Vritti Bansal
Having been created by Mindy Kaling, viewers could easily expect Never Have I Ever to not have flaws that an American creator making a show about South Asian identity could make. A lot of people have applauded “representation” in the show. However, the show defies what a brown co-creator and writer could have easily achieved for it.
The protagonist Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) moves through her sophomore year of high school with great unease, as she navigates friendships, romantic relationships and her relationship with her mother. She is portrayed as approval-seeking, competitive, and at times selfish.
People tend to look up to protagonists and Devi isn’t the ideal. While characters are always flawed, Devi’s shortcomings are not minor. Some of her traits could be linked to being a typical teenager, but her meanness to her mother and complete disregard for the feelings of her friends is hard to digest. Devi is also very insecure about her identity, nearly to the point of being ashamed of being an Indian. This is clearly revealed when she attends a Ganesh Puja with her family.
Her mother (Poorna Jagannathan) is excellent as Nalini Vishwakumar. The actress has achieved the nuances of the role with great poise and skill. Richa Moorjani also delivers a stellar performance as Devi’s cousin, Kamala. However, there are problems in how Kamala’s love life is portrayed. She gives up Steve, her Asian American boyfriend, to become involved with a “more suitable” Indian suitor her family selects for her. She is driven to the decision by another problematic portrayal, of a divorced woman at the Ganesh Puja, who is ostracised by the community for having married a Muslim. The woman tells Kamala that it is ultimately parents who know best. Apart from glorifying arranged marriage, there is an Islamophobic undertone to the portrayal.
What’s problematic about Never Have I Ever doesn’t end here. There is an instance in one of the episodes where Devi’s Jewish classmate and academic rival, Ben (Jaren Lewison), is exposed to Devi’s wrath when she says to him: “I hope the Nazis kill you”. While it would be wrong to demonise Devi’s character, it’s hard to ignore her flaws. However, a strong reaction to her character is also telling of how well Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has enacted Devi. It is easy to dislike Devi, while there are also people who have rooted for her.
The show also has some strengths, especially when it comes to the part played by Sendhil Ramamurthy. Mohan, Devi’s deceased father, is portrayed with poignancy and sensitivity. He appears often, mostly as part of flashbacks and Devi’s imagination. Their relationship is tender and loving. The end of the show is particularly moving, when Devi becomes convinced she needs to accompany her mother and cousin in scattering her father’s ashes, setting aside their differences.
Despite its shortcomings, Never Have I Ever is undeniably gripping to watch. The narrative, while problematic at times, flows easily. It’s not a show for someone with strong politics, but then, neither are most teen dramas.