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Season 1 – Special

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Special Apr 2019 LGBTQ+ Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Actor-writer Ryan O'Connell stars in this semi-autobiographical series based on his memoir. He plays Ryan, a gay man with cerebral palsy who decides to do away with his identity as an accident victim and go after the life that he wants. After years of dead-end internships, blogging in his pajamas and mainly communicating through text, Ryan figures out how to take his life from bleak to chic as he gets ready to start limping toward adulthood. O'Connell serves as an executive producer on the comedy series, along with "The Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons.
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Special — Season 1

Special — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Honest and genuinely affecting, Special lives up to its name with a funny -- if a bit too concise -- first season brightened by Ryan O'Connell's infectious charms.

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Critics Reviews

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Keah Brown Bitch Media 03/12/2021
Putnam's comedic timing shines throughout the series, making Kim one of the show's most refreshing and realistic characters, and the kind of friend Ryan's always deserved but never had. Go to Full Review Lauren Carroll Harris Guardian 07/23/2019
Netflix's first sitcom of 15-minute episodes plays out like a woke, snappy, millennial dream. Go to Full Review Michael Andor Brodeur Boston Globe 04/22/2019
Feels like a finely-tuned, precision-crafted Web series, with potent little zingers stitched into every exchange - along with the occasional sledgehammer. Go to Full Review A.D. Amorosi Philadelphia Gay News 05/26/2020
His awkwardness, and the strides he takes when conquering the downslides and sideways spills of cerebral palsy, make this show sharp and socially cutting without sanctimony. Go to Full Review Catherine Capellaro Isthmus (Madison, WI) 11/22/2019
The brilliance of O'Connell's game is that he's created an uber-accessible comedy, full of self-referential and -deferential humor. It's also full of wise observations about the absurdity of modern culture. Go to Full Review Michael McNeely theBUZZ 06/20/2019
"The show is vastly significant in terms of what it does for our representation in the mainstream culture...provides me, and other disabled and marginalized people, with a much-needed piece of representational belonging." Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Peter K @Vacadoug 10/11/2023 Since it is based in real life human experiences, found it difficult to deal with almost all the characters' flaws -- that's where another of Jim Parsons' productions drew me in: it excels in the absurdness of the human condition. See more 06/13/2022 Brilliant, hilarious and poignant! Disability representation done right. See more tom m 01/09/2022 Seasons 1-2. Interesting and entertaining. I'd recommend it. Season 1 has 8 15-minute episodes. Season 2 has 8 30-minute episodes. So a relative quick watch. I'd watch another season if/when it becomes available. See more 06/15/2021 I love this show so much, definitely one of my top 5 favorite TV shows I've ever watched. The writing is outstanding; so well written, hilarious, and the deeper moments are beautiful. Ryan O'Connell gives a phenomenally charismatic, funny, and beautifully authentic performance and Jessica Hecht, Punam Patel, and Marla Mindelle gave superb performances. The chemistry between Ryan and Punam is hilarious and the chemistry between Ryan and Jessica is so beautifully believable and authentic especially in the season finale their performances were perfection. The first season of Special is an A+ to me; I love seeing more authentic representation of people with a disability and people who are gay being represented by someone who is disabled and who is gay. See more johann m @Johann33 06/14/2021 Genuine!! 🏳️‍🌈 This short TV show follows Ryan O'Connell who also stars in this semi-autobiographical series based on his own memoir "I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves". He plays Ryan, a gay man with mild cerebral palsy who decides to do away with his identity as an accident victim in hopes of finally going after the life that he wants. Short but compelling! See more raphael g @raphagimenes 04/06/2020 Super good: the same genre as Master of None, Ramy, Feel Good, etc. See more Read all reviews
Special — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ryan O'Connell

Ryan Kayes

Jessica Hecht

Karen Kayes

Punam Patel

Kim Laghari

Marla Mindelle

Olivia

Augustus Prew

Carey

Patrick Fabian

Phil

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter One: Cerebral LOLzy In the wake of being hit by a car, Ryan begins a coveted internship and finds an opportunity to redefine himself based on his recent run-in. Details Episode 2 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Two: The Deep End Kim encourages a daunted Ryan to be more comfortable with his body at Olivia's pool party, where they both make some surprising new friends. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Three: Free Scones Karen reluctantly agrees to help Ryan find an apartment while Kim eagerly volunteers to help him check another big milestone off his list. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Four: Housechilling Party Ryan's underwhelming attempt at a housewarming party leads to a bonding session with Kim; Karen's nest doesn't stay empty for long. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Five: Vagina Momologues Karen's shopping trip is cut short as she tends to pressing matters for her mother and Ryan, fueling frustrations with her role as dual-caregiver. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Six: Straight Potential While Ryan attends a dudes' poker night, Karen lets loose with Phil at home, basking in her affection for him -- and for grilled cheese. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Seven: Blind Deaf Date An unconventional blind date leads Ryan to examine his own biases and insecurities; friction develops in Karen and Phil's burgeoning romance. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 12, 2019 Chapter Eight: Gay Gardens Conflicted by how he's being defined, Ryan decides to come clean at work and with his friends, but focusing on himself leaves Karen feeling left out. Details

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Special — Season 1

Special Special Special View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Ryan O'Connell, Jim Parsons, Eric Norsoph, Todd Spiewak, Anna Dokoza
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
LGBTQ+, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Apr 12, 2019
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