"Never Have I Ever" Critique & Review
Written by: Ananyaa Mahajan & Harshita Takalkar
Introduction
Growing up in America in this day and age, we are surrounded by quite a bit of media, and we noticed a severe lack of representation of not only Indian culture but representation of different cultures in general. The two of us have grown up in Indian-American households and live a dual-cultured life. Unfortunately, our representation in the media is quite limited. When we first discovered that a show about being Indian-American characters was pitched, we were beyond ecstatic. In April of 2020, “Never Have I Ever” was released on Netflix. The show centers around Devi Vishwakumar, an Indian-American teenage girl who learns the difficulties of growing up with two cultures; navigating how to balance the two throughout her high school life. One of the main reasons as to why “Never Have I Ever” became so popular was because it was a tremendous step for Indian-American representation in the media. Like I mentioned before, Indian representation in the media is quite limited and heavily stereotypical, making it all the more difficult to change the image of Indian-Americans in the media. “Never Have I Ever” improved and expanded the way the world views Indian-Americans. The cast of “Never Have I Ever” is overall very diverse. Darren Barnet, who plays Paxton Hall-Yoshida, is half-Japanese, and the third episode of season two circulates around Paxton’s life and his Japanese culture. We thought it a wonderful choice on the director’s part to incorporate Barnet’s Japanese heritage into Paxton’s character because it added depth to his story. This was really refreshing to see because while it is primarily a show about Indian-Americans, they also displayed other cultures as well throughout the show. Apart from having many people of color on the show, there is also diversity in sexuality and gender with the three main leads being all women and one being a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Ganpathi Episode: Never Have I Ever Season 1 Episode 4 “....felt so Indian”.
Written by: Ananyaa Mahajan
Ganapati is such an important holiday in my community, so seeing a Ganapati episode portrayed on a mainstream platform was really heartwarming. The social component of Ganapati was a large factor that contributed to my enjoyment of the holiday. It was a weekend (sometimes multiple) of going to different houses and eating delicious food while meeting family friends you haven't seen in a while. Something significant in the episode was a moment when Devi met a family friend who had graduated and went to college.. In my family’s social circle, we had a number of people in different grades so as the years passed by, slowly the number of “kids” at these Ganapati events decreased. Closer to my own high school graduation, a few older friends had come back and their reaction to their homecoming was very similar as displayed in the show. Personally, as a college student, coming home for Ganapati and being in touch with my own cultural roots is such an important part of my own identity.
This episode discusses the overall theme of the show and the internal struggle that Devi faces of being Indian and American simultaneously. This struggle is equivalent to many Indian-Americans going through middle school and high school as well. It is more difficult to understand the differences of those around you, especially with everyone having different backgrounds. With cultural identity and being in the stage of adolescence, some teens tend to shy away from their cultural roots which can cause a gap between those who embrace them. From the episode, we see that balance is a key component in understanding. We see Devi and her family in their familiar zone of culture, and it’s evident how it can help solidify identity / community.
Mental Health
Written By: Harshita Takalkar
It is no secret that the topic of mental health in Asian communities is considered “taboo”. Growing up, I was always taught how to take care of my body and my physical health, but the topic of my mental health never came up in conversation. It was only recently that I took the initiative to start having discussions about therapy, depression, and anxiety in my own household. This stigma in the Asian community was why I was surprised that “Never Have I Ever” openly acknowledged and discussed themes about mental health. Devi and her father Mohan (played by Sendhil Ramamurthy) had a very close relationship, and after Mohan’s death, Devi suffers from temporary paralysis. In the first episode of the series itself, Dr. Ryan (played by Niecy Nash), Devi’s therapist, is introduced. As Devi goes through a lot in this show emotionally, it takes her a while to open up about her father and the trauma she had faced. At the end of season one, a heated argument breaks out between Devi’s mother (Nalini) and Devi, resulting in Devi moving out of her house as she refusesg to spread her father’s ashes with her mother and sister. Devi becomes so angry that she even lashes out at Dr. Ryan. In the last episode of season one, we see Nalini in the office with Dr. Ryan, instead of Devi, and despite Nalini’s claim of not believing in therapy, she opens up and reveals a side of herself that we have never seen before. This specific scene was so powerful, and more importantly, it was extremely relatable. Dr. Ryan tells Nalini, “You don’t always have to be so strong.”. Speaking from personal experience, I know that a lot of Indian parents struggle to communicate and handle their emotions, mostly because they were raised in an environment where they were taught to suppress them. In this scene, we see Nalini break that boundary and express her vulnerability.
In season two, Devi eventually goes back to Dr. Ryan, and she finally becomes ready to talk about her father’s death and the feelings associated. Overall, my favorite parts in the show included the scenes between Dr. Ryan and Devi because their conversations were very realistic and meaningful. Devi is primarily supposed to be a character that provides comedic relief as a relatable Indian teenager, but it was really refreshing to see her be honest in her therapy sessions. I really appreciated that “Never Have I Ever” discussed mental health (and other “taboo” topics) because the show grew to be very popular and was even renewed for a third season. The show included topics that are considered controversial, not just in the Indian community, which helps to break that stigma. While the show definitely has its flaws, “Never Have I Ever” provided a unique approach to these topics. I truly hope that after watching the show, people feel inspired to start conversations about mental health in their own households and in their own communities.
Trigger warning ahead,* (mentions of rumors, eating disorders, bullying)
Aneesa's Eating Disorder
Written By: Ananyaa Mahajan
Season two of “Never Have I Ever” featured a new character named Aneesa played by Megan Suri. The purpose of her character was to be the foil to Devi’s plans and to serve as Devi’s archnemesis (cue pretty, down-to-earth, and also Indian-American character). Their friendship was rocky at first, as Aneesa expressed an interest in Ben (Devi’s school crush). Just as they mend their friendship on the basis of their culture, Devi accidentally (or not so accidentally) spreads a rumor about Aneesa’s eating disorder which happens to be real. It is revealed that Aneesa had transferred schools due to bullying of the news of her eating disorder. Eating disorders should not be taken lightly in any community, and when mainstream media makes content with this topic, it can become tricky. In my opinion, “Never Have I Ever” did a fair job with Aneesa’s storyline, and the reactions shown by Aneesa and the school to Devi’s accidental rumor prove the seriousness of the issue and how it can affect one’s mental health as well. However, the focus was more on how Devi wasn’t being a good friend to Aneesa versus the gravity of Aneesa’s eating disorder and her mental health. I hope in the following seasons that there are more conversations about Aneesa’s disorder between Aneesa and Devi so viewers are able to see the ally ship between women.
Kamala (Devi's older sister)
Written By: Harshita Takalkar
In season one, Kamala (played by Richa Moorjani) was introduced as Devi’s seemingly perfect older cousin. Early on, we learned that Kamala wanted to pursue a career in medicine; however, her storyline in season one is primarily centered on her being forced into an arranged marriage. She meets the man that she is supposed to marry, Prashant (played by Rushi Kota) and unexpectedly falls for him. In season two, Kamala finally gets a new storyline, and she begins working in a lab; however, she struggles to deal with being the only woman in her lab. Kamala is not respected by her coworkers, nor is she given credit where it's due. Fed up, Kamala goes to Prashant for advice, but all he says is to “keep your chin up,” and not react (we don’t know too much about Kamala and Prashant’s relationship yet, but this statement does cause Kamala to drift away from him at the end of season two). Naturally, Kamala becomes even more infuriated and finally decides to turn to Devi, wondering what she would do in a situation like this. Taking Devi’s advice, Kamala goes back to the lab, puts her name on the paper, and finally confronts her boss.
Though I appreciated that Kamala got a storyline that did not revolve around marriage and men for a few episodes, we again see Kamala with yet another man in the finale. As we discussed Kamala’s development in the second season, we realized that aside from that brief storyline about her working in a lab, Kamala’s main storylines have consisted of men. This seemed disappointing because Kamala’s character could have broken down the stereotype that continues to overshadow the significance of female STEM workers and the idea of single women who are career-driven.
Nalaini & Ideas of Indian-American Parenting
Written By: Ananyaa Mahajan
Nalini (Devi's windowed mother) has been an integral part of the show since the pilot. She represents the typical Indian parent while also showing sides that aren’t usually shown on TV and media but are definitely shown at home. Nalini, like many Indian parents, adopted a style of parenting where the values and rules are simply different. When coming to America, their parenting styles come off as tough or even comedic, when in reality it is just another style. Nalini goes beyond these stereotypes and shows her soft side (which is true for many parents) and her moments are the ones that makes her character stand out.
To me, watching Nalini was like watching my own mother and at times father. The writers of the show did a very good job depicting a relationship between Indian parents and their children. Nalini does a wonderful job of working to adapt to American culture, but also while staying true to her roots and relaying the importance of that to Devi. When it comes to education, the stereotype is that Indian parents heavily value and enforce strict rules onto their children, and while this can be harmful, Nalini shows that she truly wants the best for Devi. There is no malicious intent to that either, and I hope that Nalini is able to grow her character while also maintaining those roots. Nalini as a character is what makes the show so incredibly relatable as we (the writers) are the daughters of Indian-American immigrants.
Conclusion
“Never Have I Ever” was certainly entertaining to watch and follow, as the characters developed over the course of the show. The actors in the show gained a lot more recognition after the show premiered, and we think Mindy Kaling (producer) was able to inspire many Indian-Americans across the world. The overall awareness of our culture has definitely increased, and just this past year, we saw so many people celebrate our Indian festivals, like Diwali. Popular Indian customs / musical sequences were featured on TikTok just this past year. Other mainstream Hollywood films began to feature Indian and Asian characters. Because of “Never Have I Ever” and the popularity it gained, we hope that we will see more shows similar to it appear in the mainstream media, and promote a more authentic image for the Indian-American community.
Growing up in America in this day and age, we are surrounded by quite a bit of media, and we noticed a severe lack of representation of not only Indian culture but representation of different cultures in general. The two of us have grown up in Indian-American households and live a dual-cultured life. Unfortunately, our representation in the media is quite limited. When we first discovered that a show about being Indian-American characters was pitched, we were beyond ecstatic. In April of 2020, “Never Have I Ever” was released on Netflix. The show centers around Devi Vishwakumar, an Indian-American teenage girl who learns the difficulties of growing up with two cultures; navigating how to balance the two throughout her high school life. One of the main reasons as to why “Never Have I Ever” became so popular was because it was a tremendous step for Indian-American representation in the media. Like I mentioned before, Indian representation in the media is quite limited and heavily stereotypical, making it all the more difficult to change the image of Indian-Americans in the media. “Never Have I Ever” improved and expanded the way the world views Indian-Americans. The cast of “Never Have I Ever” is overall very diverse. Darren Barnet, who plays Paxton Hall-Yoshida, is half-Japanese, and the third episode of season two circulates around Paxton’s life and his Japanese culture. We thought it a wonderful choice on the director’s part to incorporate Barnet’s Japanese heritage into Paxton’s character because it added depth to his story. This was really refreshing to see because while it is primarily a show about Indian-Americans, they also displayed other cultures as well throughout the show. Apart from having many people of color on the show, there is also diversity in sexuality and gender with the three main leads being all women and one being a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Ganpathi Episode: Never Have I Ever Season 1 Episode 4 “....felt so Indian”.
Written by: Ananyaa Mahajan
Ganapati is such an important holiday in my community, so seeing a Ganapati episode portrayed on a mainstream platform was really heartwarming. The social component of Ganapati was a large factor that contributed to my enjoyment of the holiday. It was a weekend (sometimes multiple) of going to different houses and eating delicious food while meeting family friends you haven't seen in a while. Something significant in the episode was a moment when Devi met a family friend who had graduated and went to college.. In my family’s social circle, we had a number of people in different grades so as the years passed by, slowly the number of “kids” at these Ganapati events decreased. Closer to my own high school graduation, a few older friends had come back and their reaction to their homecoming was very similar as displayed in the show. Personally, as a college student, coming home for Ganapati and being in touch with my own cultural roots is such an important part of my own identity.
This episode discusses the overall theme of the show and the internal struggle that Devi faces of being Indian and American simultaneously. This struggle is equivalent to many Indian-Americans going through middle school and high school as well. It is more difficult to understand the differences of those around you, especially with everyone having different backgrounds. With cultural identity and being in the stage of adolescence, some teens tend to shy away from their cultural roots which can cause a gap between those who embrace them. From the episode, we see that balance is a key component in understanding. We see Devi and her family in their familiar zone of culture, and it’s evident how it can help solidify identity / community.
Mental Health
Written By: Harshita Takalkar
It is no secret that the topic of mental health in Asian communities is considered “taboo”. Growing up, I was always taught how to take care of my body and my physical health, but the topic of my mental health never came up in conversation. It was only recently that I took the initiative to start having discussions about therapy, depression, and anxiety in my own household. This stigma in the Asian community was why I was surprised that “Never Have I Ever” openly acknowledged and discussed themes about mental health. Devi and her father Mohan (played by Sendhil Ramamurthy) had a very close relationship, and after Mohan’s death, Devi suffers from temporary paralysis. In the first episode of the series itself, Dr. Ryan (played by Niecy Nash), Devi’s therapist, is introduced. As Devi goes through a lot in this show emotionally, it takes her a while to open up about her father and the trauma she had faced. At the end of season one, a heated argument breaks out between Devi’s mother (Nalini) and Devi, resulting in Devi moving out of her house as she refusesg to spread her father’s ashes with her mother and sister. Devi becomes so angry that she even lashes out at Dr. Ryan. In the last episode of season one, we see Nalini in the office with Dr. Ryan, instead of Devi, and despite Nalini’s claim of not believing in therapy, she opens up and reveals a side of herself that we have never seen before. This specific scene was so powerful, and more importantly, it was extremely relatable. Dr. Ryan tells Nalini, “You don’t always have to be so strong.”. Speaking from personal experience, I know that a lot of Indian parents struggle to communicate and handle their emotions, mostly because they were raised in an environment where they were taught to suppress them. In this scene, we see Nalini break that boundary and express her vulnerability.
In season two, Devi eventually goes back to Dr. Ryan, and she finally becomes ready to talk about her father’s death and the feelings associated. Overall, my favorite parts in the show included the scenes between Dr. Ryan and Devi because their conversations were very realistic and meaningful. Devi is primarily supposed to be a character that provides comedic relief as a relatable Indian teenager, but it was really refreshing to see her be honest in her therapy sessions. I really appreciated that “Never Have I Ever” discussed mental health (and other “taboo” topics) because the show grew to be very popular and was even renewed for a third season. The show included topics that are considered controversial, not just in the Indian community, which helps to break that stigma. While the show definitely has its flaws, “Never Have I Ever” provided a unique approach to these topics. I truly hope that after watching the show, people feel inspired to start conversations about mental health in their own households and in their own communities.
Trigger warning ahead,* (mentions of rumors, eating disorders, bullying)
Aneesa's Eating Disorder
Written By: Ananyaa Mahajan
Season two of “Never Have I Ever” featured a new character named Aneesa played by Megan Suri. The purpose of her character was to be the foil to Devi’s plans and to serve as Devi’s archnemesis (cue pretty, down-to-earth, and also Indian-American character). Their friendship was rocky at first, as Aneesa expressed an interest in Ben (Devi’s school crush). Just as they mend their friendship on the basis of their culture, Devi accidentally (or not so accidentally) spreads a rumor about Aneesa’s eating disorder which happens to be real. It is revealed that Aneesa had transferred schools due to bullying of the news of her eating disorder. Eating disorders should not be taken lightly in any community, and when mainstream media makes content with this topic, it can become tricky. In my opinion, “Never Have I Ever” did a fair job with Aneesa’s storyline, and the reactions shown by Aneesa and the school to Devi’s accidental rumor prove the seriousness of the issue and how it can affect one’s mental health as well. However, the focus was more on how Devi wasn’t being a good friend to Aneesa versus the gravity of Aneesa’s eating disorder and her mental health. I hope in the following seasons that there are more conversations about Aneesa’s disorder between Aneesa and Devi so viewers are able to see the ally ship between women.
Kamala (Devi's older sister)
Written By: Harshita Takalkar
In season one, Kamala (played by Richa Moorjani) was introduced as Devi’s seemingly perfect older cousin. Early on, we learned that Kamala wanted to pursue a career in medicine; however, her storyline in season one is primarily centered on her being forced into an arranged marriage. She meets the man that she is supposed to marry, Prashant (played by Rushi Kota) and unexpectedly falls for him. In season two, Kamala finally gets a new storyline, and she begins working in a lab; however, she struggles to deal with being the only woman in her lab. Kamala is not respected by her coworkers, nor is she given credit where it's due. Fed up, Kamala goes to Prashant for advice, but all he says is to “keep your chin up,” and not react (we don’t know too much about Kamala and Prashant’s relationship yet, but this statement does cause Kamala to drift away from him at the end of season two). Naturally, Kamala becomes even more infuriated and finally decides to turn to Devi, wondering what she would do in a situation like this. Taking Devi’s advice, Kamala goes back to the lab, puts her name on the paper, and finally confronts her boss.
Though I appreciated that Kamala got a storyline that did not revolve around marriage and men for a few episodes, we again see Kamala with yet another man in the finale. As we discussed Kamala’s development in the second season, we realized that aside from that brief storyline about her working in a lab, Kamala’s main storylines have consisted of men. This seemed disappointing because Kamala’s character could have broken down the stereotype that continues to overshadow the significance of female STEM workers and the idea of single women who are career-driven.
Nalaini & Ideas of Indian-American Parenting
Written By: Ananyaa Mahajan
Nalini (Devi's windowed mother) has been an integral part of the show since the pilot. She represents the typical Indian parent while also showing sides that aren’t usually shown on TV and media but are definitely shown at home. Nalini, like many Indian parents, adopted a style of parenting where the values and rules are simply different. When coming to America, their parenting styles come off as tough or even comedic, when in reality it is just another style. Nalini goes beyond these stereotypes and shows her soft side (which is true for many parents) and her moments are the ones that makes her character stand out.
To me, watching Nalini was like watching my own mother and at times father. The writers of the show did a very good job depicting a relationship between Indian parents and their children. Nalini does a wonderful job of working to adapt to American culture, but also while staying true to her roots and relaying the importance of that to Devi. When it comes to education, the stereotype is that Indian parents heavily value and enforce strict rules onto their children, and while this can be harmful, Nalini shows that she truly wants the best for Devi. There is no malicious intent to that either, and I hope that Nalini is able to grow her character while also maintaining those roots. Nalini as a character is what makes the show so incredibly relatable as we (the writers) are the daughters of Indian-American immigrants.
Conclusion
“Never Have I Ever” was certainly entertaining to watch and follow, as the characters developed over the course of the show. The actors in the show gained a lot more recognition after the show premiered, and we think Mindy Kaling (producer) was able to inspire many Indian-Americans across the world. The overall awareness of our culture has definitely increased, and just this past year, we saw so many people celebrate our Indian festivals, like Diwali. Popular Indian customs / musical sequences were featured on TikTok just this past year. Other mainstream Hollywood films began to feature Indian and Asian characters. Because of “Never Have I Ever” and the popularity it gained, we hope that we will see more shows similar to it appear in the mainstream media, and promote a more authentic image for the Indian-American community.