Atypical: Road Rage Paige

"Sometimes there’s no good answer.”

Time to finish Atypical- at first we wanted to savour it and not let it finish as the new season won’t be for ages. But it’s been longer than we intended, and there’s a new streaming series we want to see next week. So here’s the first of the final three episodes in quick succession.

The start is cute and heartwarming, as Casey and Izzy kiss; Casey has finally realised her feelings are serious and, for once, she can put Evan out of her mind... and then along comes Evan’s sister to remind her of the awkward love triangle she finds herself in. And then things get tied up in knots even more as she arranges to meet Evan to dump him, but is hugely relieved to be spotted leaving the house at 2am and grounded by Doug, spared from having to do it. And it’s clear how much she’s beginning to compare herself to Elsa. Everything is a huge mess, and she’s really young.

Meanwhile there’s another difficult relationship, with Sam having been “un-homied” by an angry Zahid. At first we get a flashback to how their awesome friendship started... and they we are brutally brought back to the present. And it’s awful.

Then there’s Elsa and Doug, with Doug finding it difficult to accept Elsa’s decision to go for separation. And Paige is still feeling a failure after dropping out of university, something manifesting itself in hilarious road rage incidents. Fortunately Evan gives some sound advice to Sam and gets him to ask her what’s wrong... and when she pours out her heart he’s able to tell her, straightforwardly and truthfully, that he still loves her, and she knows he’s being honest. Never has his autism been more helpful. So, finally, they have sex, and it is good. That’s the one good thing that happens to anyone in this downbeat episode.

Unfortunately Evan is unable to be Sam’s new Zahid, though, as Casey has just tearfully dumped him in a gut-wrenching scene, and both of them are heartbroken. But Doug is made to realise that perhaps some of the blame for his and Elsa’s relationship breaking down is his.

This is just masterful writing and acting. Having started less strongly than other seasons this final stretch is more than making up for it.