones of the show itself. I don’t usually know why—maybe one or more of the creatives behind the camera are neurodivergent, knowingly or otherwise. But whatever the reason, something deep in the show feels so neurodivergent. It feels like home, it feels like me. I’ve loved all kinds of shows over the years, but many of these are the ones that really seep into my soul and don’t let me go.
By the way, when I first got the idea to do a Top Five post on this, I came up with seven shows. Rather than cut two of them out, at first I thought I’d just sit on it until I came up with enough for a Top Ten, because I couldn’t bear to exclude any of them. But then suddenly I had fourteen! So, this post is going to recur in new batches of five whenever I feel like it, because every show with Big Neurodivergent Energy needs to be celebrated!
For this first five, a few particular commonalities emerged: 1) People who are weird and broken are still beautiful and deserving of love. 2) Grace, kindness, and forgiveness can be extended regardless of whether someone has “earned” it. And 3) life can be harsh and small and suffocating, but we can reenvision life and try to make our own version of it. Lovely principles to stand by!
Doctor Who
I love, love, love that every incarnation of the Doctor feels AuDHD, but their neurodivergence looks a little different with each regeneration. From Ten’s repetition of words to Eleven’s constant stimming to Twelve’s bluntness, the Doctor demonstrates the many varied possibilities of autism and ADHD within a single character. I love that so much, and I love that, in their travels over the centuries, they’ve been able to meet so many people who appreciate those qualities in them. The Doctor is the walking, talking embodiment of the notion that life needs to be lived on your own terms rather than by any list of “rules” that you’re told you’re supposed to follow.
Our Flag Means Death
This is the show that helped me realize that so many of my favorite fictional couples are autistic- and/or ADHD-coded. Stede and Ed’s romance plays out in such a beautiful, unconventional, neurodivergent way, and I just love that they adore the things in one another that other people denigrate. And beyond the central pairing, the whole ship is bursting with neurodivergent swag. Just as the Revenge is a safe, welcoming place to be queer, it’s also a place that invites all sorts of minds. Everyone on the crew gets to be exactly who they are, and that makes me so happy!
Parks and Recreation
Leslie Knope, my AuDHD-coded queen! She’s the one steering the ship, but the whole Parks and Rec department radiates neurodivergent vibes. I love the beautifully autistic romance between Leslie and Ben, and I love that, while Ron and Leslie are so different on the surface, their minds still resonate with one another and contribute to their lovely friendship. I appreciate this show for every binder and scrapbook, every repeated meal of waffles, and every bluntly deadpan retort.
Pushing Daisies
I was a big fan of other shows before this—I was really into Lost and the early seasons of How I Met Your Mother, and Breaking Bad started around the same time—but Pushing Daisies is the first show that, like, consumed my soul. Everything about it just felt made for me, from the delicious wordplay to the whimsical settings to the oddball characters with their heady blend of sweetness, sadness, and sharpness. Pushing Daisies is the first show I loved that sent me racing to IMDb, not just to check out the actors, but to check out the showrunner. I thought, This is my show. I need to see more of what this mind created.
Ted Lasso
This is an interesting case for me. Even though it’s loaded with quirky characters, has found-family vibes coming out its ears, and I knew I loved it in my soul, its Big Neurodivergent Energy crept up on me. None of the characters struck me as autistic- and/or ADHD-coded at first (I know, right? Beard???) But then, as I was picking up on the pattern that so many shows I’ve deeply loved feel hella neurodivergent, I started wondering if any of the characters on Ted Lasso could fit into my headcanons. And as I looked, I soon realized I was hard-pressed to find one who didn’t exude neurodivergence. Roy’s flat facing, growling, and frank honesty has my heart, but I also love Ted’s people pleasing and empathy, Keeley’s tendency to abandon words when she’s excited, and Dani yelling his own name as a verbal stim. And I really like the message that everyone has their broken parts, but 1) that doesn’t mean they’re incapable of change and 2) they don’t need to “fix” themselves before being worthy of grace and love.
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