Parents' Guide to Special

It's easy to fall in love with this decidedly un-Afterschool Special story of living with disability, which is as packed with jokes as it is touching moments between friends and family. Special benefits from O'Connell's hilarious and charming portrayal of Ryan, who's a little naive but finally ready to put himself out there in the workplace and world. Sometimes Ryan's privilege is clear; he rents a large, charming apartment as an unpaid intern, and when he can't put an IKEA-type table together himself, he just calls a TaskRabbit. But it's a joy to watch as he tries to extricate himself from the mother who's been his best (and only?) friend for 28 years, meanwhile learning to be honest with himself as well as others about how CP affects his life.

Special tells at least three stories that aren't often portrayed on screen. Ryan's, which deals with disability, sexuality, and getting by in the often vapid world of millennial culture; Kim's, which brings to the surface issues of money and self-worth as a person of color and size; and Ryan's middle-aged mom Karen, who's rediscovering her own life after spending most of it caring for her son. That's incredible for a show with just two short seasons.