Reality TV Show About a Gardener with Autism Sheds New Light on the Disorder
Reality television over the decades has devolved into something increasingly self-parodic at the expense of its self-awareness. Fortunately for us viewers, television trends have resulted in executives at the UK’s Channel 4 picking up a show that seeks to tip the scales in the other direction: The Autistic Gardener.
The show’s star is Alan Gardner — a high-functioning master of self-aware deadpan. Gardner leads a crew of five fellow gardeners — by profession, not by name — all of whom are on the autism spectrum, and each of whom brings his or her own unique skill-set.
With the help of Victoria, Thomas, Philip, James, and Charles, Gardner horticultures through the neurotypical world — with plenty of tension and communicative challenges along the way — to bring an artistic touch to England’s most neglected gardens through the power of autism.
Check out the trailer below!
