I was gonna put off watching “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” because I’m not in a mood for anything remotely apocalyptic, but then I saw this tweet from AutisticSciencePerson:
So, I just watched Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix, and the only thing they got wrong in that film is that they used "weird" instead of "neurodivergent" or "autistic."
— @AutSciPerson@mstdn.social (@AutSciPerson) May 2, 2021
I wonder how NTs would respond if they just casually dropped that in the movie.#MitchellsVsMachines
I could really use a dose of good autism representation after a terrible acceptance month, so I watched it, and then I re-watched it, and now I enthusiastically cosign.
Whoever wrote the Dad in that movie, really needs to consider that they are likely autistic, if they haven't yet..
— @AutSciPerson@mstdn.social (@AutSciPerson) May 2, 2021
Also the movie shows a great understanding of autistic empathy.
So this was like very obviously autistic I think to a lot of people.
— @AutSciPerson@mstdn.social (@AutSciPerson) May 3, 2021
I don't actually think they do a lot of that "quirky" stuff and they own the weirdness which is awesome,
I just wish they were allowed to say what these people are – neurodivergent and autistic.
Maybe someday we’ll get to where we can s/weird/neurodivergent/ in popular media and do so compassionately and authentically, laughing at the deficits of our spiky profiles while celebrating our strengths and whole selves.
Though we don’t get to hear the word autistic aloud, leaving the family’s neurodivergence to headcanon, there’s some great autism rep: stims, special interests, monotropism, hyperfocus, meltdowns, autistic empathy, and more.
I found the following scenes very relatable to neurodivergent family and life (mildly spoiler-ish):
“Hi. Would you like to talk to me about dinosaurs?”
“…we can make ten seconds of unobstructed family eye contact.” [straining]
“After all these years, I’m finally gonna meet my people.”
“These dinosaurs are inaccurate!”
“Check out this pencil topper.” [romantic music plays]
“What would a functional family do right now?”
“Mitchell family on three! Three.”
“Zebulon, scan those people for flaws.”
“Guys, can’t we all just be terrified together as a family.”
“We’re here because we don’t think like normal people.”
“The Mitchells have always been weird, and that’s what makes us great.”
“Don’t hide your feelings, man. That’s no way to live.”
“Just look for anyone who can’t keep it together.”
“They’re pretending to be capable.”
“What kind of maniac has one of those in his pockets at all times? This kind of maniac.”
“Rick, Rick. Let’s not re-litigate this.”
“Sometimes you have to listen to long monologues about Triceratops migration…”
“If this obstinate man could change his programming, we decided we could change ours.”
“I wonder if you could come over and talk about dinosaurs casually sometime!”
“Don’t let the world make you normal.”
“Good luck finding your people.”
“You guys are my people.”
“Raptor bash. For life.”
Source: The Mitchells vs. The Machines — Netflix
This movie is a heart-warming raptor bash for neurodivergent family. Watch it, and then watch it again to appreciate all the queer and neurodivergent touches.
For anyone tweeting about #MitchellsVsMachines –
— @AutSciPerson@mstdn.social (@AutSciPerson) May 3, 2021
If you relate to the characters in the movie, you might be autistic or some other neurodivergent (like ADHD).
In you want to look into it, here are some resources:https://t.co/tUQ56T30ZC
This whole movie was wonderful neurodivergent rep lol
— Riah (ry-uh) (@lilririah) May 3, 2021
*raptor bash, rahhh* 🦖pic.twitter.com/zNAlslVZfo
It was also fun seeing each of their special interests.
— Riah (ry-uh) (@lilririah) May 3, 2021
I appreciated the reflection on how parents might sacrifice their special interest for the sake of parenting, and as kids we might see their attempts to bring it back up as countering our own.
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