When Devi blows off her therapist's suggestion that they discuss her father's death in favor of Devi's impressing upon Dr. The moments when Devi and this show get real, though, are remarkable for their sincerity. Underneath these everyday concerns lurks a terrible sadness, but on the surface Devi is a regular TV teen who worries whether her outfit's cool enough and hesitates to approach the boy she likes when he's hanging out at the "Hot Pocket" (where all the cutest, coolest boys at school sit at lunchtime). Thus Never Have I Ever, like Devi, has depths that are barely papered over with plot lines about parties and romantic misunderstandings, problems at school, and fights with her mom. But rather than dive into a pool of unfathomable grief, she'd much rather focus on more typical teen angst and worry about boys and being cool. Chief among her woes is the untimely death of her father, an event that shown in flashbacks that emphasize the horror Devi is hiding under layers of easier-to-take pain, like the embarrassment of belonging to a social niche that Devi's nemesis calls the U.N. When Never Have I Ever introduces us to Devi, it's the first day of her sophomore year of high school, fresh from having endured incredible pain and humiliation as a freshman. Sex-obsessed teens are nothing new in entertainment, but sex is just a cover for what the leads in this fresh, charming series are really seeking: love, acceptance, and validation. They also learn how to accept each other and live more authentic, happy lives. The show's multicultural group of teens are capable of great integrity and self-control: They make mistakes and learn from them, they treat others unkindly and then regret their actions and make amends. Language is frequent and includes "s-t," "hell," "damn," and "goddamn." A boy calls a group of girls "unf-kable," and a girl calls her mom a "bitch." Instances of ableism and fatphobia are flaws in a series that's otherwise great for representation, especially for Indian Americans. Violence is infrequent, but there are repeated flashbacks of a character's death (no blood or gore), someone has a panic attack, and one character hits another during an argument. A girl urges her therapist to prescribe drugs including Klonopin and Paxil (the therapist doesn't). Teens smoke pot and drink, at times to the point of acting foolish and leading to an injury that requires hospitalization. Various teens grapple with their sexuality and work through it in healthy ways. In another scene, teens use stuffed animals to demonstrate sexual positions, which they name ("reverse cowgirl," "love seat," etc.). They also talk about characters' looks and bodies, including a scene in which girls say a boy looks like he's "smuggling a pepper grinder" under his pants. They do kiss, flirt, and talk about boyfriends, girlfriends, and romance. Teens scheme to have sex, but it takes multiple seasons before anyone actually winds up having it (off-screen). Expect lots of mature talk about sex (referred to as "boinking" and "boning," etc.). Devi ( Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) learns to be more emotionally honest and to accept her grief as she navigates typical teen problems related to friendship, school, and romance. Parents need to know that Never Have I Ever is a series (co-created by Mindy Kaling) about an Indian American teen girl who's mourning the death of her father. In particular, Devi's temporary paralysis before suddenly walking again falls into the "miraculous cure" cliché, and there are ongoing fatphobic jokes about a minor recurring character. But the show does mishandle some key things. A main character's sister has Down syndrome but is defined by her love of fashion, not her disability. Kamala encounters sexism in her PhD biology program. (Behind the scenes, the show was created by Indian American writer and actress Mindy Kaling.) Even though Devi's heterosexual relationships are the main focus, same-sex relationships take place and are treated naturally. Devi's close friends are Chinese American, Afro-Latina, and Muslim. Cast has extensive diversity, including love interests who are mixed-race, Jewish, and Indian. Mental health (Devi sees a therapist) and grief are major themes. Ethnicity isn't the main focus, but viewers do see important reminders of it - e.g., she prays to Hindu gods, and her older immigrant cousin grapples with potential arranged marriage. Indian American TV show leads are rare, and Devi makes a great one: She's complex and has admirable inner strength.
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