![]() ![]() Later in the series, another expert, Dr Elizabeth Laugeson, hosts a “dating boot camp”. Jodi Rodgers works with people on the spectrum and helps them with the issues or difficulties they may have with the complexities of romance, talking them through potential date scenarios, attempting to impress the need for a person to ask questions as well as give long answers, for example. There are two experts on hand to help some of the daters, and both do wonderful work. There are community nights, dating events, a superhero ball where people with similar interests can meet. But Love on the Spectrum is packed with love, not just of the romantic kind, but from family, friends and community. We find out what happens next in the very next episode.ĭating shows can be curiously lacking in love, sometimes the pursuit of love does not always equal the winning of it. This has enough time and space for it to feel like less of a surface intrusion. I always look forward to the “what happened next” at the end of every episode of, say, First Dates. What is lovely about this series, compared to other dating shows, is that it gives everyone it follows the time to develop their stories in detail. In the end, it turns out that perhaps Chloe was looking in the wrong place for a partner. ![]() “I don’t have any nose powder,” she replies, confused. When she goes on a date, her eager father tries to calm her nerves, telling her that if she needs some time out while on the date, she should say she is going to powder her nose. Chloe is on the spectrum and is partially deaf, and she talks of being terribly bullied in school. Throughout Love on the Spectrum, the parents are wonderful, supportive and compassionate, particularly when it comes to giving dating advice. “I think every family needs a Michael,” says his mother, happily. Over a meal with his parents and siblings, he reveals that he believes some people are “only interested in intercourse”. He frequently amuses his family because of his bluntness. Michael, 25, who dresses smartly, is desperate to find love, and insists that “an A+ partner looks like me”. Looking for love can be complicated and absurd for anyone, and the programme highlights some of the pitfalls. It is frequently very funny, but crucially, that is never at the expense of anyone on camera. While I continue to love The Undateables, this five-part newcomer feels more of its moment, taking the time to explore the lives of its participants in greater depth, which results in a programme filled with joy, warmth and insight. But if the wealth of dating shows out there have taught us anything, it is that first impressions can be misleading, and often, you don’t see the twists coming. A t first glance, Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) appears to be an Australian version of The Undateables, without the crude name, and specific to following the dating lives of people on the autism spectrum. ![]()
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