MovieChat Forums > Speechless (2016) Discussion > I am honestly shocked that people don't ...

I am honestly shocked that people don't find this show insanely charming

posted 8 years ago by Ayababi
27 replies | jump to latest

Im so surprised by the number of negative comments about this show.

I've seen people saying things they don't like. I get that. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's fine.

Personally I was hooked from the first minute. I used to work with people with disabilities and we used to get looks and harrassed from people all the time when we parked in the handicapped spot and they didn't think we (the drivers) were "disabled" enough. So that scene is just so real.

Watching JJ find his voice in this first episode was so beautiful. At the end, where JJ is on the drop ride and goes "ahhh" and his interpreter says "he says 'ahhh'" like holy *beep* my heart exploded.

What surprises me most about this board is the reasons people have for hating this. Like obviously:"it's not funny" is a decent reason. That's fine. But...

"The mom is too mean"
She's advocating for her child. Imagine if your child was the only person in the entire school who has to enter the school by the dumpsters. There are all these little ways people with disabilities are separated ftom their peers in everything that they do. And people with CP especially are lumped in with people with intellectual disabilities. This mother gets the job done. She advocates for her child. That's often not something you can do with a gentletter voice and a smile.

"JJ can't speak and that's unrealistic/ not fair to the actor" Like what even. You're basically saying JJ is "too disabled" for television and thas just dumb.

And FYI, because someone had been saying this and it's just stupid, there's no other way of putting it, JJ doesn't have a voice over for his thoughts because in real life when you meet a person who is nonverbal YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS. This show is about this kid finding his voice. If he already had a voice, there wouldn't be a show. I mean the first episode was about him finding an interpreter. How is he supposed to go through this journey about finding an interpreter if in the show WE CAN HEAR HIS THOUGHTS. That's just bad writing.

Phew.
Anyway. Thats my opinion.

[–] OJTheViking 8 years ago

Im so surprised by the number of negative comments about this show.

Sadly, this is quite the scourge of IMDB in its entirety; every discussion board for every movie or TV show I visit nowadays is full of "worst show/movie ever", "this was horrible", "XX minutes I'll never get back" - as if you're not cool anymore unless you absolutely hate everything.

Watching JJ find his voice in this first episode was so beautiful.

This. And he found and chose it himself; nobody could tell him anymore what his voice would be.

She's advocating for her child. Imagine if your child was the only person in the entire school who has to enter the school by the dumpsters. There are all these little ways people with disabilities are separated ftom their peers in everything that they do. And people with CP especially are lumped in with people with intellectual disabilities. This mother gets the job done. She advocates for her child. That's often not something you can do with a gentletter voice and a smile.

Bravo. Very well put. Not to mention the fact that she's probably been down that road again and again and again. So sure, she might come across as immediately biting the head off the next ignorant person for very few and small reasons, but if it's Ignorant Person Number 3000, then obviously she's starting to get a little fed up with people like that.

"JJ can't speak and that's unrealistic/ not fair to the actor" Like what even. You're basically saying JJ is "too disabled" for television and thas just dumb.

Agreed. The scary thing is, I've even read the comments of people on this forum that have their own disabilities, and still claim that JJ is "too disabled", and the choice to make him unable to verbally speak takes away his autonomy - so, in other words, people who are unable to speak in real life have no autonomy? I can't subscribe to that.

And FYI, because someone had been saying this and it's just stupid, there's no other way of putting it, JJ doesn't have a voice over for his thoughts because in real life when you meet a person who is nonverbal YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS. This show is about this kid finding his voice. If he already had a voice, there wouldn't be a show. I mean the first episode was about him finding an interpreter. How is he supposed to go through this journey about finding an interpreter if in the show WE CAN HEAR HIS THOUGHTS. That's just bad writing.

Hear, hear! This has been my point exactly in other discussions on this board.

In short, I agree 100% with everything you say, and I give you a high five, my friend.

Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/OJTheViking

[–] margare-09892 8 years ago

I just watched the first episode on demand, and am eager to see more. I'm not sure I'd say "insanely charming", but how about "engagingly abrasive"? Minnie Driver is wonderful in the role, and I hope they don't soften her character too much. I'm also happy to see that John Ross Bowie is getting a chance to do something different from Barry Kripke. This one goes on my DVR list.

[–] Ayababi 8 years ago

Same here!I love seeing him in other things. It tricks my brain because he doesn't have a speech impediment and I'm always expecting it, lol

[–] Tljamail 8 years ago

I didn't think I would like it. I ended up loving it!

[–] LiveFromNewYawk 8 years ago

I was thrilled when I saw the trailer and really enjoyed the show! Love when people with disabilities are in shows rather than being played by people without disabilities. And when it's done well!! Micah is awesome as is the rest of the cast

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 8 years ago

"The mom is too mean"
She's advocating for her child. Imagine if your child was the only person in the entire school who has to enter the school by the dumpsters. There are all these little ways people with disabilities are separated ftom their peers in everything that they do. And people with CP especially are lumped in with people with intellectual disabilities. This mother gets the job done. She advocates for her child. That's often not something you can do with a gentletter voice and a smile.

I don't have CP and they tried separating me from "general population" for a hot second before my parents (especially my mom) raged. They finally gave in and tested me - only to find out that I was at a reading level three years above my actual age group.

I would've been lost had my mom not gone in and advocated for me.

[–] coolslowhand 8 years ago

A few things I've noticed - too many of the people with special needs children in the family are commenting on how great it is. Unfortunately, that's only a fraction of the United states. It's going to hAve to get most of its viewers from people who won't identify with it but will simply be entertained. So far I'm not sure that's the case

Blackish is a concept show alternating between good and great writing, but has 4-5 Exceptional Actors. Not sure that's the case here

Minnie driver's character could get realy annoying really fast if they aren't careful. I assume that's just first episode stuff that then settles down as they settle in the community, but who knows.

It all comes down to the writing, not the gimmick. MF would be funny with 3 traditional families because they had great writers the first few Seasons. Other shows tried the same concept (new normal) and failed miserably.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 4 years ago

But blackish is NOT about what white people think about black people and black people's place in society in relation to them. Speechless would have been far better if people with disabilities who worked, had a family of their own....etc were on the air

In the 21st century I don't want to hear what people w/out disabilities think of me

[–] KinksRock 8 years ago

Actually, I think this show is pretty freaking funny so far.

Jaan Pehechan Ho

[–] trazey34 8 years ago

I was going to write the same thing! I was beyond shocked to see the hate to be honest, I was so happy to see a different kind of family, a different kind of kid on tv. It was sweet without being cloying, and quite funny.

But then I remembered the Professionally Outraged Brigade who love to scour every frame of a piece of entertainment for moments to pounce on lol

All I can say is that despite never liking Minnie Driver much, I'm hooked on this show and i'll be watching :)

Someone who disagrees with you is NOT a hater 😉

[–] jp7077 8 years ago

There is nothing " Charming" about Minnie Driver and her bitchy personality ..she overpowers the show.......and there's nothing "charming" about neighbors from hell

The bathroom scene was touching..........and hit a nerve with its view of an aspect of the life of a disabled person most people might not think about..............and I'm sure the series will have more moments like it........but I'm out.....the whole " we're not going to take out our garbage, we're going to swim in your pool.........get over it" etc...totally turned me off

[–] Ayababi 8 years ago

You hate how extremely imperfect they are.

I like how imperfect they are 😔

[–] antwan-70988 8 years ago

To me this is the STUPIDEST argument about being against the show. "The mother is too aggressive & too overbearing!" Does it ever occur to people that a person doesn't start out that way. That something or somethings have happened in their life that has changed them into this?? That's part of this story!! Having a child with special needs sometimes you have to bulldoze your way through things instead of asking for them nicely. Nice isn't going to get your kid access into the school. & maybe not getting attached to the neighbors is also a way of coping. You know you're not going to be living there long since you've been in 4 or 5 different school districts in the last 3 years. Why get to know anyone??! But now since you're living in a more accepting community, little by little you can let go of those coping mechanisms. Let the show develop and go along for the ride! Sheesh!!! I can't help but think would these same people complain about Archie Bunker or Larry David and their personalities or would you accept that's just the character!? Sexism much??

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 4 years ago

It would have been far more interesting to hear the show from Jimmy's perspective.