![]() High Fidelityused a similar storytelling device this year to great effect and given how recent that was, Ben’s standalone episode could feel like an also-ran.įortunately, the writing is so sharp and Lewison’s portrayal of a deeply lonely young man so poignant that it doesn’t matter. Imagine Jordan Catalano with greater depth.ĭevi’s frenemy, Ben (Jaren Lewison), was featured far less in the previews, which is a shame because he’s genuinely one of the most entertaining characters on the series so much so that he gets his own standalone episode, Never Have I Ever Season 1 Episode 6 “…been the loneliest boy in the world.” While the trailers teased Devi’s relationship with resident-hottie, Paxton (Darren Barnet), he’s far more interesting than you’d expect. There’s clearly tremendous love between them but there’s also a significant gap in the kind of love they’re able to give one another and the kind of love they each need or want. Together, Jagannathan and Ramakrishnan portray one of the most honest, complex mother-daughter relationships that I’ve seen on television for some time. On top of that, Nalini is modern in many ways, armed with a biting, sardonic wit, but she’s also trying to honor her Indian culture and ensure her daughter and niece do the same (the deeper glimpses into Indian culture are a highlight of the season and the show deftly showcases Indian traditions and how they intersect with everyday life far more than we’ve seen in Kaling’s other work). Jagannathan has no easy task: Nalini is a study in contrast and contradiction buckling under her own grief, she’s unable to fully grasp that her daughter’s merely trying to work through her own, albeit in a different way than Nalini might like. However, the real MVP of the season is Poorna Jagannathan as Devi’s mother, Nalini. That the supporting characters are both diverse and well developed shouldn’t go unnoticed given Kaling’s history The Mindy Projectwasn’t nearly as diverse and rich when it came to its cast. Related What to Watch on TV: I Am Groot, Never Have I Ever, A League of Their Own The writing provides this foundation but Rodriguez and Young elevate their roles at every opportunity. PHOTO COURTESY OF LARA SOLANKI/NETFLIXįabiola (Lee Rodriguez) and Eleanor (Ramona Young) are fully realized characters trying to process and work through their own challenges and feelings of alienation. On almost any other show, Devi or her friends would be sidekicks who mostly existed to revolve around and shine on their central character - and almost always white - friend. It doesn’t hurt that Ramakrishman is supported by a a compelling crew of characters. Ramakrishnan approaches this storyline with aplomb and her work in Never Have I Ever Season 1 Episode 9 “…had to be on my best behavior” and Episode 10 “…said I’m sorry” is raw and revelatory. Devi isn’t always easy to like and it’s to Ramakrishman’s credit that we want to stick with her (while simultaneously yelling at our screens when she makes boneheaded decisions, of course).Īt the heart of the show is Devi’s unresolved grief about her father’s sudden death and her resentment towards her mother. The show’s success mostly hinges on newcomer Ramakrishnan’s performance as Devi. Honestly, it’s one of the most original, interesting teen shows in years (sorry, Riverdale). Yes, it’s funny and certainly touches on sex but it’s more about healing from grief and trauma, the inherent isolation and discomfort that comes along with adolescence, and the tensions that exist between honoring your culture and forging your own identity away from it. ![]() She’s simultaneously self-possessed, high achieving, mouthy, and selfish while trying to stave off a fair amount of insecurity and grief.Ĭontrary to how it’s been marketed, Never Have I Ever isn’t a sex romp or revenge of the nerd fantasy. Plus, in a fun Easter egg for longtime Kaling fans, Sendhil Ramamurthy, who played Kelly Kapoor’s boyfriend on The Office finale, stars in a pivotal role as Devi’s father.ĭevi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) feels like a young Mindy Lahiri in many respects. There’s plenty of pop culture references (a Nick Jonas/Priyanka Chopra joke and a Tik-Tok scene probably make for the funniest call-outs), a tightly-wound frenemy bound to turn love-interest, and a killer soundtrack. Mindy Kaling’s latest show, Never Have I Ever, has her fingerprints all over it. Warning: This review contains some spoilers for Season 1 of Never Have I Ever. ![]()
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