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Speechless

2016–2019Ended3 seasons63 episodes~30 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

Maya DiMeo is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband, Jimmy, and kids Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with special needs. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves and searches for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.”

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Speechless?

As of October 24, 2026, Motif lists Speechless to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Speechless?

Speechless earns 5 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Feel-good.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Content

Reception

Is Speechless worth watching?

Speechless' Midcredits score is the 73rd percentile of all shows, from 9.3K ratings across 2 sources. 82% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

73rd percentile

Better received than 73% of shows

71st percentile among Comedy71st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)64th
Approval (how many liked it)77th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

74 /100

64th percentile of all shows

65th percentile among Comedy62nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

82% liked it

77th percentile of all shows

72nd percentile among Comedy75th percentile among 2010s
82% rated it 7–1018% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

91st percentile

9.2K ratings across platforms

86th percentile among Comedy91st percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 18% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps see Speechless as a well-meaning but uneven family sitcom centered on disability.

Fans praised

  • authentic disabled casting and representation
  • heartfelt family chemistry led by Minnie Driver
  • sharp, witty writing with a fresh take on sitcom tropes

Detractors panned

  • unfunny and lacking humor
  • unbelievable characters and storylines
  • wasted potential despite good intentions

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive80

Fresh take on disability sitcom, distinct from typical family comedies

Emotional impactDivisive80

Both touching and funny, balancing comedy with genuine heart

ActingDivisive78

Minnie Driver's lead performance and ensemble chemistry frequently praised; detractors find it uneven

DialogueDivisive78

Sharp, funny writing; non-fans find it unfunny

CharactersDivisive74

JJ authentically portrayed and well-written, but some find characters unlikable or unbelievable

Plot and storyDivisive72

Witty storylines with real stakes, though some deem narratives unrealistic

HumorDivisive68

Mix of deadpan and heartfelt moments; detractors call it not funny

PacingDivisive60

Season three criticized for declining joke quality, overall unevenness

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 11 points higher than men.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 11 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

3 seasons

Season 3 · 2018 · 22 episodes

  • S3E1

    L-O-N– LONDON (1)

    Oct 5, 201821 min
  • S3E2

    L-O-N– LONDON (2)

    Oct 12, 201821 min
  • S3E3

    I-N– INTO THE W-O– WOODS

    Oct 19, 201821 min
  • S3E4

    N-E-- NEW JJ

    Nov 2, 201821 min
  • S3E5

    S-T– STAGE MOM

    Nov 9, 201821 min
  • S3E6

    C-E– CELEBRITY S-U– SUITE

    Nov 16, 201821 min

Watch experience

What is Speechless like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

Themes

  • Family bonds

Feelings

  • Warm
  • Joyful
  • Melancholic

Style

  • Warm
  • Playful

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Casual
  • Easy watch
  • Resolved

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Suburban
  • Domestic
  • Institutional

Story

  • Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.

How it leaves you

  • Feel-good
  • Hopeful
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: lateWarm humor
Told as
Resets each episode · 10% of showsNew arc each season
TonePlayed straight with sincere warmth, finding humour in the family's chaotic love without winking at the audience.
The rideThe series maintains a warm, lighthearted tone throughout, with occasional melancholic moments that deepen in later seasons as the family faces more serious challenges.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional sitcom reset structure with no unusual narrative devices.
Episode formatEach episode presents a self-contained comedic problem or situation (usually related to JJ's needs or the family's antics), with the status quo largely restored by the end, though some mild continuity exists across seasons.
Season formatEach season focuses on a new stage in JJ's life (starting a new school, transitioning to adulthood), with the same core cast and setting, but the central challenges evolve per season.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you smiling at a family's resilience and believing that love and humor can carry any challenge.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% (this title) · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Farce: Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).

12% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeIn a typical episode, the DiMeo family's well-meaning but over-the-top plans to help JJ backfire into escalating absurd chaos.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bonds
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe core of the series is the DiMeo family's bonds as they deal with the challenges of raising JJ, a teen with special needs, and their fierce advocacy for him in a world not always accommodating.
StanceThe show celebrates the DiMeo family's bonds and resilience, presenting their advocacy and togetherness as a source of strength and joy.

The world

PopSupportive music · hybrid
SettingAn unnamed suburban American town, primarily the DiMeo home and their son's school.
MusicThe theme song and occasional pop tracks underscore the show's upbeat, accessible tone.

Content guide

Is Speechless okay for kids?

TV-PG

Speechless is rated TV-PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (2/100), sexual content at mild (16/100), language at mild (31/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (19/100) and frightening material at mild (17/100). Its drug and alcohol content has too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 8% of TV-PG shows.

Ratings in 12 other countries
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland12
  • Austria12
  • IndiaU
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoAA
  • NetherlandsAL
  • PortugalNR
  • Spain13
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 3% of all showsHeavier than 8% of TV-PG shows
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a TV-PG show
heavier than 2%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
light for a TV-PG show
heavier than 15%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 55%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a TV-PG show
heavier than 25%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 55% of TV-PG shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Speechless have?

Motif's classifier found no content warnings in Speechless' parents' guide notes and plot synopsis; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

Screened from limited information, so some warnings may be missing.

Cast and crew

Who is in Speechless?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Minnie Driver
as Maya DiMeo
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Ross Bowie
as Jimmy DiMeo
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Cedric Yarbrough
as Kenneth
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Mason Cook
as Ray DiMeo
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Micah Fowler
as JJ DiMeo
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Kyla Kenedy
as Dylan DiMeo
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Marin Hinkle
as Dr. Miller
Jonathan Slavin
as Mr. Powers
Sedona James
as Taylor
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Liz Cackowski
as Joyce
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.

More like this

What are shows like Speechless?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Speechless include One Day at a Time (1975), Father Knows Best (1954) and Outmatched (2020).

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What other shows share a tag with Speechless?

636 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: workplace comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.