Mindy Kaling’s Netflix hit 'Never Have I Ever' is a phenomenon
The show’s overarching themes can resonate with all sorts of people of color across different diasporas.
Much of the anticipation for season three of Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” has come from viewers waiting to see what happened with the show’s thrilling love triangle. But the new season proves the show’s power is far stronger and more universal than merely teen pheromones.
In its first season, the teen dramedy followed Indian American teenager Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) as she struggled with her father’s sudden death, navigated the unique horrors of high school and balanced life straddling two cultures. “Never Have I Ever” expertly mixed difficult emotions such as grief and self-acceptance with distinct humor, which elevated the show beyond its status as a teen show.
“Never Have I Ever” expertly mixed difficult emotions such as grief and self-acceptance with distinct humor, which elevated the show beyond its status as a teen show.
As producer and actor Mindy Kaling’s brainchild, “Never Have I Ever” places South Asian American women and the rich culture Kaling herself grew up in front and center. And while the portrayal of South Asian immigrant culture in America is part of the show’s charm, its strength is that the overarching themes can resonate with all sorts of people of color across different diasporas.
Devi is a self-proclaimed nerd with a fervent boy obsession and an overbearing immigrant mother, Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan), who doesn’t allow dating. Meanwhile, Devi’s cousin Kamala (Richa Moorjani) — who lives with them — is a doctoral biology student who literally ran away from the proposal dinner for her arranged marriage, much to the dismay of her traditionalist grandma Nirmala (Ranjita Chakravarty).
Rating: 5