In my opinion, Will Graham, Holden Ford, and Gregory House are the best autistic characters I've seen. They're very smart, and while House is actually a genuis, the way his intelligence is approached compared to a characters like Spencer Reid or Sheldon Cooper is vastly different. They're extremely passionate and good at their jobs (which are arguably their special interests) but it just feels a lot less... gimmicky and like its not feeding so much into stereotypes. They stim and get overstimulated all the time. They have relationships, but they struggle with social interaction and society's expectations. They're rude quite a lot, not because they're inherently mean people, but because while they can recognize they're being rude, they either can't understand that the reasoning society has put in place for why their actions/words are rude or they don't even really notice because they can't naturally recognize the social cues going on around them (House specifically wants to be an asshole but I'm talking about how he acts unintentionally). They have one person they're really close with who understands them but otherwise tends to isolate themselves. They struggle to understand how they're feeling. They're different. They're weird, but not comically so. They feel like they were written as real people with real emotions and not as some extreme, unrealistically fake character.

Don't get me wrong, I love Spencer Reid as much as the next person, and autism is a spectrum, and I know there are autistic people who do relate to him and other autistic characters. I just feel like autistic characters are so often sensationalized, infantilizated, and written as almost comically unrealistic. And I'm not saying Will, Holden, or House aren't unrealistic because they are in a lot of ways, but they don't feel like a joke. The point is that we are all different, and it's nice to see characters break out of that mold that autistic representation has historically forced them into.

Again, autism is a spectrum, and I know there are people out there who relate a lot to Spencer or Sheldon or whoever, and that's completely fine. But I feel like we so rarely get to see autistic characters actually on a spectrum, instead of being shoved into one box.

Aaannnddd Freminet has quickly shot up to Chongyun level of love from me. He's a precious soul who needs protecting 😭 I want a hangout with him immediately.

So like, Tori Spring has autism and depression, and Michael Holden has autism, ADHD, and anger issues, right? Like, this is widely accepted in the fandom as a fact? Cuz I have no idea how else i’m supposed to interpret these characters.

…And to think that I didn’t quite like the first episode and considered not watching the rest! Phileas Fogg turned out to be such a darling, so sad and so delightfully tormented. Yes, he’s not the Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne's book, cold-blooded and self-assured, but I gradually came to appreciate this version more. I have a thing for neurodivergent characters—and David Tennant always delivers :)

Masterlist

Hey! I've decided to link fic rec posts I make here so you can find them more easily

fav jerejean fics pt2

Recent fics (as of Feb. 2024)

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secret relationship

rivalry/pro players Andreil pt1 and pt2

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Aro/ace spec neil

Kid fics

Selectively mute neil

Time travel

Protective Neil

parents andreil

Other recs

On this blog...

You'll find:

Fic recs from the All for the game fandom

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I don't know if it's occurred to anyone recently, that the real/biggest reason that Lex Luthor felt like an alien while growing up in Smallville wasn't just that he was extremely intelligent (to an admittedly astronomical degree), but mainly due to the fact that he was hypersensitive, struggled to connect with people unless he felt they were very similar to him and was basically socially inept, all likely due to a possibly undiagnosed neurological condition (your guess is as good as any).

I feel like it's been heavily implied for a while now in certain Superman works that Lex may have literally been on the autism spectrum or have grown up with a related condition. Combine that with super genius intellect, a deeply ingrained sense of superiority and entitlement as well as emotional growth-stunting abuse, and you have a recipe for the perfect completely unstable, super villain catastrophe.

Likewise, I think it's been implied for a while now that Clark is also a representation of what being neurodivergent is like, but with the metaphor being made actual. Hence why he doesn't "feel like" an alien. He IS an alien. An alien that has had to mask what makes him different from others his entire life. With only those closest to him knowing the truth.

A perfect example of both of these concepts can be found in the first issue of the (technically...) on-going Superman miniseries Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor. (Same with its spiritual predecessor Superman: Birthright, if I'm being honest.)

What does anybody else think? It seems to me that only a few people at most have talked about any of this before, at least online.

DC Comics Incorrect Quotes Pt 136

Two Face: Do you have any personal connection to the defendant?

Tim: Yeah, that's my boy. And let me tell you something; he did that shit. Guilty as fuck.

Jason: What the fuck? Motherfuckers really ain't got no loyalty.

Tim: Fuck you mean no loyalty?

Jason: You just gonna go up there-

Two Face: Can you shut the fuck up?

Jason: You know what? I got some shit to say, put me on the stand.

Harvey: Do not go up there and testify. You're the defendant, don't say shit.

Jason: Fuck it. Hey, put me up on the stand.

Dick: This motherfucker going to jail.

Charlie's OCD isn't "overlooked" in the show (and especially not in s2)

OCD is a disorder that affects and acts mostly inside our brains, it's not easy to make a representation that's good and make it completely "easy" to see. most people don't realize the amount of hints we got about Charlie's obsessions because they have the typical stereotypes of people with OCD being obsessively clean or tidy when a lot of us aren't like that. but they don't see that stereotype because Charlie isn't like that.

in order to understand his OCD we have to pay attention to the amount of importance he gives to perfection and control because those types of things have a lot of importance to people with OCD (i can say this from my own experience too).

his ED started because it's linked to his OCD. there are many scenes that are clearly hints to his OCD; the scene after he passed out where he's literally having a compulsion that is SH related, him being extra "positive" about everything being perfect to the point that's kind of scary, him also wanting to be perfect, the whole line he had in Ben's last scene literally saying that he has "this voice in the back of his mind saying that's what he deserved" (where he basically described one of the symptoms).

there are just a lot of hints, the only difference is that it's adapted in a different way because in the comics we can see his intrusive thoughts and obsessions but we can't see that on the show

Wanted to share this fic I wrote yesterday. It’s extremely cute and sweet and was a ton of fun to write. Who doesn’t love a cheeky fic with neurodivergent character! We have a False using BSL and a ADHD Gem. :3

The neurodivergence of Legend of Korra: Asami Sato

Perhaps others have noticed this, not sure, but I thought I'd write about it because it's why I love these characters so much. I'd like to go through all four of them, but we'll see.

Asami Sato

Her behaviors and characterization

When we first meet Asami Sato, she has run into Mako literally. We also see how her flirting is basically dialed up to 11. There is no subtlety about it at all. In fact, this will be true the entire series and comic run. She simply cannot do subtle flirting. It's either all or nothing.

We also see how she is essentially acting for her father. When she's alone with the group, especially during the racecar scene, she drops her socialite mask. She's more down-to-earth, more compassionate, more playful, and tends toward what I call her 'observation mode' where she analyzes a situation to try to discern solutions. She's also very justice oriented.

Her strong streak of justice is what pushes her to turn on her father. Although that scene shows her struggling with the decision, everything up to that point had left clues that she would not side with her father on this. She found the accusations Korra made unjust and confusing, and she worried that her father was being targeted due to being a nonbender -- this is all worries rooted in a sense of justice. So when the moment comes when she discovers Korra is correct, her father has betrayed the city and is harming people, her sense of justice flares again. She looks at the people she had befriended, how hurt they are, and how they are being rounded up like cattle. And she chooses justice.

This is a common theme for her. She chooses justice and Korra again and again. She is incredibly loyal. Stubbornly loyal.

She also struggles with social situations. Her interactions with Varrick in Book 2 for instance show how easily confused she is in social situations that are a bit chaotic. She tends to prefer more ordered social interactions. She at this point has been unmasked around Team Avatar for several months, so she also struggles to bring up her socialite mask around Varrick. Her palpable relief when she's done interacting with Varrick shows how draining these situations are (which is also an indicator of her being an introvert).

All of her eye rolls are the typical eyerolls you see for autistic characters and people in real life. There's actually an interesting post about how autistic people actually "roll" their eyes for the eye roll because we're interpreting it literally. While non-autistic people don't do that - they look up then down. I find this pretty accurate for a lot of us, to be honest.

Asami hyperfocuses a lot. She has special topics that she can infodump on for hours. Some of the few times she talks a lot in the series is her discussions relating to her engineering.

She is visibly uncomfortable in large crowds, and you see this especially in Book 4, where she is shown uneasy and frustrated by the crowds (and then Wu) at the train dedication ceremony. She is relieved and relaxes ONLY when someone she trusts appears - Mako, but even then, she's still on guard. You also see this in Book 3, where she hangs at the edges of crowds during Korra's press conference about the vines -- she is there to support Korra but shows hesitancy in getting any closer to the proceedings.

Her quiet watching of the Krew is a common trope for autism in cartoons. The quiet, thoughtful, loyal, smart person who is present and only talks when needed. The way she talks is also highly that of a neurodivergent person, in that it is very direct and uses language that doesn't fit the typical norms that non-autistic characters used.

Like in Book 3, where she tries to parse Bolin's somewhat confusing explanation of why they had lost Kai, so she turns to Mako and asks, "Can you interpret that?" I noticed that she behaves this way if the speaker talks too fast or blurts out a lot of information at once. She has to take time to process it, and so tends to be more of a planner. Her replies are always measured and rarely does she blurt out things. She analyzes the situation carefully, thinks it through, and then comes to a decision. This actually is what makes her the perfect foil for Korra.

She prefers strict/rigid schedules and when those are disrupted she struggles with finding balance. This leaves her on edge and insecure (you see this in Book 1 and 2); however, in Book 4, when her schedule is disrupted to work on the hummingbirds, her reaction is anger and irritation, due to her character development. She's become secure in who she is now, so disruptions no longer bring out insecurity but instead her irritation. (Every time she deals with Varrick that irritation toward him is apparent, because he adds an element of chaos that Asami does not like. Plus I don't think she ever forgives him for the bullshit he pulled on her in Book 2).

Asami hates dishonesty. You see this in Book 1 especially, where she's angry at Mako because of his dishonesty. She is never angry with Korra, because Korra was never dishonest with her. Even when Ikki shares that Korra likes Mako, Korra never disputes it, she's honest and shows that she still wants a friendship with Asami. So Asami respects her for this. Asami is always honest and direct in her interactions. If she is subtle, it's in a playful way or because she's uncertain on how exactly to proceed in the interaction.

All of these can be common traits for autistic folks. These behaviors, her speech, her reactions, and how she is shown to stand and exist in scenes were all used when I went through a few diagnostic tests for her.

Diagnostic Tests

There's several types of tests for autism. One that I had for my evaluations (as an adult), is a variation of this one here: Autism Spectrum Quotient When I went through that test and examined each question based on Asami's words, reactions, interactions, and actions in the series (transcripts are useful for this as well as rewatching), Asami scored between 36 and 42, which is above the typical autistic mean of 32.

The reason this was a range is due to the fact some of the questions reference situations that was never shown in the show or comic run, so I had to think through how she reacted in a similar situation to try to discern whether she'd agree or disagree with that question.

Social situation questions The social situation questions were also a struggle to decide on if she'd agree or not. When she is masking in Book 1 for her father, it looks like she enjoys them, but as soon as she turns on her father and unmasks for Korra, Mako, and Bolin (she slowly unmasks through the rest of book 1 and 2), she no longer looks at ease in social situations. In fact, she looks more and more uneasy, and she becomes more and more quiet.

Another important example for social interactions is exemplified in the Book 1 scene where Ikki shares with Asami that Korra likes Mako. Korra is horrified at this because she hadn't wanted to make things awkward between them, but Asami just looks thoughtful and replies, "I wasn't aware of that." She misses these clues partly because she is taking in data about how Korra reacts to her and not to Mako. This scene also reveals how subtle details in social interactions escapes Asami's notice unless she is hyperfocused on observing the situation to gather data. After that scene with Ikki, Asami pays much, much closer attention to Mako. Not Korra. She knows where Korra stands, but she doesn't know where Mako stands. She goes into what I often call her "observation mode" where she observes the proceedings, and then once she has a better handle on it, she starts to interact/react.

She also tends to talk more when she's with people she trusts -- the Krew for instance. Otherwise, she's fairly quiet in discussions with other people -- such as planning meetings with the Krew, Lin, Tonraq, and others in Book 3 -- where she only speaks up out of concern for Korra. Otherwise, she is quietly listening and observing proceedings.

Patterns

There are some other questions in the test that are outdated as noted by the authors of that website (who are autistic clinicians). So any questions related to "dates" I interpreted as noticing numerical and other types of patterns, which Asami does.

Asami is excellent at noticing patterns and odd details in the environment. You first see this in Book 1 when she comments on a detail in the environment that is odd, or her behavior shows her noticing the detail and reacting to it. Before she can fully process what it means, it's often too late (like the electric invisible fence where Asami noticed a detail that she found odd, but it was too late, and they all get knocked out). This happens other times in the series as well.

Hyperfocusing and empathy Her engineering knowledge is definitely her special interest, and when asked about it, she gladly talks far more than any other time. Her hyperfocusing on tasks often to the exclusion of all other tasks and bodily needs is pretty common for her -- one of the reasons why the fandom is convinced she forgets to eat due to this hyperfocusing, so then Korra saves the day by making her eat.

This hyperfocusing also shows up with how she cares for Korra at the end of Book 3/4. She is super, hyperfocused on being there for Korra and is willing to drop everything to be with Korra, even to head South with her. (It's also because she's in Love with Korra, let's be honest there, but it's that tendency to hyperfocus on what/who she loves that also plays a role too I think. I know I can do that myself where I hyperfocus on the person I love, and then have to dial back.)

Some might claim that because Asami is highly sensitive and perceptive of other people's emotions, then that is a sign she isn't autistic. I, however, argue that is actually a good indicator she is autistic. Autistic people are not lacking in compassion at all. In fact, we're the opposite. We feel too much, and that can be overwhelming to the point of deadening emotions or causing us to fall out of sync with our emotions. We also take in too much sensory data, and that can also overwhelm us. So when people make the claim that we lack sympathy or compassion, it's because we are often in an overwhelmed state because we are feeling too much of it. We want to help, but until we stabilize or limit the sensory overload, it's harder for us to articulate and make it clear how much we care.

This is also why our sense of justice can be so strong. We care so much, and we find arbitrary rules to be frustrating. We want to know why something is the way it is, and if there isn't an answer that makes sense as to why things are that way, there is a tendency for autistic people to disregard that rule. We prefer just and fair options, and prefer direct and honesty because it's easier for us to interpret and process.

Now there is ALWAYS nuance to this as not all autistic people have the same traits nor do our traits manifest in the same way. But there is strong correlations that we all share, and Asami shares as well.

Anyway, I could go into further depth and do some scene analysis, but I'll stop here because my pain has flared up again, and I need some rest. Thanks for reading!

Art of Oliver and Felipe by Oblivionsdream

I commissioned art of Oliver and Felipe from @oblivionsdream and I NEEDED to show it off. Look at my boys ;--; I wanted something soft since so much of The Reanimator's Heart and The Reanimator's Soul is so tense. They deserve more rest and softness.

Oliver (black hair) is an autistic necromancer, and Felipe (brown hair) is an undead investigator working for the Paranormal Society.

So WHAT if autistic folks find comfort in Aziraphale and see ourselves represented in him? So WHAT if ADHDers find comfort in Crowley and see ourselves represented in him? Neurodivergent folks think these characters are like us and it's comforting, so WHAT! I'm an auDHDer (autistic as well as ADHD) and I absolutely see traits in both characters I relate to and I adore it. My closet is pretty much just a dozen flannels and button ups and various graphic tees for shows I like, and hasn't been updated since, oh, I'd say around the 1800's (I joke with you amusingly). I get upset almost too easily and have a hard time expressing my emotions "properly", even as a grown man. I have a safe space from the world that myself and only very close very trusted loved ones can enter, and I get incredibly upset when it's being disturbed by unwelcome visitors. I'm very observant and inquisitive about how the world works and why things are the way they are and get really upset at even slight injustices. I flap my hands and shake my fists and smile and giggle when I'm happy or excited. I wear tinted glasses, yes even indoors, to deal with sensory overload. All that shit is shit Aziraphale and Crowley do, too. So I LOVE these characters. Who cares that neurodivergent folks find comfort in them. I highly doubt Neil Gaiman's the type of asshole to tell me I shouldn't. He's always been a pretty big advocate for the folks that society doesn't like, as a writer and as a person, so I think he wouldn't mind if I find comfort in seeing my autistic traits in his angel or my ADHD traits in his demon. Michael Sheen literally said "god bless the happy flappers" with a bunch of heart emojis to an autistic fan saying they loved Azraphale's hand stimming because they did it too in 2019, so I highly doubt he'd care either. And I keep seeing the argument thrown around that angels and demons couldn't be neurodivergent because they should be "perfect" celestial beings, which is grossly ableist. If angels and demons can be visibly physically disabled, they can be invisibly mentally disabled too, I reckon.

Anyways, rant over, Good Omens is neurodivergent as hell because I say so, fuck you.

Martin Blackwood has BPD

Evidence:

childhood trauma/neglect

distorted self-image

chronic feelings of isolation

anger

being a good liar

Being neglected/not prioritized by the person he loves (s1-s3)

source: me

I headcannon Mike Wheeler as autistic (because we share the exact same strain) and I have a theory regarding Season 5. Many autistic people, including myself, have a warped sense of inherent danger. We will throw ourselves into dangerous situations not fully understanding the risks involved. It’s a dangerous situation, sure, but not so dangerous we should avoid it. Mike also has this problem, what with him diving head-first into every fight. He wants desperately to be a hero, to prove his worth and might as a person—to be remembered. If that means doing something stupid like getting himself killed, then that’s what it takes. It’s heartbreaking, but that’s the world he lives in. Hopper, Eleven, Will, they’ve all sacrificed their lives in some capacity to save the world, now it’s his turn.

Eddie touched on this concept with his “Don’t try to be heroes, not today. There is no shame in running,” but Mike doesn’t see it that way. In his mind, those who run are cowards, afraid to face their fears and fight for what they believe in. Has Mike been a bit cowardly these past two seasons by avoiding his feelings for Will? Yes, absolutely. But that’s his arc. Mike has to understand his actions, why he’s hiding, and the serious danger everyone is in. He has to face the music. Where does this lack of inherent danger come in? Glad you asked.

We all know Mike wants to be a hero. He wants to go down in history as someone good, someone who put others before themselves and saves the world. The Brave Knight, The Paladin. Paladins swear an oath of bravery and loyalty, vowing to avenge any threat that dares harm their allegiance (Byler anyone?). Something will threaten to harm/kill Will in Season 5, and Mike will have none of it. They’re not doing this again. Thus, Mike will throw himself in front of Vecna/Demogorgon/Brenner, etc. to protect Will, not fully comprehending the danger of the situation. He’ll be a hero. Unfortunately, this risky act will most likely cost him his life (temporarily). He doesn’t have to die. He’s the heart.

Lucas says, in the Season 4 hospital, that Max’s heart stopped for over a minute, but it miraculously started again. She is alive. El’s love for her conquered death itself. If we go on the “Will Has Powers” theory, then his love for Mike will conquer death and revive him. Mike only needs to be presumed dead, to be out long enough for Will and El to feel the effects of his death and consider joining Vecna. Because without their HEART, they’d fall apart. Both of them.

Back to what Eddie said, there really is no shame in running. Will doesn’t need Mike to do some egregious, knightly act of sacrifice to prove his love for him. His love is already enough. Will loves Mike for EXACTLY WHO HE IS. He always has, and THAT is the real heart of this story. Mike is not a hero because of what he does, but because of who he is. The way he loves, the way he stands up for what he believes in, the way he treasures his friends and protects them. The way he makes Will feel safe just by being there. That’s what Will fell in love with, not some fantastical DnD character that never actually existed.

Like Mike said in Season 2, “this isn’t DnD, this is real life.” DnD characters are fun, and it’s exciting to dream about slaying dragons or exploding orcs with your Magic Missiles, but that’s not real. It’s a game and it will end. Hit Points don’t magically restore you after a Long Rest and Healing Potions don’t deal 2d4+2 Healing. Actions have consequences and danger is real, even if your brain tells you it’s not. Paladins, Clerics, Bards, Rangers, their not real people. But Mike Wheeler is (in this context) and Mike Wheeler is enough. He is so enough. It’s time he wakes up and realizes he doesn’t have to be the Hero, slay the dragon, and make everything better, because it was NEVER HIS FAULT. Bad things happen and, sometimes, we can’t fix them. All we can do is stand beside our partner, hold their hand, and fight along with them—to remind them they are never alone. That, in and of itself, is truly heroic.

thinking about the Percy Jackson show that’s being made right now, and as someone who was obsessed with those books for years and then got late-diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability (Dyscalculia), I really hope that the show actually shows how Percy struggles amongst his peers before coming to camp. I expect that the show will portray the positive aspects of neurodivergence since it’s so tied to all the character’s powers in the books (like Dyslexia being because their brains are hardwired for reading ancient Greek)--and I’m excited about that!--but I would also love to see the struggle that comes with being ND and not ever fully assimilating with NT peers. 

give me a Percy Jackson who gets kicked out of school not just because he acts out or has unexplained incidents with his powers, but who struggles in school and has to repeat a grade or two because his Dyslexia is so bad. A Percy whose teachers don’t believe him when he says he’s really trying because his grades are straight D’s and F’s despite his best efforts. A Percy who is a loyal and eager friend but doesn’t always understand NT communication and doesn’t realize when he takes his sarcasm and joking too far and gets shunned for it. A Percy who, at the tender age of twelve, is totally burnt out because no one knows what to do with him, who has awful self-esteem because he’s been told his whole life that he’s failing, who believes he wasted his potential already, but whose mom is kind and understanding and fiercely defensive of him to the rest of the world because she knows her child is worth so much more than his ability to fit in or get good grades. A Percy who comes to camp and is suddenly surrounded by people just like him, who excels in battle and finds friends who just get him, who slowly relearns who he is and what he’s capable of, learning that his struggles can be strengths sometimes, and finding confidence and acceptance through this community in a way that he’s never had before. 

Does anybody but me ever just look at Lex Luthor while he's infodumping and just smile with their chin on their hands and think... "Gawd, you're cute!" ?

Seriously, he gets to talk about Sun Tzu & ancient Greece and Alexander the Great all damn day. I am *here* for it. (Of course it's also helpful that I like a lot of that stuff, but you know.) Tell me about all of it, Lex. Talk about Bronze Age battle tactics, talk about the invention of the corbel arch, talk about the difference between Chopin and Beethoven on piano. Let me know about the latest discovery of possibly Kryptonian post holes in an ancient human settlement in southern Africa. Tell me about the properties of the meteor rocks and how they affect the human brain. I want to know about all of it. You're fucking beautiful.

(Honestly the most painful thing for me about watching later seasons is that Lex doesn't infodump at Clark anymore, which says everything... and so Clark no longer gets to look at him with that awe in his face while he thinks, 'Good Lord, this guy knows *everything*, he's so *hot*!' Because, same, Clark. Same.)