Atypical Handled Cazzie's Storyline In The Best Way

Attention: This post contains spoilers for Season 3 of the Netflix series, Atypical. *This is for the Editorial Fellowship*

We held our breath after Season 2 of Atypical ended with hints of a possible romance between Sam's sister and her best friend. I was left wondering whether the writers were just queerbaiting fans or if they would continue to stoke the flames between Casey and Izzie.

When the big feel reveal and steamy kiss FINALLY happened towards the end of the third season, I was waiting to see how it would be handled. Would the queer aspect of the relationship be emphasized for dramatic effect, or would the girls' love story be treated no differently than those of Sam and Paige or Evan and Casey?

I was overjoyed to see the romance unfold in the most real, bittersweet, and totally modern way. Here's what made it so perfect:

No one bats an eye

Netflix / Via tumblr.com

The best friends-turned-love-interests share two major kisses in the school hallways and no one stares, stops, or even glances in their direction.

Evan doesn't even bring up sexuality during the breakup fight

Netflix / Via netflix.com

When Casey tearfully tells her boyfriend, Evan, about her infidelity and he guesses correctly that the indiscretion occurred with Izzie, he doesn't lash out at her by mentioning her sexuality. He treats the cheating as cheating-- the fact that it involved a woman is irrelevant and isn't brought up in the breakup. In a time where bi and pansexual people still deal with stigma and the false belief that they are all greedy and unfaithful partners, this seemingly minor detail is immensely important. Evan could have hurled insults at Casey and brought her sexuality into the argument, but he didn't address it at all. He simply asks, "Do you love her?"

The parents are totally chill about it

Netflix / Via episode.ninja

Not everyone got as lucky with parents as Sam and Casey, but so much of queer characters' story lines are about the lack of the acceptance they face and the drama that stems from that. While that may be the reality for many LGBTQ+ people, it isn't the case for everyone. Repeating the narrative of rejection by parents and family over and over again in TV and movies reinforces the idea that queerness gives people a quality of "otherness" and that coming-out news should be received with some form of shock or disappointment. Nonchalant, "no biggie" responses like the ones Elsa and Doug display help normalize queer identities.

There's no real secrecy

Netflix / Via tenor.com

While Izzie herself asks Casey to keep their relationship secret initially, no one else is forcing the characters into secrecy. They hold hands publicly, and Casey doesn't try to hide their relationship when Sam catches them kissing.

Gay penguins. I repeat: Gay. Penguins.

phys.org / Via phys.org

Sam's response to Casey when she asked him if he would be bothered by her relationship with Izzie fucking BROKE me. He uses a penguin reference to prove that homosexuality is totally normal and natural. (Also, I love that the only time "gay" is said during the episode is in reference to the penguins. No one even drops the words "bisexual" or "queer" at any point).

*Note: While the character Casey uses she/her pronouns in the show at this point, the actor playing her, Brigette Lundy-Paine, identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.