What I’m Watching: Atypical (Season Finale)

Atypical: Season 1, Episode 8 “The Silencing Properties of Snow” (B+)

This was a terrific end to a superb first season, and I’m very glad to know that this show will be back again for a second season. Sam breaking up with Paige during their dinner at Olive Garden was certainly unfortunate, and she showed up to his house with quite the public execution of the penguin she was going to get him. His decision to go to the dance to show her how much he cared about her, look for her necklace, and then jump into the water in his tux to get it was very sweet, and it appears to have worked out pretty well for him if his post-igloo report was any indication. Confessing his affection to Julia went extremely poorly, though most of that is her fault for reacting in an extremely unprofessional way. Doug was right to go chastise her for that, and it seems like, after everything, things almost worked out for her, though her response to Miles’ “I win” proposal was pretty fantastic. Casey went to the dance, marveled at how cool it was, had Evan pick her up, and then revealed how she managed to stick it to her mom. Visiting Nick at the bar was an intense start, but leaving a blunt “stop banging the bartender” note at home for both of her parents to see was pretty crushing. I am curious to see where things stand when this show returns sometime next year, and I sincerely hope that star Keir Gilchrist earns some much-deserved awards attention for his performance as Sam.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Keir Gilchrist