Question about Hank on Parenthood

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My husband is wondering if anyone knows if the character of Hank on Parenthood was always written as an Aspie from the start, from the initial introduction of his character on the show, or if he was just made Aspie when they revealed it in order to enrich the story line.

Think you'd have to ask the writers

I don't know the answer to your question, but thank you for the opportunity to say that parenthood is my favorite TV show. plan to watch tonight.

Yes, Wind, I would love to be able to contact them and ask. I wonder if any of them are even members here. That would be cool.
Cathylynn, Parenthood is one of our absolute favorite shows as well. We never miss it. Tonight's episode was really good. Don't want to spoil it for anyone who has not seen it yet (sometimes we watch it on NBC.com after it airs if we miss it) but I really loved it. I was so happy for Max.

Is he the photographer played by Ray Romano?

I've only watched a handful of the new episodes. They're not always on at the same time every week.

I doubt Hank was created to have AS because Max Burkholder has the only one coached on how to act like he had AS, perhaps Ray did know and was trusted to learn how to act the traits on his own as acting an adult with mild AS I'm sure is easier then acting Max's role. I have only watched from the 5th episode of this season though.

Gee, I don't think the character Hank represents us at all. He's way too extreme, and I never met an Aspie like that. Now, Max on the hand is spot on.

I both love and hate Parenthood. I like the aspie traits of Max's character, you are right that they did a goo job writing that. What I don't like is all the parents in that show letting their kids get away with murder and turning them all into spoiled brats. Some of the stuff Max does, he does because he can get away with it because he has AS. His parents once told him not to use his disability as an excuse, but the way they parent him, it feels like they're using it as an excuse for his bad behaviour and not punishing him for it. For instance, there are aspie meltdowns, and there are just temper tantrums, and an aspie can have either. A lot of Max's outbursts just feel like temper tantrums, like when he throws a fit because the TV was turned off. It's not just Max who displays these behaviours, Haddie and Amber do as well, and that definitely bugs me. Not to mention, the crowded, hectic environment they all live in is not ideal for an aspie; it annoys me the way everyone always talks over one another and they all wind up shouting. Of the meltdowns that are actually meltdowns, it's no surprise Max has so many of them; I'd snap too if I were raised in such a chaotic family.

That whole thing with the printer was beyond ridiculous and Max even said that it wasn't his day to be there and that his parents said that he could only be there if it was okay with Hank. I think Hank should have been firm with him and sent him home. He does get away with really spoiled behavior. I would have been spanked to no end if I had even hinted to act that disrespectfully. Aspie or not there is no excuse for behavior like that and Adam and Christina should have handled it very differently. Sarah was right and she should not have rented that printer for another week.

I actually kind of like that aspect of the show though because it shows that the parents are not perfect parents. It shows them as overwhelmed and making many mistakes just like real people do. I think that the kids are a little more spoiled than they should be, and Sidney is another little hotheaded spitfire who could use a can of whoop ass but even with the spoiled kids and not perfect parents I really love the show and that family.

Just because your parents would have spanked you for behaving that way doesn't mean they should have. When you take into account that a child has autism you really need to explain to them why their behaviour was bad and how the should respond. How many times to we as adults get called rude or selfish when we had no idea that we were? It's even worse with kids because of the lack of awareness.

When I was spanked I just thought my mum is mean and overreacts. And now I just remember her as someone who can't control their emotions.

I think the parents do let Max get away with a lot but they don't always explain things to him, and I think it is done to show them as flawed human beings.