Special

Overview

Based on the memoir I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves (2015) by Ryan O’Connell, he stars, writes, and executive produces the series. Struggling with job hunting, gay dating for the first time, and navigating life with cerebral palsy, main character Ryan Hayes learns to forge his own path.

Using timely, millennially (sometimes cringe) humour, Special aims to depict the realities of life in all of its forms. Whether it’s working for a somewhat morally bankrupt boss, trying to break the clutches of a helicopter parent, or coping with a compulsive need to shop, this show has something for everyone, including great representation of disabilities.

Cancelled after just two short seasons, it’s obvious this show had much more to give, but thankfully it ends well.

Queer Plotline Timeline

In season two, Ryan’s boss, Olivia, starts mentioning that she is seeing someone named Rae. What starts off as dating quickly grows into an engagement and eventual wedding. It is left ambiguous until the series finale where she is shown, in fact, getting married to a woman.