A Kind of Spark

A Kind of Spark is a good television series. I do like that we have a show with the main characters all neurodivergent, as this is very rare.

The episodes are well-written and the actors perform excellently and portray their roles well.

Good storytelling and good plots.

It is great that they cover autism as well as meltdowns, as it resonates with the audience.

9/10, could be a 10/10 as there could be minor improvements. I feel like they could have added more teachers and seen their perspectives and maybe a few more supporting actors and more topics to delve into, however these are minor things.

Would recommend.

I'm already aware I was/am NVLD, ADHD, and math learning disabled but as an adult realizing I totally fully fit enough of the ASD autism criteria, I can definitely relate to this show so much. It's not necessarily inaccurate to show autism representations as lacking empathy but it's great to show presentations of autism people might not be aware of yet. The representation of Addie as being hyper-empathetic is so good as that can also be a presentation of atypical empathy in autism where your emotional empathy is higher than allistic people (non autistic people/people without autism.) This show is amazing and as a hyper-empathetic probably autistic person myself the show made me cry of I think of sadness as well as for happiness at different times. I finished watching season 2 and all I won't spoil it but it was also amazing and so good. I really wish I could be friends with Addie and Keedie in real life and teach each other about our special interests. Also, season 2 shows complicated autistic rep of a bad home life and how they become bitter as a result. It's left in a way that it could be an end or definitely move on past just Juniper and show more stories with the characters in a 3rd season. But I won't say anything more about the amazing season 2 as not to spoil it.

A Kind of Spark really is exciting and joyful as a piece. Though it is a childrens show it is certainly one that anybody of any age would enjoy and gain something from...which you can't often say. A truely family watch the characters of all ages are relateable and thete is no friction between the age groups only an encouragement to speak out no matter who you are when something is wrong. Addie is wholesome and kind something autistic people cannot often find in the way they are presented. Though she and all of the characters you root for have struggles and are sometimes slightly harsh on another they are the best humans anybody could wish to meet and their kindness is something th world could do with copying. It also though dark in places dials down some of the fear of the book and is about joy and family at its heart. As a neurodiverse person it is everything I could hope for and more.

Part of the premise of "A Kind of Spark" is the idea that some people that we think of as autistic, are actually that way because they have magical powers. I find this to be a dangerous precedent, the idea that people who are different, are different because in actuality they have superpowers or an alien. It is the like the mom telling the kid, "You're special, all the other kids are just jealous." It has the right intentions, but it is a little misleading and insulting.

The show is very heavy handed with their commentary. Doing the parallel of kids with special needs being rounded up like it was a witch hunt. And the kids in this show, some of them are just the worst. The show writes bullies to be nothing more than strawmen to be knocked down. They will go out of their way to be a jerk and have absolutely no redeeming qualities. If you are wanting the audience to learn how not to bully kids with special needs, then you need to set up a more relatable antagonist. People should be able to watch and see themselves in the characters. They see the errors in their ways and realize, I should do better, otherwise I will end up like that person there. But when they are this cartoonishly over the top evil, it becomes impossible for the audience to learn that because no human being would act that way.

The child actors are all doing fine, the script is just beyond saving. I don't like it. The show comes across as preachy, standing on a soapbox and scolding their audience. And they aren't even good at being preachy.

It's a wholesome watch with a positive message, but not much to write home about. The premise is heartwarming and more of a mystery, so it will leave you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happens. There's also another story juxtaposed in with the contemporary setting and it's very slow-paced compared to the other story until you get to the end. I still found myself being interested in what was happening with the witches, even though I think it should've been paced a little better. It's mostly talky and not much doing until the last few episodes.

I do think the portrayal of the autistic characters were accurate, but some of the treatment I feel are outdated by 2023 standards. The portrayal of the harsh teachers and the bullying of autistic people for being different and smart were accurate to my experience, but I don't think kids in high school would insult someone for having an autistic meltdown or "not looking autistic". We are much more accepting of autism and other neurodivergent disorders than in the past.

I do like some of the characters. Addie and Maggie are the typical spunky girls, but they're good role models. They're positive people who will never give up on making a change. Frank and Audrey are nice supporting characters. I can't go in depth with Elinor since there will be spoilers. She does seem like a stiff person, but it all makes sense once you finish the season. I don't care for the twin sisters, though. Nina as a character had potential, but not much was done with her. I think more should've been done with her dealing with her arcs of the jealousy she has with her sisters and the fact that she caused her sister to get bullied by outing her autism and the strain it put on her relationship with her twin. Instead, that arc was dropped for a contrived typical teen plotline involving her trying to maintain popularity and a fallout with her boyfriend and everything with her gets resolved too quickly. Keedie doesn't really get interesting until the last two episodes, which I won't spoil. She mostly squabbles with her sister over nothing and mainly acts as a mentor for Addie. Jenny was very unlikeable until the end. She has a codependency on Emily, Addie's bully, but she wasn't sympathetic at all. I wanted to yell at her for being so attached to that wench.

I do wonder how they're gonna continue this series, though, as I don't feel like there's anything more they need to add.