Hanging out in a group can be awful for this autistic
This is why
There are two versions of a group hang: the movie or the Netflix series.
With the movie version, we speed through the introduction of the main characters. Side characters only show up when needed before being discarded without explanation for the rest of the movie.
The movie races to the conflict that’s splashed onto the screen in a few chaotic scenes and somehow is resolved like ten minutes later. Then credits scroll, movie’s over, lights on, everyone goes home.
With the Netflix version, we need a whole episode to get to know a few characters and the best friends’ adorably sad backstory with their neighbor. Later we find out the neighbor has no role past the first three episodes, but we enjoy the scenes and don’t mind. It takes a few episodes to introduce the main story arc and conflict, but that’s okay; we know it’s coming and enjoy the journey.
And we have viewing options: We can binge-watch all the episodes in our comfy PJs one weekend or watch just 1 episode each day after work. Or watch a few episodes and then forget about it and come back months later on vacation to watch again. Or completely lose interest halfway through the first episode and find another show to invest interest in. No ticket wasted.
