A Kind of Spark

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.

I watched this show in under 2 days which for me is amazing but I just couldn't stop watching it. The story is very interesting and unlike any other shows on autism which I've seen. First of all it showed autism in girls which is under-researched and generally talked less about than autism in boys. The main character and her sister both have autism and I love how they showed that different autistic people present differently, even within the same family. I also loved how it didn't fall into the trope of presenting autistic people are emotionless or rude. Both girls had personalities and were likable. It also didn't shy away from what it means to be autistic nor treat the girls like burdens or charity cases. The story mirrors a historical mystery and I found the revelations from that story just as heartwarming. It highlighted the challenges autistic people face but also gave a hopeful happy ending that for every bad person there's someone who wants to help. Educational and emotional, a wonderful show.

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.

There are many things I like about this show. I'm an adult who has always struggled to fit in and I love how it pushes that being yourself is always better than trying to be like everyone else.

However as a teacher it angers me what Miss Murphy did. She did not use best practice at all and should have been fired for calling a child a freak and definitely should not have been alone with a child. I'm sure there are black and white teachers who can't deal with students with different needs. But it isn't all of them and we get professional development on how to best differentiate for all the different needs in the class. The history project she gave Keedie's class should have had some different options for how they were to present it. Like oral, written artwork etc... unless it is an English subject it is not assessing writing. There are many other ways that this show inaccurately portrays teachers and schools in this day and age but I know that it wouldn't get the point across as much so I do understand that.

So many times quote on quote representation for those on the spectrum, fails to accurately and actually represent anyone. I've seen it time and time again, and I can say with 100% certainty that this is not the case with a kind of spark. As a neurodivergent woman myself, a kind of spark nails what shows in America have never dared, and that's to paint authentic autistic stories in a positive light. Atypical made us out to be a problem. The good doctor is a sterotype, and the only good representation that barely got by in the states was Everything's gonna be ok. But with a show like A kind of Spark, finally, there is a story with a positive family who understand that while their children are autistic, they are far from being burdens, and they are afar from being problems. The ableism in the show is clear, and the ignorance still rings true to today, I have experienced it myself. Some of it from teachers, and some of it from total strangers or even peers. A kind of spark dares to show a wide facet of the autistic experience in both its protagonists, keedie & Addie, and it is completely and utterly needed. Shows before it, movies before it, fell short. And finally, after all these years, of needing a show that will make many of those on the spectrum feel seen, and heard and absolutely understood, A kind of spark does all this and more. Season 2 is going to be amazing and I hope more people, specifically neurodivergent people, realize we can tell our own stories and that our voices are important to be heard. I want more shows and books and stories about Autistic people for autistic people with autistic individuals and actors at the forefront. Because it is valuable.

The long & the short, this show is for the neurodivergents, and it's 100% worth your time. It's beautiful. It's sweet. It has heart. It's honest, endearing, encouraging, and incredible.