Dinosaur - TV Review
A delightful family dramedy from an autistic perspective.
Being neurodivergent myself, I'm always a bit leery when shows try to portray ND characters. Too often, the shows end up being riddled with cringey and/or harmful stereotypes. Dinosaur, a BBC production telling the story of an autistic woman dealing with her sister's sudden engagement, is a refreshingly wholesome and authentic portrayal. It's a family drama with an autistic twist and a side of sarcastic Scottish humor.
Nina is an accomplished paleontologist at the natural history museum in Glasgow, Scotland, where her oblivious boss chides her for correcting the visitors on their dinosaur misconceptions. Her world is upended when her sister Evie returns from a weekend in London engaged to her boyfriend of 6 weeks. Nina, the "sensible one" according to her family, is appalled that she's the only one who isn't overjoyed that her sister is marrying a guy she hardly knows. She's also dreading what the engagement means for her and Evie's routines, like when her fiancee crashes their sacred "takeaway Tuesday" tradition.
The relationship between Nina and Evie anchors the show. They have their ups and downs, but clearly they're besties who love each other. Despite her misgivings about the wedding, Nina steps out of her comfort zone to do her maid of honor duties. From an awkward dinner with Evie's future in-laws to a train wreck of a bachelorette party, Nina does her best to give her sister the wedding of her dreams.
The show portrays Nina's autistic challenges with authenticity and compassion, while still letting her be a well-rounded person. Her forthright honesty and dry wit is both relatable and hilarious. As she navigates her sister's engagement and a new relationship with the coffee truck guy, Nina must contend with disrupted routines, sensory overload, and social expectations. Her fellow autistic coworker observes, "The people we love won't ever understand how hard it can be to do these things, but we do them anyway."
The depth of the portrayal is no doubt helped by Ashley Storrie, an autistic comedian who plays Nina. Storrie helped to write the show alongside creator Matilda Curtis. In an interview with What to Watch, Storrie said of the show:
"Neurodiverse people spend a lot of time trying to fit in, in order to not make other people feel uncomfortable, so playing an unmasked autistic woman like Nina has been liberating. Dinosaur is about embracing difference and not being ashamed of it."
Victoria Wilson
It definitely succeeds in that.
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