Love on the Spectrum is back for their third season on Netflix. The Emmy winning documentary-type series, which fittingly premiered worldwide on World Autism Day (April 2nd), is a reality TV show based off of the Australian version of the same name, created and produced by Karina Holden and Cian O’Clery. It follows the lives of young people on the autism spectrum who are trying to navigate the complex world of dating and relationships.
This season takes us back to some fan favourites from previous seasons, checking in with couples like David and Abbey, who met during season one and begin to talk about their future plans as they approach their third anniversary; Adan and Dani, who are figuring out how to properly communicate different wants and needs as their relationship progresses; Connor, who relishes first person references, as he feels out who he shares a romantic connection with; the ever-so energetic Tanner, who’s trying to finds someone just as outgoing as he is; and the medieval-obsessed James who is looking for his queen.
Audiences are also introduced to two newcomers; Madison, who found inspiration to be on the show after seeing Abbey and David’s love story; and Pari, a train lover who dreams to find their perfect person.
With the abundance of reality dating shows available to viewers nowadays, and cameras capturing every intimate moment on said shows – first loves and heartbreaks alike – it can be hard to trust that there aren’t any carefully plotted out storylines crafted for our entertainment. And while Love on the Spectrum does add to the plethora of entertaining dating shows in Netflix’s portfolio, the biggest point of difference from this show in comparison to the others is how authentic it feels; the same praise that’s been given to the show time and time again, and for good reason.
The viewers are lucky enough to be let into the world of these incredibly kind hearted people and are able to see that the participants feel comfortable and safe enough to experiment and gain their own understanding of how dating and relationships work, which is due, in large part, to the empathetic lens the show runners have attributed to, and the environment that they’ve created; Cian O’Clery, the show’s director, having stated that the ambition behind the production was to always contribute to a better understanding of the complexity and diversity of life on the spectrum.
Without the societal pressures of what dating “should look like” or editing overly dramatic scenes for the sake of theatrics, the nature of the show in and of itself feels more real just by acquainting neurotypical people in mainstream media, something that hasn’t always been portrayed in the best light.
Being privileged enough to be able to get to go on this journey with these people three seasons in also gives audiences more reason to care and be invested in their lives and how they are faring. Watching them grow and understand themselves as the seasons go by, and seeing their families be privy to that, is wholesome and undeniably pulls at viewers heartstrings.
Love on the Spectrum Season Three will no doubt make you laugh and cry at the same time. It sparks the need for conversations about how people with autism want to feel supported in aspects of their lives, like dating, that may have otherwise not been brought to the surface if not for the show. It also helps dispel any preconceived stereotypes that have been created, due to the lack of education around the topic previously.
But most importantly, it’s a fundamental reminder that the one shared goal by most, if not all people, no matter who you are, is the desire to belong and connect with others.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
All seven episodes of Love on the Spectrum Season Three are now streaming on Netflix.
