# Alphas - Anybody watching this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373 "2011-07-26T11:29:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/21 "2011-07-27T22:48:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Thing is, if the character has Asperger’s, logically _he will never get any better_, thus if his verbal tics and obsessive-compulsive behaviour are irritating after just three episodes, look forward to getting the exact same for the next _fifty_-three episodes, if the show lasts that long. At least Abed (from _Community_) can show flashes of normality. I haven’t seen the show and don’t know anything more about the characters than I’ve read in this thread. However, from that, I gather that there is character with limited mind control powers. Those powers have been stated to be short-term in nature, and I don’t know exactly how they work, but what if she started persistently “adjusting” him on the sly to make him less annoying, and some of her tweaks became ingrained in his psyche by repetition? Good writers could do something interesting with that. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/22 "2011-07-27T22:49:28Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I don’t feel guilty at all, in large part because his powers make no sense. Even if he could perceive all wavelengths of EM radiation, how does he resolve digitally-encoded (let alone encrypted) communications signals? By being Rain Man. Just instead of counting cards, he resolves signals. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/23 "2011-07-27T23:03:03Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > I haven’t seen the show and don’t know anything more about the characters than I’ve read in this thread. However, from that, I gather that there is character with limited mind control powers. Those powers have been stated to be short-term in nature, and I don’t know exactly how they work, but what if she started persistently “adjusting” him on the sly to make him less annoying, and some of her tweaks became ingrained in his psyche by repetition? Good writers could do something interesting with that. The mind-controller has been explicitly stated to not have any effect on the Asperger’s character. On the other hand, people with Aspergers can change over time. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/24 "2011-07-28T04:12:31Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > On the other hand, people with Aspergers can change over time. I’m predicting that in comic-book fashion, if that character ever gets an episode to be “normal” (i.e. where the actor can read his lines is a straightforward manner), it’ll come at the cost of his powers, and by the end of the episode he’ll either give up the “cure” or it will wear off, to return him to usual for the next episode. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/25 "2011-07-28T06:07:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > And those apparently useless hand motions are, I figure, a rip-off of the user interface from _Minority Report_, among other sources. Those are hand motions that real autistic people make, and the show gives him an actual reason for doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/26 "2011-07-28T06:48:06Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Those are hand motions that real autistic people make, and the show gives him an actual reason for doing it. As far as I can tell, he _only_ makes the hand gestures when he’s using his abilities, which undercuts any argument that they’re involuntary movements, unless the argument is that autistic people who make these gestures are also controlling interfaces no-one else can see. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/27 "2011-07-28T15:40:59Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The mind-controller has been explicitly stated to not have any effect on the Asperger’s character. Ah, so she’s being set up to go rogue, and he will be critical to foiling her in her villain arc. (If the show lasts that long, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/28 "2011-07-28T19:32:39Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > As far as I can tell, he _only_ makes the hand gestures when he’s using his abilities, which undercuts any argument that they’re involuntary movements, unless the argument is that autistic people who make these gestures are also controlling interfaces no-one else can see. LOL. I think you’re missing the point. And that quite possibly you have never met anyone from Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/29 "2011-07-28T20:30:12Z")
Actually, I spent last New Year’s Eve in Italy. Anyway, regardless of how accurately the actor can portray the more prosaic symptoms of autism, the character is annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/30 "2011-07-28T21:08:18Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Ah, so she’s being set up to go rogue, and he will be critical to foiling her in her villain arc. (If the show lasts that long, of course.) That’s certainly possible. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/31 "2011-07-29T00:56:20Z")
I am liking it. It seems there was a big time (I mean real time) difference between the filming of the pilot and the first regular episode that was a little jarring but so far, pretty entertaining. I must admit however, it does seem to have a flat look visually, other than the establishing shots of NYC which look pretty damn good on my HD TV. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/32 "2011-07-29T13:00:03Z")
Odd show, but as of the third episode, I think I’ll keep watching. The show it reminds me of, same feel, same camera work, etc. is Painkiller Jane. That was another SyFy original I actually liked, so it didn’t last long. Pretty good acting I think, and I like autistic kid. He’d annoy me if he didn’t play the character so well, but he pulls it off fine for me. Okay, the lead psychologist guy’s voice and intonation kinda grates a bit, but I like him too anyway. Very different take on the leader person character. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/33 "2011-07-29T18:22:28Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Pretty good acting I think, and I like autistic kid. He’d annoy me if he didn’t play the character so well, but he pulls it off fine for me. The actor, Ryan Cartwright, who plays Gary, that Autistic guy, also played Vincent Nigel-Murray on Bones for quite a few episodes where he sported very British accent. Turns out he was born in Birmingham, England according to IMDB. J. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/34 "2011-07-29T19:12:09Z")
Watched the first couple episodes. It’s not horrible. Still in my evaluation cue. Actually, to me the most annoying character is the black guy. At least the autism guy has a reason for being that way. Though he does need some coaching to not blurt out “we’re not market analysts, it’s a cover story”. But the black guy, pawing other people’s food? Jabbering about everyone else not being appropriate for the job? Seems to me the writers are trying a little too hard to make everyone messed up to compensate for their superpower. Electromagnetic guy has aspergers. The sense girl apparently is unable to confront people or stand up for herself. Superstrong guy is a giant annoying ass. Reflex guy has low self-esteem. I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with suggestion girl. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/35 "2011-07-29T19:25:18Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with suggestion girl. I am thinking that A. it seems like she has a “mysterious dark past” and B. Given some of her reactions in this past week’s episode, she is starting to feel guilty about her power. Also it appears her life is a web of her using her power to get stuff. My guess is there will be an episode where she will lose her ability temporarily and all that will come crashing down. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/36 "2011-07-30T07:52:20Z")
In the pilot episode, they made a reference to some evil organization that they had shut down. It wouldn’t surprise me if suggestion girl used to be part of it, or will at some point be revealed to be a mole for them (followed by the revelation that she’s really a double agent). ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/37 "2011-07-30T14:02:46Z")
Yeah, Push Girl is pretty cavalier about using her powers for any ol’ thing that makes her life convenient. She also seems kind of like a veteran of this whole Alpha thing, and I’m also not convinced her loyalties are all with the team. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/38 "2011-07-30T15:52:14Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I realize Asperger’s is sexy with TV writers now, but I’d be fine if Rain Boy was written out. Yes. It’s a shame too as it would be so easy to make this character likable. Take away the constant mumbling to himself and add him saying one liners at the most inopportune of times. That would make a nice comedic relief. What they’re doing now is just Jar Jar Binks. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/39 "2011-07-30T23:23:59Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > In the pilot episode, they made a reference to some evil organization that they had shut down. It wouldn’t surprise me if suggestion girl used to be part of it, or will at some point be revealed to be a mole for them (followed by the revelation that she’s really a double agent). I don’t think the evil organization referred to has been shut down - it’s still around (and likely will continue to be a threat). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373/40 "2011-08-02T18:45:12Z")
Gary is my favorite character 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphas-anybody-watching-this/590373.md?page=3)