Too many story lines hobble Sundance series on autism

The title of the worthy but overly earnest miniseries almost seems anachronistic: “The A Word” suggests a reluctance to say “autism” aloud.

For the family at the center of the six-part British import premiering Wednesday, July 13, on Sundance TV, that’s not only true, but potentially destructive.

Alison’s brother Eddie (Greg McHugh) works in the small brewery owned by their father, Maurice (Christopher Eccleston), a widower.

Nicola’s observation is met with various levels of denial from other family members, but especially from Alison, who constantly tries to justify her son’s behavior as evidence that he is gifted.

Bowker’s script all but shouts its purpose of showing us that Joe may have autism, but the rest of the family is made dysfunctional by communication issues.

Maurice has been taking singing lessons from Louise Wilson (Pooky Quesnel), who suggests that since they are both single, they should have a sexual relationship — not a romance, but an occasional tumble in the sheets since both of them miss sex.

The exception is Joe Hughes, the only truly credible character in the series, portrayed with uncanny skill by 6-year-old actor Max Vento.

Each episode opens with Joe walking alone down a rocky road carrying some oddly colored object and singing to whatever he’s listening to through his headphones.

Bowker doesn’t trust his viewers to allow credible drama and character development to make his points, so he hits us over the head, repeatedly.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle.