Atypical Season 4 - What We Know So Far

It's probably impossible for a single person to watch each and every original title that Netflix produces — the streaming giant produced 371 original movies and TV shows in 2019 alone – but one TV series that definitely stands out is Atypical. The coming-of-age dramedy follows Sam Gardner, a teenager with autism spectrum disorder, as he takes his first tentative steps into adulthood and all the messiness that it entails. In addition to Sam's journey to independence, the show also explores how the rest of his family adjusts to his impending adulthood, specifically his parents, Elsa and Doug, and his younger sister, Casey. 

Atypical is very popular, but it has caught some flak for how it represents the autism community, making it one of Netflix's most controversial shows. With its upcoming fourth and final season, let's look at everything we know about Atypical season 4.

Netflix hasn't announced the premiere date for Atypical's fourth season, but it will most likely come out in fall 2021. The show was officially renewed for a fourth season in February 2020, as reported by Deadline, but the COVID-19 pandemic altered that plan. According to What's On Netflix, production was originally scheduled for summer 2020, but it was pushed back to January 2021. Filming officially began on January 13, 2021, and will continue through March 24, 2021. 

If Atypical is like most Netflix shows and needs six months between wrapping up filming and the premiere, season 4 should drop in August or September of this year.

Netflix has already decided that season 4 will be the final season of Atypical, giving the show a chance to end the story on its own terms. It's also one of the rare Netflix comedies that have reached at least the fourth season, along with Grace and Frankie, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Fuller House, and The Ranch. 

Netflix hasn't announced whether there will be any new recurring characters added to the cast of Atypical season 4. There weren't any major departures last season, so most likely the same cast will return.

First, there's the Gardner family. That includes Keir Gilchrist as the show's main character, Sam Gardner. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport play his parents, Elsa and Doug, and Brigette Lundy-Paine plays his sister, Casey.

Most likely, season 4 will also see the return of Nik Dodani as Sam's best friend and coworker at the Techtropolis appliance store, Zahid. There's also Amy Okuda as his therapist Julia Sasaki, Jenna Boyd as his girlfriend Paige Hardaway, and Fivel Stewart as Casey's girlfriend Izzie.  

Now that Sam is in college, we will most likely see the return of many of his professors, like his ethics teacher Professor Judd (Sara Gilbert) and his art teacher Professor Shinerock (Eric McCormack).

Picking up where season 3 left off, season 4 of Atypical will likely continue to follow Sam on his first steps toward true independence. Last season saw Sam finally heading off to college, and this season will see him take an even bigger step when he moves into his first apartment with Zahid. As for Sam's love life, earlier seasons saw him dating his good friend and high school classmate Paige as a "practice girlfriend." After a breakup, they reconnected in season 3 and began having true feelings for each other. Season 4 will follow Sam on his first real relationship.

Season 3 saw Sam's sister Casey at multiple crossroads in her life as she was considering the idea of officially dating Izzie, as well as debating whether to accept a track and field scholarship to UCLA. At the end of season 3, Casey and Izzie finally kissed in public, but Casey also took Coach Crowley's advice and accepted the scholarship. Season 4 will no doubt find Casey juggling college and a long-distance relationship.

Finally, season 3 featured Sam's parents, Doug and Elsa, finally moving back in together after Elsa's affair with a bartender. Going forward, they'll be rebuilding their relationship while also redefining their identities as spouses and parents with both Sam and Casey moving on.