i AM autistic, and you said so many things i wanted to say.

i haven't seen either show, so i can't comment on the overall issues, and i'm fully aware that more context could completely change the situation.

but it's a pet peeve of mine when people make "add-on" complaints or criticisms of a problematic thing anyway— nitpicking that distracts from the actual issues.

ANYWAY, as an autist, my reaction to the "awkward" seen was "omg, i feel you friend." the music and editing highlighted the way he portrayed himself. it amplified his self-expression.

alex, meanwhile, got a treatment that made him look arrogant, shallow, and obnoxious— which was precisely how he behaved... or at least, that's one way to look at it. because whether you think alex is "confident and sexy" or "an absolute tool" is actually quite dependent on your own biases and not necessarily the soundtrack.

(alex the bro could be a really fun guy, but my instinct would say that his action reel intro was mocking him, not celebrating him. most reality shows like that are seen as pretty "trashy" in my neck of the woods, and the cast is being mocked by default.)