As We See It is an American comedy drama television series created by Jason Katims, based on the Israeli series On the Spectrum by Dana Idisis and Yuval Shafferman. The eight-episode series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on January 21, 2022. It was canceled after one season.

Synopsis

The series follows roommates Jack, Harrison and Violet, all in their 20s, all of whom are autistic, as they look for work, make friends, and fall in love.

Cast

  • Rick Glassman as Jack Hoffman
  • Albert Rutecki as Harrison Dietrich
  • Sue Ann Pien as Violet Wu
  • Sosie Bacon as Mandy, aide for Jack, Harrison, and Violet
  • Chris Pang as Van Wu, Violet’s brother
  • Joe Mantegna as Lou Hoffman, Jack's father
  • Vella Lovell as Salena, Van's girlfriend
  • Tal Anderson as Gia
  • Alyssa Jirrels as Nicole Dietrich, Harrison's sister
  • Casey Mills as Julian (episodes 2–6)
  • David Futernick as John
  • Délé Ogundiran as Ewatomi Kokomo
  • Andrew Duff as Douglas

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date
1"Pilot"Jesse PeretzJason KatimsJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
Three roommates in their 20s, Jack, Harrison, and Violet, who are autistic, living in an apartment together supported by aide Mandy, strive to navigate a world that eludes them.
2"I Apologize for My Words and Actions"Jaffar MahmoodIan Deitchman & Kristin RobinsonJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
Violet flirts with a delivery guy named Julian at her workplace. Harrison befriends a latchkey kid named AJ living in the building. Jack endangers his job security.
3"When Violet Met Douglas"Jaffar MahmoodMichelle SamJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
Violet asks Van's girlfriend Salena for dating advice. Jack presses Lou's nurse for more information about his father, Lou’s diagnosis. AJ and Harrison's forbidden friendship secretly continues. Mandy gives her two weeks' notice.
4"The Violetini"David BoydJason KatimsJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
Violet anxiously prepares for her birthday party, all the while excited by progress with Julian. Meanwhile, Jack and Harrison scramble to find dates for the party.
5"Ever Had an Edible?"David BoydRomi BartaJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
Jack and Lou bond together when the latter’s illness become more visible. Mandy receives unexpected news from Harrison's parents, further complicating her future plans. Violet plans to take things to the next level with Julian.
6"Fear Is My Bitch"Allison Liddi-BrownDenise HahnJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
The roommates each struggle in their love lives - Violet spirals as her relationship with Julian fails to match her expectations, Jack tries to make things right with Ewatomi to win her forgiveness in return, and Harrison develops an unrequited crush.
7"Outed"Allison Liddi-BrownJesikah SuggsJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
Jack goes through an existential crisis. Douglas helps to change Violet's perspective on life. Feeling betrayed by Mandy, Harrison ventures out on his own.
8"Please Don't Leave"Jenée LaMarqueJason KatimsJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21)
On the day of Harrison's sister's graduation party, he struggles with several changes. Confronted with the reality of Lou's illness, Jack turns to Ewatomi for support. Feeling like she's losing control over her life, Violet lashes out at Van. The line between Mandy's personal and professional lives continues to blur.

Production

Development

On March 14, 2019, it was revealed that Amazon Prime Video was set to distribute the American TV series adaptation of On the Spectrum, with Jason Katims writing and executive producing. True Jack Productions' Jeni Mulein and Yes Studios’ Dana Stern also executive produced. On October 11, 2021, the title was revealed to be As We See It. Jesse Peretz directed and executive produced the pilot episode. On October 20, 2022, Amazon Prime Video canceled the series after one season.

Casting

On June 12, 2019, Rick Glassman, Sue Ann Pien, Albert Rutecki, Sosie Bacon and Chris Pang were cast in the series. Glassman, Pien, and Rutecki, like their characters, are all autistic. On October 11, 2021, Joe Mantegna was announced as a cast member.

Release

On October 11, 2021, the first look photos for the series were released. On November 22, 2021, the official trailer was released. All eight episodes of the series premiered on Prime Video on January 21, 2022.

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 90% approval rating with an average rating of 8/10, based on 30 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "As We See It deftly sidesteps schmaltz by depicting people on the spectrum as well-rounded individuals with their own foibles, enriching both the comedy and pathos." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 82 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Daniel Feinberg wrote for The Hollywood Reporter that it is "a heartfelt mixture of mostly earned tears and laughter."

External links