To be honest, I probably only notice ADHD on TV because I deal with it so much now, but there are a number of characters out there who seem awfully familiar. Here are just five I can think of off the top of my head:
5. Bluey
A long time ago, I wrote a tongue-and-cheek article about Bluey that somehow found its way to Reddit. All the stuff they could’ve found that I’m super proud of, and they found this jokey piece I’d written for fun. Anyway, a bunch of superfans got all up in arms that I’d dare suggest that their favorite cartoon dogs weren’t perfect, and they brigaded my site in order to let me know that I was “telling lies about cartoon dogs.” It was weird and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
Even more surprising, though, was what I saw when I decided to look into my website’s search statistics about a month later. One of the search terms I placed highly for? “Does Bluey have ADHD.”
I hadn’t thought about this before, but now, every time I watch the cartoon, I’m like “there’s doubt here?”
In case you haven’t watched this cartoon, Bluey is a fun, often heartwarming and funny (though rather idealistic) show about a family of blue heelers. The titular character is the eldest daughter, about 6-years-old, who often plays pretend with her dad and her little sister, though Mom will sometimes join in.
The Bluey character is creative, smart, and thoughtful. She’s also loud, disorganized, and a smidge pushy. Sound familiar?
There’s an episode of the show, “Mini Bluey,” where the two puppies decide to paint one child as the other. They start out painting Bingo blue to look like her sister, and Bluey decides to show her sister how to be just like her.
“I talk a lot.” Bluey says at one point. “It doesn’t even have to make sense. I also like to ask questions, but I don’t listen to the whole answer.”
They also show that Bluey loses things a lot, and every episode involves her getting into a long, busy game of pretend.
The most damning episode, though, called “Hide and Seek,” is about Bluey playing the game and continuously forgetting that she’s supposed to be looking for other people in the house. It’s also suggested that she does this all the time. So if you came here to ask yourself is Bluey has ADHD, let me respond thusly:
ONE OF US. ONE OF US. ONE OF US.
4. Anne Boonchuy and Sprig (Amphibia)
I stumbled onto this cartoon after I finished Gravity Falls, and really scratched that itch. It’s equal parts creepy, funny, and heartwarming. If you haven’t watched it, I suggest it, especially if you enjoy Alex Hirsch’s ridiculous sense of humor; this show matches that well.
The main character, Anne, and her adopted little-frog-brother, Sprig, are two peas in an ADHD pod.
Anne, for her part, marches around every episode with leaves in her hair and only one shoe. It doesn’t matter how she was dressed at the end of the previous episode; when you see her next, this is how she looks. She’s been shown before to be able to pay attention to her phone, or major projects that she wants to do, and little else. In the episode “Scavenger Hunt,” Anne is supposed to be finding clues for something, and instead she keeps getting sidetracked by friendly people and food. In the end, though, she’s so kind that it turns out to be kind of an extra ability, which is nice.
Sprig, her little pink frog buddy, is all over the place, loud, and silly. He’s kind, but he’s also really impulsive and regularly tends to get himself into trouble. In “Handy Anne,” he also goes through a horribly familiar quandary as he tries to choose his favorite slingshot before a trip. Spoiler: He nearly loses his mind because there are too many choices.
I’m betting that sounds familiar.
3. Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)
Speaking of Gravity Falls, Mabel is all that is shiny and colorful and good about ADHD. Mostly.
Not only is Mabel super impulsive (she starts dating a bunch of gnomes and got her brother locked in a cave with a shape-shifting monster, for a couple of examples), but she’s also the type to daydream and create very new (and also odd) things. Such as Mabel Juice, which is apparently some sort of colorful jet fuel infused with plastic dinosaurs.
While she has her issues, Mabel is usually the heart of the group, the one who has a very strong sense of justice, and the one who will keep people going pretty much all of the time. She’s also unabashedly herself, which tends to lead people to like her or hate her.
2. Robin Buckley (Stranger Things)
Hoo boy, if you watch this show, don’t tell me that you don’t see yourself in Robin. She’s highly intelligent, has some weird interests that come in handy unexpectedly, and can’t seem to stop the stream of consciousness.
Despite this, Robin is integral to the group’s success. She thinks quickly on her feet (that scene in the hospital administrator’s office, anyone?), she’s loyal, and girlfriend doesn’t hesitate to call her best friend out on his bullshit.
It’s also super recognizable, watching Robin apologize for her personality upfront, calling herself annoying or admitting that she can’t stop talking before other people can. She’s used to being rejected for that, and it leads to a certain insecurity of the Rejection Sensitive variety.
In the end, though, Robin is someone you can’t really help but like, and she’s cool with being “weird” in all the best ways. Just another awesome addition to an already awesome group of different kids.
1. Jake Peralta (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
“What a strange mix, Arianna.” You might be saying. Well…I watch a strange mix of shows. I can’t help that I have brilliant, eclectic tastes.
Anyway. JAKE. You know I’m right.
Jake is silly, impulsive, and horribly disorganized (at one point, he mistakes one of two pictures of his work locker for a trash heap in the Philippines). He also tends to accidentally miss important details, and is easily distracted.
Despite this, dude is a rockstar at his job as a detective. He has an innate intuition that makes him the best on his squad, and you can tell that it’s because he legitimately enjoys what he does. When he learns, he does it quickly and applies it efficiently. He also has a strong sense of right and wrong (even when he wishes he didn’t), and has a real dislike for anything that stifles his approach to his job.
Jake is probably my favorite example of someone whose neurodivergence makes him an asset, and I especially love that he knows it. It makes for a fun watch, no matter what he’s doing.
NOICE.
If you’re ready to work with someone who has awesome taste in shows, go here. If you’d rather listen to me talk about movies, TV, and other entertainment, come check out my new podcast, Well, I Say it Sucks.
