Over its four season run, Atypical has seen protagonist Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist) experience the highs and lows of romantic relationships alongside his friends and family, throughout different stages of their lives.
Whilst some of these dynamics are strong, with relationships like Casey and Izzie's being praised for its realistic portrayal of teens discovering their identities, not all of them were made to last, with Elsa's cheating narrative criticized because of its supposed motivations, namely the stress she felt under because of her children. From teens to adults, though, no Atypical relationship is straightforward.
Elsa and Nick
When Sam and Casey's mom Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) feels stressed out in season 1 she meets bartender Nick (Raúl Castillo), and the two begin an affair. Whilst their relationship is integral to the story of the first season, kickstarting much of the drama the family faces, and revealing the problems in Doug and Elsa's marriage, Nick and Elsa are not in it for the long haul. Their mismatched ages, contrasting lifestyles, and Elsa's infidelity amount to a pairing that brings more suffering than joy, and one that should have remained a fantasy.
Izzie and Nate
Izzie Taylor's (Fivel Stewart) introduction to Atypical sees her dating fellow Clayton Prep student Nate (Graham Phillips), and the pair at first seem perfectly happy, supporting each other through their demanding school life.
This facade crumbles, though, when the pair have befriended Casey, and Nate tries to kiss her after Izzie has fallen asleep. To make matters worse, Nate later lies to Izzie and claims that Casey was the one that tried to kiss him. Though they stay together a while longer, Nate's discovered lies and Izzie's growing bond with Casey show that these two are not meant to be.
Zahid and Gretchen
In an uncharacteristic move for wannabe-playboy Zahid (Nik Dodani), season 3 of Atypical sees him start dating Gretchen (Allie Rae Treharne). Whilst Zahid is supremely likeable, though, the same can not be said of his new girlfriend. Gretchen is fun, and compatible with Zahid in their shared zaniness, but she is later revealed to be rude and selfish. Though the two are well-suited in their sex lives, their harmony doesn't extend much further, and Gretchen's unreliability at a crucial moment for Zahid in season 4 leaves him, in the end, knowing he deserves far more.
Doug and Elsa
Although Mr. and Mrs. Gardner don't begin the series in a strong place, Elsa and Doug (Michael Rapaport) slowly begin to rebuild their relationship over Atypical's run. It's by no means a straightforward path, given Elsa's early affair and Doug's own later kiss with fellow support group member Megan (Angel Laketa Moore), but the two continue to examine their relationship and work towards building it back even stronger.
Though complicated, Elsa and Doug come to see not only one another more clearly over the course of the show, but also their children, and start to work through the miscommunications that have long impacted them. Even though they aren't perfect, Doug and Elsa are persistent in trying to make things right.
Casey and Evan
Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Evan (Graham Rogers) begin dating in season 1, and the two of them compliment each other well. Casey supports Evan through his difficulties at home, where he's under pressure from his stepmother and father, whilst Evan helps Casey with her stress over track. The two are comfortable together, and fit into each others lives well. Though they do not ultimately stay together after Casey meets Izzie, the two remain friends after their breakup, showing that their compatibility remains even without the romance.
Sam and Paige
Sam starts the series with a clear goal in his mind; to get a girlfriend. Enter Paige Hardaway (Jenna Boyd), a high-achieving classmate of Sam's with a penchant for brightly colored outfits and a whole host of aspirations. Althought they start their relationship because Sam is looking for a 'practice girlfriend' - not the best of beginnings for the pair - the two gradually learn how to communicate with one another over the course of the series. From Paige organizing that their school have a silent disco to accommodate Sam's noise sensitivity, to Sam putting their relationship on pause in one of the final scenes of season 4 so that they can both pursue their dreams, these two truly flourish from having one another's support.
Casey and Izzie
Perhaps the most talked about couple of Atypical, Casey and Izzie's relationship is not an immediate love story. The two girls meet at the start of season 2 as rivals of the track team, but over time develop a friendship, which slowly leads into something more. The series gives both girls the space to explore - and later become comfortable with - their individual LGBTQ+ identities, but doesn't rush them into a relationship, nor reduce their storyline to be only about their sexualities. Whilst not always an easy path, Casey and Izzie's relationship remains sweet, romantic, and poignant, making them a couple to always root for.