Also Chloe Hayden if you see this hit me up because I have a really fun pitch for your next TV series to star in 🥰🥰🥰

I really hope Quinni’s storyline in season 2 is as great as season 1. I’m also extremely embarrassed that I loved Heartbreak High enough that I had to do a Bluesky thread about it. But that’s the power of authentic autistic representation baby!

I loved seeing Quinni be loved and understood and accommodated by her friends and her family. I can’t even imagine what my school experience would have been like if my family and friends (and I) knew that I was autistic at that age and also knew what I needed to thrive. Unimaginable.

Had a big big cry when Sasha told Quinni it’s hard being her girlfriend sometimes and Quinni replied, “it’s hard for me, too.” Being autistic is hard!!!! And we don’t do things that annoy the people we love on purpose !!!!! God I hated Sasha’s character.

Also Quinni’s distressed reaction when she realised Sasha was on her phone during the reading is why I often find watching movies / TV with people stressful! I get too focused on whether the other person is enjoying themselves, especially if it’s something that I chose to watch.

The best thing about getting my license was finally being able to control my own way of getting around and accounting for my own routes and stops and detours. My friends know I’m always 15 minutes (minimum) early to everything, 30 if I’m taking PT like Quinni did. It’s tiring and also great.

But the worst part was being scolded or ridiculed for my intense reactions to such minor changes in schedule, so I learned not to protest or complain when it happened and instead mask my reaction - the same way Quinni does on the bus.

I remember having so many crying tantrums as a kid when my parents would stop at the shops or the petrol station or post office on the way to something I cared about. Even just going home after school, I would always find a sudden unexpected detour so overwhelming.

And when Sasha asked to stop for ice cream on the bus I literally wanted to throw my laptop across the room. Sasha sucked for a million reasons in that episode but to me that was the most egregious thing she did by far.

The episode where Quinni memorised three different bus routes to get to her favourite author’s book signing and refused a last minute lift because it would screw with the plan she’d made was like watching myself on a screen in a way I’ve never experienced before.

And America Ferrera absolutely nails it when asked about Greta Gerwig’s directing snub: