I like that Devi was unlikable. Main characters are usually "perfect" and when they do mess up, they usually get away with it. Devi's friends held her accountable and called her out. And Paxton also calling her out after she lied about sleeping with him was also refreshing bc it's usually guys being eager for people to think they had sex with a girl. This show had a refreshing take. Very realistic. I liked it.
Yeah i still like devi. I mean she was mean to her friends, but she isnt that 'annoying' main character. She relates to us. Thats why she is more realistic than most main characters.
I will also mention that Paxton’s character was meant to be a white boy. Him being part Japanese was only added after they realized the actor was Japanese after hearing him speak to one of the crew. So regardless they had her options as white boy 1 or white boy 2
Oh wow I didn't know that but I do think its cool they added it and that the actor is actually half Japanese wouldve been even better if they were actually trying to have diversity within her love interests tho because interracial couples don't have to involve a white person at all and it seems like the people writing these shows don't get that for some reason
Yeah, the White partners in a “interracial relationship” thing is getting tiring. Can we have an Korean and Indian couple together or something like that? I never seen that before on TV/movies😅😭 Edited: Asian to Korean…. Thank you for correcting me.
the majority of the show was very cookie cutter coming of age story (which i’m honestly here for), but to me, the real heart of it was devi’s complicated relationship with her mom and their struggle to move forward after her father’s death. they had me SOBBING from the end of the 2nd to last episode and throughout the whoooole finale. it reminded me of my relationship with my mom when i was in hs
Yes I remember I was crying at the end and my father was having dinner and he would look at me with a "what's wrong with this girl?" face and then I threw myself on him to hug him.
and the difference with Devi’s situation is that while she did have a crush on Paxton, she was trying to fixate her attention on him to her trauma from her father’s death and trying to fill that void that he left.
The show was decent but I couldn't get over how old Paxton looked to me. Like I legit had to google him because I was like are they really trying to tell us this man with bags and creases on his face is in high school? 😭
I honestly agree with u for saying that Devi is an awful friend to Fabiola and Eleanor. She wasn't always there for Eleanor when she found out that her mum was back for disappearing from her for most of her life and for Fabiola when she was having challenges into confessing her sexuality to her mum cus her mum wanted her to have a boyfriend. On top of that, she will normally ditch them for Paxton like Gurllllllll and make up excuses as if that's any better. It mostly fustrates me that she put her main focus on a boy that she only knew in school that didn't have problems unlike her friends that have been there for her even for her life and even when her dad died.
she fixates herself on paxton to distract herself. it was mentioned in one of the scenes lol. as for the friends thing- yeah i agree. atleast she realises tho.
@Renee this is the one! women of color protags should be allowed to make mistakes and be very flawed. white characters are constantly given this luxury. devi was a horrible friend but she's allowed to be too!
I agree. She's so focused on finding love, of any kind and from anyone, to like "fill" the void of missing her dad and the kindness and compassion he used to give her that she'll do literally anything. But it doesn't excuse the way she treats her friends, and the way that she acts like she's "too good" for them.
I love that Devi is unlikeable AND relatable actually. Let's be honest, most of us girls were pick-me at some point in our lives, especially as teens because of how insecure it is there. Yes, she was a bad friend, and yes, she has temper, but you know what, good. When I think about myself in high school, I cringe and I feel like "ew, I was such an ass" and then I see a show like that and I'm like "well, at least I was not the only one". We never see, except from maybe Rachel in Glee and book Hermione Granger (and they are both white) a female protagonist who, although very relatable, is also unlikeable. She's a traumatized kid and not all kids that went through something like that act like bad friends or pick-me, but some do. That's honest.
Netflix shows really hate casting dark skin people and always make the white love interest the best one. I liked the show but it could have been better
Netflix does that thing where the toxic guy is somehow white and the nice guy is a poc and the protagonist still ends up choosing the toxic white guy. From Sex Education , TATBILB 2, Elite, Kissing Booth 2 etc
@@sanjramesh3189 where was that in sex ed? (I just have a vague idea about the show, saw that couple of months ago..but I don't remember a scene like that tho)
@@jahnaviraman5411 I think she had already turned 18. Or if not then wherever they were 17 was the age of consent. Like he looks so kuch older tgab everyone else too, so like its hard to suspebd disbelief
i totally noticed that whole "poc always ends up with the white person" or whenever there is a biracial character, they are always half white. Like biracial doesn't always include white lol
Paxton wasn’t even supposed to be half Japanese, they wrote that into his character because the actor is fluent in Japanese (and about 1/4 Japanese). If he wasn’t cast in the show Devi would probably have 2 white love interests
@@Ayesha-ps5ze Yep,glad that they avoided that though (even though it was unintentional).I liked that Paxton’s popular joke thing subverts the trope that usually it’s rich white blonde guys that are the popular kids,but instead we get that the athlete is an Asian kid who’s not really that rich and we get to see more of his heritage (especially in s2 spoilers) and his relationship with his grandfather. (Honestly best thing is that they noticed that Darren can speak Japanese accidentally and decided to include it in his character and not just ignore that)
@@beta910 you bring up nice points and I agree with you. I'll just be waiting here until they decide that biracial kids w/o half white parentage get some time to shine.
Devi’s annoying but she actually gets called out for her sh*t and has to own up to her mistakes which is something that so many other teen shows fail to do with their protagonists. Also I really wish there was a dark skinned girl. Literally all the black girls on Netflix pass the paper bag test.
I always compared her to Ginny from Ginny and Georgie where that character never genuinely got called out. There weren't real consequences and therefore she was just an annoying unlikeable character. I love Devi despite her...very bad decision making and selfishness, because at some point she owns up to them. Genuinely owns up to them. And when she doesn't, the show still makes sure to hold her accountable! I love her, she's like a kid that I always get second hand embarrassment but still love her. Also, season 2, there was a dark skinned girl in the show. She was a minor character, but I was SO relieved she was treated as just a CHARACTER. Not the token black girl. An actual human being.
I don’t think I’ve seen any character growth her. She just seemingly continues to be a bad friend/person and only tries fixing things after she’s actually dug herself into a hole and there isn’t a way for her to lie or get out of it Scott free.
Sasha from season two is a deeper complected black girl, love her character! Also they introduce more diversity into the cast in season two and really expand on the storylines
@@andyii6407 this!! i feel like yes, people call her out for it but usually those people just ignore her and she will literally let it be and move on for awhile until she has no one or nothing left and needs someone. and even then, usually someone pities her and makes others talk to her. and when she does apologize, it’s usually just a half-assed apology and the characters end up forgiving her anyway. which is like, okay, that leaves a lot of room for progress but she doesn’t make any progress. if anything, she gets worse. and i love that they added a therapist, but then she never actually takes the therapists’ advice ever and it’s blatantly obvious that the therapist don’t do shit.
I mostly enjoyed the stuff about her going to therapy, her relationship with her mum, and just her dealing with her mental health, it’s refreshing to see mental health taken seriously in an Asian family
i thought it was fine that Devi wasn’t likeable, i didn’t really care that much that she apparently wasn’t lol. really enjoyed the show and excited for season 2. BIPOC deserve lighthearted fluff shows, so hey
Like Devi was supoose to likeable, retable maybe but not likeable. People need to stop feeling as if a lead character has to be likeable in order to be relatable or for us to like them if that makes sense. Also its nice for BIPOC to have media thats not just about are struggles etc...
Although i really appreciate how they show her anger bc it is very common with trauma, especially losing a parent young. Too many people claim they care bout mental health but dont when it comes to actual symptoms outside depression and anxiety
Definitely agree with your assessment of Devi's un-likability as a character. We're constantly being told rather than shown how she's not like the other girls Paxton dates because she's somehow more kindhearted, despite being given direct evidence of her constantly being a bad friend and just a very flawed person. And this NLOG mindset is reinforced by other people, like when Rebecca says she doesn't look like one of Paxton's girlfriends because she "doesn't look like a skank". Very much Pick-Me energy, which would be fine if it was just an internal flaw, but it doesn't make sense for other characters like Paxton and Rebecca to be so enamored by her for literally no reason.
Well if you look at it from Paxton and Rebecca's POV she is nivr ans kind hearted. They dont know about how she treats other people in her life. Also Paxton was mad at her at some point for the rumor. The whole her being "not like other girls" he dates make sense. Paxton is the popular good looking jock and dates girls who are in his social class. Devi is a shy awkward nerd. I mean Paxton even says that. I will say that Paxton and Devi's romantic interest seemed force. Cause they havent had enough interactions for us to see where theyre attraction has grown ot that actually knoe each other or have a connection. Like it still seems shallow at best. whereas you seem more of the development of Devi and Ben's relationship. Like if youre going to give me a love triangle, give me proper developed love triangle.
what you said makes no sense lol. yeah there were moments were devi was a pick me, but what teenage girl hasn't been a pick me at least once in their life? devi is a relatable character, as a teenage girl myself, I found myself relating to her a lot. id rather have a mean and rude main character then another mary sue who doesn't make mistakes and is perfect. devi's a realistic character.
The show is good I couldn't connect so much with the protagonist but I cried in the end, mostly because the father reminded me of my uncle 'cause he had cancer and I spent all the time crying because he's my favorite uncle. Anyway, I think it's an entertaining series but they were able to dig into some other things and I hope they do in the second season.
@@imuRgency He is not dead, but he was in a complicated process and it was shocking for me because my father took me to visit him and I never witnessed that disease from so close Thank God He's healthy now, that was 3 years ago when I was 13.
@@victika9464 Thank God your uncle is better. Thank you for sharing and maybe I will watch ‘Never Have I Ever.’ Rumi’s review and some of these comments got me intrigue💯
@@JulianSteve The show is entertaining, there are some parts where I as a teenager was "???", but after that the series is good, I like the parts where they talked about Indian culture, even if they were small parts I would describe it as a series to watch on weekends
I think that Paxton was also always sexualized. You could say its the teenage hormones from her, but every scene that Paxton was in he was sexualized in some way. I think if Paxton was a girl and they sexualized a high school girl, people would be act different. (lol not a hard opinion just a thought). Paxton did have a back story and his character was developed in sorts.
Well she was a writer and actress in The Office, and her character dated two non-white men in that show. Though obviously she had her toxic on again off again relationship with Ryan, who she ran away with in the end of the show.
As an Indian girl she was relatable even though I am not the nerd who isn’t social in fact I am pretty social acceptable somehow. But seeing an Indian girl do the exact thing the white kids do is big in itself like in all the shows the Indian kid is just the nerd it’s the kid who listens to their parents and just studies. And I am kinda tired of that I would have been happy if they remade a bad teenage show with just an Indian cast at this point. But this show was actually good I personally love Mindy kaling and had high expectations for the show and it stood up to it so what it’s a cheesy teenage show we all need that sometimes and this was actually nicely scripted. Even my favourite character is nalini devi’s mother she is kinda like my mother not exactly. Plus you forgot Kamala I don’t know about other households but in an Indian households we all have a cousin who is perfect so that was spot on and funny. I hope they connect to the Indian roots more I watched the table read for season 2 and they her mother is still going to move to india so that would be fun Love your reviews and hope you give your views on season 2
@@laylah7806 because Indians are stereotyped as the anti social nerds which just isn’t true and whereas the white kid date, party, shop and so much more. So being an Indian I would love to see a normal Indian kid like me also being represented
i would’ve liked the show better if they focused more on other people in the family. i don’t think davey was supposed to be likeable, but i think we kept watching ( or at least i did ) to see at least SOME character development from her. i think she should’ve lost her friends at the end of the first season so in the second she learns how to be a better person, and EARNING those friendships back.
I mean she did lose her friends though. Ben basically had to force Fab and El to go talk to her. Also, dont forget her trying to make up with them was a diversion so theywould pressure to go the beach with her mum. I get what yall are saying but some people actually do make up with their friends that quickly.
I was kinda hoping we could get an Indian love interest for Devi like that would be cool. One that wouldn’t be stereotyped. There was no Indian male characters their age. Devi could have had a Indian friend too
Okay that would be so cute. Like she meets him at the Ganesh Puja celebration at her high-school and they sneak off together - away from all the older relatives and spend the day talking. Cut to them passing each-other by in the hallways before finally getting together 🥺 I don't know something like that would be a cute concept
Oh my gosh I so agree with comment. I think Indian guys get such a bad rep especially with shows like the Big Bang theory and what not, being nerdy and not desirable. It would be so cool to have a show where the main love interest is Indian!
Yeah he’s like 30...and she’s like 19😭I hate this mindset of people not thinking something like this is weird bc she’s technically an adult. I’m sorry, but when I was 18-19, I was still in high school. Then when I graduated, I still had the mentality of a high schooler. Also, they’re still teenagers and are barely adults. It sounds dumb, but when I was in my preteens, I use to wonder how 18-19 could be adults if they were still teenagers😂I just think someone who has recently become an adult being casted with someone who’s well into their adulthood is odd.
@@LLCoolJ_25 RIGHT! I love the fact that she’s playing a character so close to her actual age but they missed the mark with him. I know they could have found another guy to play his character.
Its not even how hes much older than Devi, hes older than the rest of the cast. Like it just looks weird. Cause everyone is late teens early 20s and he looks ouy of place
@@LLCoolJ_25 Dude I feel like your going way to deep. Theyre actors in a tv show. However for me its more like he looks so much older than everyone else. Like yall want us to buy that hes still in highschool, how? Even if they did cast someone older, at least cast someone who looks like teenager
I like devi in a weird way, my traumatized teenage self relates to her a tooooooon. She is problematic and has anger issues for sure but honestly thats pretty realistic for someone caring around unresolved trauma. I can’t wait for the second season and hope to get more character development from her!
@John Xina Ok so I totally see your frustration but brown people also can get casted as the terrorist. BTW. Also in ancient India there were stories that were similar to Aladdin...and I love Noami Scott infact she is the same type of Indian I am. But I see that you guys would rather prefer someone who represents all Arabs. Just in general West Asians and South asians in Hollywood have to feed through a TON of stereotypes just to simply get a role. After watching the new season the Muslim character wasn't even muslim. So in general I feel like Netflix...doesn't want to stick to a true portrayal of Hinduism/Islam as well as pretty much any asian culture besides Eastern Asia.
One thing I only realised once someone else said it was that Devi’s disability is never actually given anything, it’s just used to show how into Paxton Devi is
So, fun fact: I’m a brown girl! I liked a lot things in this show. But! The tendency on only having white love interest for brown characters is very, very Mindy Kaling. It’s one of the biggest issues I have with everything she has been in. Look at the Mindy Project of you want to see a more clear version of this. I really wish they had focused on being stuck between identities. That was such an issue for me. A small thing was fashion: I alway left like I never knew what was cool. And I never had a country. I didn’t belong in North America because I didn’t look like anyone here, but then I’d go back to my parents home country and everyone mocks my accent and I didn’t know how to interact with the country. It is the Welsh concept of Hiraeth: a longing for a home I don’t have, one I never had. Edit: spelling.
Well I think the point was that Devi doesn't have an identity crisis, she accepts her Indian heritage of course, but she was born and raised in the US, not everyone struggles with that. Devi very clearly states that she IS American and she doesn't feel bad about it. There is nothing wrong with identifying more with the place you were born in than the culture of your parent's country. I actually hate when movies always make the characters struggle and feel like they don't belong
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy actually the show definitely points to Devi not really relating to her Indian heritage which is definitely apart of the process to figuring yourself out. I do agree that there is nothing wrong with identifying for with the place you were born and raised in rather than your parents home country but the fact remains that it is still a part of your identity and that is something almost all American raised Indian kids feel and struggle with . So the show referencing that is great because it can give others that don't have that issue a different perspective and more understanding on the difficulties of merging two parts of your identity
@Carpee Cat that's fine and all but it doesn't change the fact that your still Indian and you don't have to hate being Indian in order to disagree with aspects of the culture it's not that black and white lol. I think a lot of us hate the misogynistic homophobic and racist parts of our culture, and that's a part of the big struggle. it's really up to the next generation of Indians to fight those ideologies.
I remember watching the show and just genuinely being so happy to see a NOTICEABLY Indian Protagonist who wasn’t constantly the butt of the joke. A lot of the show was definitely cookie cutter but if they delve into more family dynamics/identity I’ll love it much more
something i liked abt the show was how all the characters had some screen time to show their struggles like ben - lonely and neglected by his parents paxton - doesn’t want people to know abt his sister fabiola - had trouble coming out eleanor - had trouble with her mom kamala - had a secret boyfriend and didn’t want to get married
I’ve always enjoyed Mindy’s work. I watch almost everything she’s involved in. But my biggest gripe with her is her near fetishization of white men. They are always the romantic interest- the “prize”. It’s weird, to say the least
I definitely see this. It’s the same vibe I got from Jenny Han when I read the TATLIB series, however when adapting it to film they made a lottt of adjustments (formerly all the male love interests were white and thé half Asian main character was the only mentioned POC that I remember).
@@blkbarbie2671 I didn’t know they diversified the characters for the movies 😯that’s nice. But the fact that they were all white in the books is another example of how we need more interracial love stories that don’t revolve around white people Edit: at least Kamala’s and Nalini’s love interests have been POC, so far
Have you reviewed On My Block yet? I really like the show but I feel like it’s kinda similar to Never have I Ever with the high school drama. Would love to hear your opinions on it!
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy lol yes. That happens most of the time irl. Why can't that actually be reflected on screen? Nobody said white people can't exist in the show's universe, but they don't need to be included in the main cast. Let them be side and background characters like Jonah, or Sheila, or Trent.
Hey I'm new to your channel and I agree with the interracial love trope comment I wish there are more shows that showcase black love or even love from different ethnicity. I believe they done this to be inclusive with the audience but it's starting to become common and overused. I will love to see more healthy relationships of black love in high school series and even adulthood.
Well, tbh. Its creativity, and i love how the show is. All people that are cast are the best at their job/roles. And its cool to see that a indian girl can love white people, and vice versa. Devi has clearly a type.
i loved this show! I think it gave me the perfect amount of cringyness while also delivering the coming of age story i would like to see, while also keeping a good story plot. Thank You for this video, I love it haha.
in the first episode they even addressed her being a "hothead" and there was the whole scene when she broke her window and ran out. and that was when i really fell in love with the show and devi as a character. i've broken enough things and yelled/lashed out at so many people- maybe she seems unlikeable to others, to me she's just an extremely relatable character. plus, it's not like she gets away with the shit she does. there are consequences and pretty much everyone is genuinely mad at her at least once in the show. also, oftentimes (especially in teen dramas) the main character is supposed to be the (in a cute way!) "quirky" outsider who gets the guy because of all her "quirkiness" or 'cause she's "not like the other girls". hurts to even think about. they didn't do that in never have i ever. of course it's still teen drama, but c'mon - if everything were super realistic, and the the main character the embodiment of christ or whatever, _no one_ would watch it.
One thing I enjoyed from the show was seeing Devi and her mother interact..Eventhought their not "besties" it gives a lot more dimension to the show and I actually related to that
aww, i actually really like that the plot is so simplistic. i don't think this is what you were getting at, but it's nice to see poc be in stories about the dramas and fun of every day teenage life, like it doesn't always have to be about some cultural trauma or subject of equal emotional weight. i feel like the show does a good job of balancing the lightheartedness with the heavier stuff (therapy, death, culture) and now that i'm typing this out i think it was probably intentional that they chose the general setting of high school romance to even out the harder topics.
what kinda rubbed me the wrong way with Devi is her responding to fabiola coming out with "i've always wanted a gay best friend" like ??? other than that ig she's an okay character edit: okay y’all i get it 😭😭 apparently devi didnt say that but i hope you know regardless of who said it, it’s still weird
I have ptsd because of my fathers death too and the show has actually helped me. Of course, everybody is different, but the way the show handled devis trauma, how she kinda repressed her sadness and the memories of her father, but then almost halucinated that he was still there really reminds me of when i was a 16 year old girl trying to somehow cope with this experience. I hope the next season shows her really working on herself and taking her therapy more seriosly, i like her because i understand her trauma, but i have years of therapy behind me at this point and grown so much because of it, it would be very nice to see her heal too.
I felt like it wasn’t cookie cutter, because usually the main character in a show like this is normally really perfect and bland or like quirky in a palatable way that Devi isn’t. Like the theme throughout is that she had anger issues on top of really messy trauma, which is why they tied in John McEnroe who was known for blowing up on people. I like Devi bc she’s relatable on another level, like I can see her lashing out reflecting some of what I did as a teen. And her stuff was REALLY bad, like I can’t imagine losing a parent like that, especially when you feel like your other parent doesn’t even like you as a person. The love interest sh*t is tired tho, like c’mon. Give me brown girl content without the love interest being a white boy!! (Paxton is cute af but come on, brown & black boys are just as dreamy!)
when you talked about not dealing with trauma even after *that* episode, I realized that even with special/significant moments about your pain, your loss, your trauma have a huge effect... I've been throught a lot starting from 5 years old and even now that I'm 22 I still struggle... It's nice to see this kind of representation in movies. I grew up thinking that some magical turninig point would cure all my trouble just like in movies... something like screaming and crying and someone or something coming to save me and change everything, but it's not like that at all. I am going to therapy and taking medicines since 2017 BUT............ there is still pain... I feel like it's good to show this kind of thing in teen series/movies, like "YOU ARE NORMAL DESPITE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TROUGH" and the positive relation with therapy (almost never depicted in media or presented as something "unusual/not good").Teenagers must see that is ok to have emotional/psychological problems
Though it was a pretty regular plot line with typical conflicts and storyline I feel like it was refreshing to have POC portrayed in a relatively normal lifestyle. Too often I think diverse shows with various representations of cultures circle back to racially charged narratives where the main conflicts stem from financial difficulties such as being poor or homeless or racism that ranges from covert to physically violent. Being able to see POC teens living their complicated and tumultuous lives while navigating the intricacies of their own culture and not just white culture really makes me feel seen and lowkey grateful for a show like Never Have I Ever.
I really connected with the show in that it was one of the very few, if not the only show I’ve seen that has a character who has a psychosomatic response to her trauma. I have a chronic illness and at one point in my life my doctors thought it was psychosomatic. This show is probably the closest thing I’ve seen to a character with a illness like mine. I had to leave high school for a while I couldn’t lift my wrist because it was so painful and walking up and down my school hallways was too painful as well. I’d really love to see season 2 go more into her illness or the reason why she couldn’t walk, and perhaps it’s happening again. I realize the show was not fantastic but I think it has a lot of heart behind it.
I like that she was unlikable. She’s going through a rough time and it’s obvious that she’s going to be a bit of a prick. There’s always the thing in shows where the main character handles their trauma perfectly with kindness and grace and then once in a while breaks down in such a cute way. This shows the reality of emotions and how sometimes we get mean and destructive
I usually hate this kind of main character but I was surprised that I like it. Probably it's because she's still young that she did those mistakes because she never faced those before. With Aneesa, she learns a bit how her words have consequences
Not all main characters have to be likeable. It's actually incredibly refreshing to see flawed female protagonists after having grown up with one dimensional female characters in media up until very recently.
I feel like creative industries forget that interracial relationships aren't always between a POC and a white person. Like, these relationships can exist between 2 POC from different ethic backgrounds too!!
Great review! I liked listening to your points. For me personally as an Indian, I really enjoyed seeing aspects of our culture on screen from family values to religion. The Indian girl balancing tradition and the modern world is relatable to a lot of us. I enjoyed that Devi wasn't perfect, no one is. I liked seeing her navigate this odd time in her life. I think a lot of people will relate to her. The power of family and their reconciliation was emotional for me. I agree with you that Devis mom was a very interesting. I admit it wasn't perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of the characters.
6:13 I noticed this as a teen, but thought out was all in my head. I'll also add Manny from Modern Family, all the crushes he's had ate always white (I'm on season 8).
honestly even if devi isn’t “perfect” I will take any representation i can get, there isn’t a ton of south Asian representation, especially in a teen audience setting, and although I’m a little older now, I am so damn happy to watch a show that highlights people who look like me and who I can relate to
something i actually like is that the highscjoolers actually look like highschoolers (aside from paxton i guess). like fabiola actually looks her age and so does devi.
i dont think it was brushed over bc this show focuses on how devi can be a HORRIBLE person, and cheating is of one of her many horrid decisions. if she was painted as a likeable character, then yes its brushed over. but since shes crazy already, it wasn't unexpected
It wasnt brushed over, both guys literally tried to "even the score" with her and her friends kept bringing it up. It really showed how Devi is not great at redemption and she doesnt handle herself well. I dont think it was brushed over but it also wasnt beaten like a dead horse - i think because thry have to see each other evry day makes the issue work itself through the pipes, whereas if they could block and delete it would be more dramatic
If I could've lashed out the way Davi did I would be like her too🥴 but that's the point. I relate to her but I don't like how she handles things, also the rivalry with Ben takes me back to primary school when my classmates would compete for good grades 🥺
Why does Netflix cancel good shows like “I’m not okay with this” and “Anne with an e” and do more of shit shows like “the kissing booth” and “emily in paris” 🤦🏻♀️
I love this show a lot and have watched it multiple times, and the only belief that solidifies over time is that Devi is meant to be someone whom we don't like. She does go through a lot of shit, but it doesn't excuse her behaviour with her friends, people she claims are her besties. It's inexcusable to choose a "hot boy" when one friend's coming out with her sexuality, and the other is dealing with parental abandonment. Devi is selfish and self-centred, but I have faith that they'll knock sense into her in Season 2. I'm looking forward to some character growth for her.
Definitely relatable, but I honestly like her. She is simply problematic and that invites the drama. That being said, white boy or not the guy we all know she fell for at the end - his character arch was just pristine.
yes it sometimes feels like when doing a show w POC as the main leads, they HAVE to put white love interests to balance it out..? i’m glad you touched on that bc it’s getting very annoying.
I’m so glad this video came up on my feed, I really liked your thoughtful critique and I just subscribed :) I agree that there wasn’t a whole lot of motivation established for Paxton to have feelings for Devi, but I think that a major reason is because Devi treated his sister with genuine kindness. It’s alluded to (or directly stated, I can’t remember lol) that people have bullied Paxton’s sister in the past… and so Devi’s friendliness towards her left a positive impression on him. And I also agree that Devi is portrayed as very volatile and self centered in many instances… I can only hope that in season 2, Devi is given a story arc where she actively works on herself and her relationships. My interpretation of the show was that it displays how life still goes on after traumatic events. And if you don’t consciously try to heal, that trauma will impact all areas of your life. I think this first season established a great world/theme to work with despite some of its deficiencies, and I have hope that the next season(s) will provide the characters with the depth they all deserve
One thing I really wish happened in the show was a chance to see Paxton swim, because he’s hyped up as this champion swimmer and then just gives up on it once his arm breaks. Even after it heals, Paxton just doesn’t return to swimming!
Honestly when I watched the show *i didn't care about Kamala's storyline *I didn't care much about Eleanor and Fabiola. What I didn't get was how the show made it come off that Devi didn't tell them she liked Paxton until episode 2? It could be a high possibility that Eleanor and Fabiola knew, but they made it misleading. *I didn't care about Ben until he and Devi had their thing, I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers. I think this show could have been better if they had more than a 10 episode span. If they were gonna develop each character with their own storyline, it could have had more episodes. Especially since Ben has this banter with Devi and then he becomes forgettable mostly for episode 3 and then he's completely not in it for episode 4. I would have liked to see her friendship with Eleanor and Fabiola more.
The fact almost all the main characters were lying or hiding emotions made this show even more accurate.😩😅 Plus Eleanor deserves better,her family seems they don't care about her that much in this season,especially her mom.☹️
You on to something bc I'm not saying media is forcing interracial relationships but its normalizing the idea especially with BIPOC queer people that only or mainly white love interests can be their match or this opposites attract idea. I've seen the same issues in books.
I haven't seen the movie everything everything yet, but in the book the main girl was half black, half Japanese. And the movie had a half black half white actress. Which is kind of annoying. I like the actress though don't get me wrong. She was adorable in hunger games
@@Hope-si1kb Amanda uses they/them pronouns but I get what you are saying! Same thing with The Hate You Give- in the book Starr is dark-skinned Black girl and Amanda plays her in the movie but Amanda is lightskin I'm not sure if they are biracial
I think where this show made an impact was seeing her right so hard to not feel grief and to not face her own emotions. Her being temperamental was the whole point of her major flaw and the backbone of her arc. Also this show does a good job of showing that trauma is not linear. I personally liked it because she was so flawed and her friends constantly put her on blast and choose to stay because they love her. Interesting video though!
I think the white love interests are purely Mindy Kaling's idea because, as a viewer of her shows and longtime fan, I know that she grew up very entuned and obsessed with American culture, she's kind of like a white girl in an Indian girls body, so she grew up on a lot of American media and TV shows and thus mostly likes and dates white men. even in her show, the Mindy Project, the majority, if not all of her male love interests were white. She also seems to have a thing for Jewish men.
Yep the white love interest for all POC is a Mindy Kaling thing. The only exception was her remake of Four Weddings and a Funeral but the Black gal Mc wasn’t developed well (and every White character’s punching bag imho). Even though it was cute to have a POC interracial pairing.
I'm not sure if that's fair to say. That might be an insecurity she's growing out of, and the way she talks about it now, I feel like she's grown out of it. Also, they're setting Nalini up with a black man next season
in both "to all the boys 2" and "kissing booth 2" -- we're introduced to a much better new poc love interest, and the whole movie is based on how they're the better option. But in BOTH MOVIES, the protagonist goes back to the white love interest... WHY
I’m not gonna lie, I would drop my friends too for THAT man. If I walked past them holding his hand, i simply wouldn’t bat an eye, idk them. I hate to say it I really do but I’d be down bad
Tbh at first Paxton and Devi wasn’t even meant for each other yet until he started to study, cares for his future and actually embraced Devi at the end, he knew what he did wrong and made up for it
I feel like South Asians are sadly just so invisible in Hollywood so even though Devi was not the best it was still a step forward. I also think that seeing Devi be seen as attractive or exploring her sexuality is important because there are too many shows where they always make south asians seem weird or Other or unattractive (ex. Raj in Big Bang Theory when the actor playing him is a BEAUTIFUL man)
I do also hate the "white love interest" trope tbh. I was genuinely happy when Eleanor got a bf who was a poc as well bc everyone else had white s/o's or love interests. I also don't quite agree with you on how to see Devi's anger issues. It's true that many teenagers stray learning how to respond better, but speaking from (horrifying) experience, when I was in 10th grade (the same age as the characters) my depression started manifesting and I already had anger issues, so seeing how Devi overreacted to seemingly regular obstacles with over the top behavior made me reflect on how I was at exactly that age. It's not just her being dramatic, it's genuine neurodivergency. A lot of people who share these symptoms AREN'T likeable, like you said, but I definitely related to her. (Also, yes she was a terrible friend and I hope in season 2 they backtrack the friendship between the trio bc that scene was NOT reflective enough.)
I agree that the premise is bare bones basic high school drama but that is actually one of the charms of the show for me. We rarely get to see POC characters living generic lives... its always some extreme struggle situation. I think poc kids also deserve to see themselves typical generic plot lines.
I gave this video a thumbs up just for what you said about Devi's mother. Your description made me realize how complex and layered that character was while also being realistic and relatable. Great work 👍
I really liked this review! Very honest and straight to the point. I think the show definitely has some plot holes and places where you’re like wuut. Can you please make a review of season 2?
I quite liked the show. Non-white lead AND non-white family members? Culture differences? Family trauma? A high schooler not being all about sex?!???? Big love for me.
My madison beer moment is that i went to highschool with maitreyi, she got cast almost immediately after graduation. I was a year younger than her but we have alot of mutual friends.
Honestly, the best part of the show for me is how relatable Devi is. As an Indian person living in America with her mom, a successful cousin I’m jealous of but admire, and no other siblings- every aspect of Devi’s struggles is very close to me. Plus I really appreciate how we FINALLY got the representation with maitreyi and mindy kaling because this is the first time any successful show in western media has even come close to accurately representing me and my identity. Not to mention how s1 released exactly a week before I moved to America, on point.
I like that Devi was unlikable. Main characters are usually "perfect" and when they do mess up, they usually get away with it. Devi's friends held her accountable and called her out. And Paxton also calling her out after she lied about sleeping with him was also refreshing bc it's usually guys being eager for people to think they had sex with a girl. This show had a refreshing take. Very realistic. I liked it.
I liked that the show didn't tried to pretend she's right most of the times
Same
Yeah i still like devi. I mean she was mean to her friends, but she isnt that 'annoying' main character. She relates to us. Thats why she is more realistic than most main characters.
@@thepink3798 i feel like she just shows that hopefully she'll find herself and kinda be better
This! I love that they explicitly say she’s not a good friend and from what I’ve seen, very unlikable. I don’t like her but I love that she’s flawed
I will also mention that Paxton’s character was meant to be a white boy. Him being part Japanese was only added after they realized the actor was Japanese after hearing him speak to one of the crew. So regardless they had her options as white boy 1 or white boy 2
Oh wow I didn't know that but I do think its cool they added it and that the actor is actually half Japanese wouldve been even better if they were actually trying to have diversity within her love interests tho because interracial couples don't have to involve a white person at all and it seems like the people writing these shows don't get that for some reason
wow didn't know this omg
Ummm im not sure about this....
Yea. Mindy heard him talking on the phone and decided to add it into his character. She didn’t even know he w as half Japanese
If you don’t want to see white peoples as love interests you probably shouldn’t view American or British media. Feel free to tune in elsewhere?
I hadn't noticed that the bipoc's love interests in TV shows were white most of the time but it definitely leads to some reflection!
Yeah I've started to notice it a lot cause it's starting to bother me
Yeah, the White partners in a “interracial relationship” thing is getting tiring. Can we have an Korean and Indian couple together or something like that? I never seen that before on TV/movies😅😭
Edited: Asian to Korean…. Thank you for correcting me.
@@JulianSteve Indians are asians but I get what you mean
@@alextroy9202 I know, but I did not want to put Asians and Indians in the same race for this example. Thank you for getting my point💯
@@JulianSteve Indian Is a Asain person mate!
the majority of the show was very cookie cutter coming of age story (which i’m honestly here for), but to me, the real heart of it was devi’s complicated relationship with her mom and their struggle to move forward after her father’s death. they had me SOBBING from the end of the 2nd to last episode and throughout the whoooole finale. it reminded me of my relationship with my mom when i was in hs
Yes
I remember I was crying at the end and my father was having dinner and he would look at me with a "what's wrong with this girl?" face and then I threw myself on him to hug him.
@@victika9464 that's the cutest thing I've ever heard today!!!
@@victika9464 Awwwwww🥰‼️This right here made me smile😁‼️
I agree 💯. I loved their relationship struggles. And the flashbacks 😢
Yeah the show is generic, however the characters and conflict made it seem fresh. Like you I was here for Devi and her moms relationship.
I feel like a lot of young girls choose a boy over thier friends especially if it's the first time a boy shows interest in them
yeah 😭
It also made sense in the context of the show
yeah very true, i think it makes sense, at least that’s a very grade 7-10 type thing
Yes this. Many of us were terrible friends that put boys first when we were younger. This was very relatable to me.
and the difference with Devi’s situation is that while she did have a crush on Paxton, she was trying to fixate her attention on him to her trauma from her father’s death and trying to fill that void that he left.
The show was decent but I couldn't get over how old Paxton looked to me. Like I legit had to google him because I was like are they really trying to tell us this man with bags and creases on his face is in high school? 😭
How old is the actor tho?
@@leah8832 like 29 I think
@@leah8832 he's almost 30 and Devi's actress is like 20 eep
@@hannahrachelabraham2049 shes was like 17 or 18 when they shot it.
🤭🤭🤭🤭
I honestly agree with u for saying that Devi is an awful friend to Fabiola and Eleanor. She wasn't always there for Eleanor when she found out that her mum was back for disappearing from her for most of her life and for Fabiola when she was having challenges into confessing her sexuality to her mum cus her mum wanted her to have a boyfriend. On top of that, she will normally ditch them for Paxton like Gurllllllll and make up excuses as if that's any better. It mostly fustrates me that she put her main focus on a boy that she only knew in school that didn't have problems unlike her friends that have been there for her even for her life and even when her dad died.
she fixates herself on paxton to distract herself. it was mentioned in one of the scenes lol. as for the friends thing- yeah i agree. atleast she realises tho.
Shes trying to distract herself from the trauma.....she was a bad friend though.
The show definetly shows that, heck her therapist and friends told her that. I still think that Devi has some work to do
@Renee this is the one! women of color protags should be allowed to make mistakes and be very flawed. white characters are constantly given this luxury. devi was a horrible friend but she's allowed to be too!
I agree. She's so focused on finding love, of any kind and from anyone, to like "fill" the void of missing her dad and the kindness and compassion he used to give her that she'll do literally anything. But it doesn't excuse the way she treats her friends, and the way that she acts like she's "too good" for them.
I love that Devi is unlikeable AND relatable actually. Let's be honest, most of us girls were pick-me at some point in our lives, especially as teens because of how insecure it is there. Yes, she was a bad friend, and yes, she has temper, but you know what, good. When I think about myself in high school, I cringe and I feel like "ew, I was such an ass" and then I see a show like that and I'm like "well, at least I was not the only one". We never see, except from maybe Rachel in Glee and book Hermione Granger (and they are both white) a female protagonist who, although very relatable, is also unlikeable. She's a traumatized kid and not all kids that went through something like that act like bad friends or pick-me, but some do. That's honest.
AGREED!!!!!
Gosh, someone finally said it!!
Lol not all of us 😂
@@ilovesummer9750 she literally said that more than three times and you still felt the need to repeat it
@@Diana72910 and ?
Netflix shows really hate casting dark skin people and always make the white love interest the best one. I liked the show but it could have been better
I have not watch the show yet, but I agree with you. The theme (white love interest in POC and Black shows) becomes repetitive and inclusive💯
Almost every blk girl in young adult Netflix is mixed🤦🏽♀️
@@no.reply_ and if anyone points this out then people say youre invalidating the actress’s identity🙄
Netflix does that thing where the toxic guy is somehow white and the nice guy is a poc and the protagonist still ends up choosing the toxic white guy. From Sex Education , TATBILB 2, Elite, Kissing Booth 2 etc
@@sanjramesh3189 where was that in sex ed?
(I just have a vague idea about the show, saw that couple of months ago..but I don't remember a scene like that tho)
can we talk about how paxton is 30 though 😭😭😭?????
HUHHH
@@imuRgency yes 😭
and when they were filming she was 17 and he was 28. the show was great but that part was yikes
Like they could have found another teen/earyl 20s actor to play it. Or hell even if it was 30 year old, but 30 yeat old that looks young
@@jahnaviraman5411 I think she had already turned 18. Or if not then wherever they were 17 was the age of consent. Like he looks so kuch older tgab everyone else too, so like its hard to suspebd disbelief
i totally noticed that whole "poc always ends up with the white person" or whenever there is a biracial character, they are always half white. Like biracial doesn't always include white lol
fr! this is so true
Paxton wasn’t even supposed to be half Japanese, they wrote that into his character because the actor is fluent in Japanese (and about 1/4 Japanese). If he wasn’t cast in the show Devi would probably have 2 white love interests
@@phosphenevision you just ruined my day. I can't believe this shit 😑
@@Ayesha-ps5ze
Yep,glad that they avoided that though (even though it was unintentional).I liked that Paxton’s popular joke thing subverts the trope that usually it’s rich white blonde guys that are the popular kids,but instead we get that the athlete is an Asian kid who’s not really that rich and we get to see more of his heritage (especially in s2 spoilers) and his relationship with his grandfather.
(Honestly best thing is that they noticed that Darren can speak Japanese accidentally and decided to include it in his character and not just ignore that)
@@beta910 you bring up nice points and I agree with you. I'll just be waiting here until they decide that biracial kids w/o half white parentage get some time to shine.
Devi’s annoying but she actually gets called out for her sh*t and has to own up to her mistakes which is something that so many other teen shows fail to do with their protagonists. Also I really wish there was a dark skinned girl. Literally all the black girls on Netflix pass the paper bag test.
I always compared her to Ginny from Ginny and Georgie where that character never genuinely got called out. There weren't real consequences and therefore she was just an annoying unlikeable character. I love Devi despite her...very bad decision making and selfishness, because at some point she owns up to them. Genuinely owns up to them. And when she doesn't, the show still makes sure to hold her accountable! I love her, she's like a kid that I always get second hand embarrassment but still love her.
Also, season 2, there was a dark skinned girl in the show. She was a minor character, but I was SO relieved she was treated as just a CHARACTER. Not the token black girl. An actual human being.
I don’t think I’ve seen any character growth her. She just seemingly continues to be a bad friend/person and only tries fixing things after she’s actually dug herself into a hole and there isn’t a way for her to lie or get out of it Scott free.
Sasha from season two is a deeper complected black girl, love her character! Also they introduce more diversity into the cast in season two and really expand on the storylines
@@andyii6407 this!! i feel like yes, people call her out for it but usually those people just ignore her and she will literally let it be and move on for awhile until she has no one or nothing left and needs someone. and even then, usually someone pities her and makes others talk to her. and when she does apologize, it’s usually just a half-assed apology and the characters end up forgiving her anyway.
which is like, okay, that leaves a lot of room for progress but she doesn’t make any progress. if anything, she gets worse. and i love that they added a therapist, but then she never actually takes the therapists’ advice ever and it’s blatantly obvious that the therapist don’t do shit.
paper bag test dang 😬
I mostly enjoyed the stuff about her going to therapy, her relationship with her mum, and just her dealing with her mental health, it’s refreshing to see mental health taken seriously in an Asian family
i thought it was fine that Devi wasn’t likeable, i didn’t really care that much that she apparently wasn’t lol. really enjoyed the show and excited for season 2. BIPOC deserve lighthearted fluff shows, so hey
I agree lol. I actually thought she was quite funny
@@ellax325 same lmao. the show was just meant to be a cringey funny kind of thing its weird that people are analysing the characters 😭
Second season is coming this year im pretty sure!
Like Devi was supoose to likeable, retable maybe but not likeable. People need to stop feeling as if a lead character has to be likeable in order to be relatable or for us to like them if that makes sense. Also its nice for BIPOC to have media thats not just about are struggles etc...
@@CherryBlossomBlyue I agree
Although i really appreciate how they show her anger bc it is very common with trauma, especially losing a parent young. Too many people claim they care bout mental health but dont when it comes to actual symptoms outside depression and anxiety
This! Also I believe that talk aboit how Devi has always had temper and clearly her trauma had made it worse.
Exactly!! I mean, Devi's character in general is a hot head, but losing her father is something that'd definitely have amplified that
Hello Danielle knock knock
@@bryancooker3498 no
What do you mean no because i really don't get you
Definitely agree with your assessment of Devi's un-likability as a character. We're constantly being told rather than shown how she's not like the other girls Paxton dates because she's somehow more kindhearted, despite being given direct evidence of her constantly being a bad friend and just a very flawed person. And this NLOG mindset is reinforced by other people, like when Rebecca says she doesn't look like one of Paxton's girlfriends because she "doesn't look like a skank". Very much Pick-Me energy, which would be fine if it was just an internal flaw, but it doesn't make sense for other characters like Paxton and Rebecca to be so enamored by her for literally no reason.
Well if you look at it from Paxton and Rebecca's POV she is nivr ans kind hearted. They dont know about how she treats other people in her life. Also Paxton was mad at her at some point for the rumor. The whole her being "not like other girls" he dates make sense. Paxton is the popular good looking jock and dates girls who are in his social class. Devi is a shy awkward nerd. I mean Paxton even says that. I will say that Paxton and Devi's romantic interest seemed force. Cause they havent had enough interactions for us to see where theyre attraction has grown ot that actually knoe each other or have a connection. Like it still seems shallow at best. whereas you seem more of the development of Devi and Ben's relationship. Like if youre going to give me a love triangle, give me proper developed love triangle.
what you said makes no sense lol. yeah there were moments were devi was a pick me, but what teenage girl hasn't been a pick me at least once in their life? devi is a relatable character, as a teenage girl myself, I found myself relating to her a lot. id rather have a mean and rude main character then another mary sue who doesn't make mistakes and is perfect.
devi's a realistic character.
The show is good
I couldn't connect so much with the protagonist but I cried in the end, mostly because the father reminded me of my uncle 'cause he had cancer and I spent all the time crying because he's my favorite uncle.
Anyway, I think it's an entertaining series but they were able to dig into some other things and I hope they do in the second season.
exactly this. im so sorry for your loss though
@@imuRgency He is not dead, but he was in a complicated process and it was shocking for me because my father took me to visit him and I never witnessed that disease from so close
Thank God He's healthy now, that was 3 years ago when I was 13.
@@victika9464 Thank God your uncle is better. Thank you for sharing and maybe I will watch ‘Never Have I Ever.’ Rumi’s review and some of these comments got me intrigue💯
@@JulianSteve The show is entertaining, there are some parts where I as a teenager was "???", but after that the series is good, I like the parts where they talked about Indian culture, even if they were small parts
I would describe it as a series to watch on weekends
I think that Paxton was also always sexualized. You could say its the teenage hormones from her, but every scene that Paxton was in he was sexualized in some way. I think if Paxton was a girl and they sexualized a high school girl, people would be act different. (lol not a hard opinion just a thought). Paxton did have a back story and his character was developed in sorts.
It was so gross when his friends mom was hitting on him
@@gingercandy2196 Tell me about it!
Yes and Gigi Hadid was narrating his story and she confessed that she would be often sexualised like him
@@varshanmuhunthan5703 I see that point of view actually...I haven't seen any character as sexualized as Paxton in the show so.
Would it really be a coming of age film if he wasn't?
The white love interest is something recurrent in Mindy Kaling series. In the Mindy project most if not all of Mindy love interest were white.
Well she was a writer and actress in The Office, and her character dated two non-white men in that show. Though obviously she had her toxic on again off again relationship with Ryan, who she ran away with in the end of the show.
As an Indian girl she was relatable even though I am not the nerd who isn’t social in fact I am pretty social acceptable somehow. But seeing an Indian girl do the exact thing the white kids do is big in itself like in all the shows the Indian kid is just the nerd it’s the kid who listens to their parents and just studies. And I am kinda tired of that I would have been happy if they remade a bad teenage show with just an Indian cast at this point.
But this show was actually good I personally love Mindy kaling and had high expectations for the show and it stood up to it so what it’s a cheesy teenage show we all need that sometimes and this was actually nicely scripted.
Even my favourite character is nalini devi’s mother she is kinda like my mother not exactly.
Plus you forgot Kamala I don’t know about other households but in an Indian households we all have a cousin who is perfect so that was spot on and funny.
I hope they connect to the Indian roots more I watched the table read for season 2 and they her mother is still going to move to india so that would be fun
Love your reviews and hope you give your views on season 2
I like how they showed an arranged marriage not being forced.
i didn't like her mom she was scary asf but i did relate to devi a bit and i loved kamala lmao
I can relate the whole fuckin show to my lyf tbh... 😂💀
why do you want to see Indians do all the things white people do lol
@@laylah7806 because Indians are stereotyped as the anti social nerds which just isn’t true and whereas the white kid date, party, shop and so much more. So being an Indian I would love to see a normal Indian kid like me also being represented
I wanted to like her but she kept making so many bad decisions. I was like sis please stop😭
LMAO YES
EXACTLY
Frr hopefully she gets charcter development she seems to have anger issues
I hope she develops into a better human because...I'm tired of her behavior 🥴😣✋🏽
but that was the funny part 😭
i would’ve liked the show better if they focused more on other people in the family. i don’t think davey was supposed to be likeable, but i think we kept watching ( or at least i did ) to see at least SOME character development from her. i think she should’ve lost her friends at the end of the first season so in the second she learns how to be a better person, and EARNING those friendships back.
i want more kamala!!!
*Devi not Davey
I mean she did lose her friends though. Ben basically had to force Fab and El to go talk to her. Also, dont forget her trying to make up with them was a diversion so theywould pressure to go the beach with her mum. I get what yall are saying but some people actually do make up with their friends that quickly.
@@imuRgency I love Kamala, Although I preferred her with Steve over the other dude
@@CherryBlossomBlyue don’t be so quick to judge. She barely had any interaction with Prashant. Plus he actually seems like a really chill dude
Devi’s friends were always there for her but then she betrays them??? 😭 also Devi’s cousins love trope had me hooked
Honestly the cousin is soooo hot and her life seems a bit more interesting then Devi lol she’s needs a spin off
@@domination6585 I hated how she broke up with Evan
@@JoJoOnRUclips her and Evan weren’t dating??? Evan was the horrid incel dude that almost stole her research
I was kinda hoping we could get an Indian love interest for Devi like that would be cool. One that wouldn’t be stereotyped. There was no Indian male characters their age. Devi could have had a Indian friend too
Okay that would be so cute. Like she meets him at the Ganesh Puja celebration at her high-school and they sneak off together - away from all the older relatives and spend the day talking. Cut to them passing each-other by in the hallways before finally getting together 🥺 I don't know something like that would be a cute concept
@@hannaheve868 yeah! I wanted something like that but i know that having two white leads probably markets the show better so..
ok but that would actually be SO CUTE
Oh my gosh I so agree with comment. I think Indian guys get such a bad rep especially with shows like the Big Bang theory and what not, being nerdy and not desirable. It would be so cool to have a show where the main love interest is Indian!
YES! if not a love interest maybe just a male Indian friend
I really liked the show but I want a recast of Paxton. The actor is 11 years older than her irl.
Yeah he’s like 30...and she’s like 19😭I hate this mindset of people not thinking something like this is weird bc she’s technically an adult. I’m sorry, but when I was 18-19, I was still in high school. Then when I graduated, I still had the mentality of a high schooler. Also, they’re still teenagers and are barely adults. It sounds dumb, but when I was in my preteens, I use to wonder how 18-19 could be adults if they were still teenagers😂I just think someone who has recently become an adult being casted with someone who’s well into their adulthood is odd.
@@LLCoolJ_25 RIGHT! I love the fact that she’s playing a character so close to her actual age but they missed the mark with him. I know they could have found another guy to play his character.
Its not even how hes much older than Devi, hes older than the rest of the cast. Like it just looks weird. Cause everyone is late teens early 20s and he looks ouy of place
@@LLCoolJ_25 Dude I feel like your going way to deep. Theyre actors in a tv show. However for me its more like he looks so much older than everyone else. Like yall want us to buy that hes still in highschool, how? Even if they did cast someone older, at least cast someone who looks like teenager
@@LLCoolJ_25 and she was 17 when they filmed the first season, so literally a child
I like devi in a weird way, my traumatized teenage self relates to her a tooooooon. She is problematic and has anger issues for sure but honestly thats pretty realistic for someone caring around unresolved trauma. I can’t wait for the second season and hope to get more character development from her!
i hope they give her more character development in the next season like she was a mess tbh
Honestly.......I'm just happy we got some brown representation in Netflix.
@John Xina Ok so I totally see your frustration but brown people also can get casted as the terrorist. BTW. Also in ancient India there were stories that were similar to Aladdin...and I love Noami Scott infact she is the same type of Indian I am. But I see that you guys would rather prefer someone who represents all Arabs. Just in general West Asians and South asians in Hollywood have to feed through a TON of stereotypes just to simply get a role. After watching the new season the Muslim character wasn't even muslim. So in general I feel like Netflix...doesn't want to stick to a true portrayal of Hinduism/Islam as well as pretty much any asian culture besides Eastern Asia.
@John Xina you should watch Ramy, such a good show
frr and esp when i found out devi was tamil too it just brought me so much joy to finally have some representation for my ethnicity 🤭
One thing I only realised once someone else said it was that Devi’s disability is never actually given anything, it’s just used to show how into Paxton Devi is
It was brought up in therapy in season 2 I think
It was also there to show how lame she was socially
So, fun fact: I’m a brown girl! I liked a lot things in this show. But! The tendency on only having white love interest for brown characters is very, very Mindy Kaling. It’s one of the biggest issues I have with everything she has been in. Look at the Mindy Project of you want to see a more clear version of this.
I really wish they had focused on being stuck between identities. That was such an issue for me. A small thing was fashion: I alway left like I never knew what was cool. And I never had a country. I didn’t belong in North America because I didn’t look like anyone here, but then I’d go back to my parents home country and everyone mocks my accent and I didn’t know how to interact with the country.
It is the Welsh concept of Hiraeth: a longing for a home I don’t have, one I never had.
Edit: spelling.
Well I think the point was that Devi doesn't have an identity crisis, she accepts her Indian heritage of course, but she was born and raised in the US, not everyone struggles with that. Devi very clearly states that she IS American and she doesn't feel bad about it. There is nothing wrong with identifying more with the place you were born in than the culture of your parent's country. I actually hate when movies always make the characters struggle and feel like they don't belong
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy most of the time they don't you will always be treated differently reason why many of them stuck with this confused identity
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy actually the show definitely points to Devi not really relating to her Indian heritage which is definitely apart of the process to figuring yourself out. I do agree that there is nothing wrong with identifying for with the place you were born and raised in rather than your parents home country but the fact remains that it is still a part of your identity and that is something almost all American raised Indian kids feel and struggle with . So the show referencing that is great because it can give others that don't have that issue a different perspective and more understanding on the difficulties of merging two parts of your identity
@Carpee Cat that's fine and all but it doesn't change the fact that your still Indian and you don't have to hate being Indian in order to disagree with aspects of the culture it's not that black and white lol. I think a lot of us hate the misogynistic homophobic and racist parts of our culture, and that's a part of the big struggle. it's really up to the next generation of Indians to fight those ideologies.
I remember watching the show and just genuinely being so happy to see a NOTICEABLY Indian Protagonist who wasn’t constantly the butt of the joke. A lot of the show was definitely cookie cutter but if they delve into more family dynamics/identity I’ll love it much more
something i liked abt the show was how all the characters had some screen time to show their struggles like
ben - lonely and neglected by his parents
paxton - doesn’t want people to know abt his sister
fabiola - had trouble coming out
eleanor - had trouble with her mom
kamala - had a secret boyfriend and didn’t want to get married
Please do “On My Block” next!!!!!!
Yeeeeeeeeeees
and outerbanks
and also insatiable
@@bmylove1 Yes and definitely YES to Insatiable!!!😩🙌
@@hazelmilomo875 yes!! both are so good. im rewatching insatiable. im sad they not making a season 3
I’ve always enjoyed Mindy’s work. I watch almost everything she’s involved in. But my biggest gripe with her is her near fetishization of white men. They are always the romantic interest- the “prize”. It’s weird, to say the least
I love mindy and find her hilarious, but she often seeks white male validation
@@tayja3521 exactly!! You explained it better than I did
@Carpee Cat no
And we’re just gonna have to agree to disagree on this one🤷🏿♀️
I definitely see this. It’s the same vibe I got from Jenny Han when I read the TATLIB series, however when adapting it to film they made a lottt of adjustments (formerly all the male love interests were white and thé half Asian main character was the only mentioned POC that I remember).
@@blkbarbie2671 I didn’t know they diversified the characters for the movies 😯that’s nice. But the fact that they were all white in the books is another example of how we need more interracial love stories that don’t revolve around white people
Edit: at least Kamala’s and Nalini’s love interests have been POC, so far
Have you reviewed On My Block yet? I really like the show but I feel like it’s kinda similar to Never have I Ever with the high school drama. Would love to hear your opinions on it!
Even Fabiola ended up with a white love interest :/
YESSS
I am tired.
So you want a full cast of poc and also want all of them to end up with poc? In a majority white population courntry?
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy yes ignorant white girl
@@Fan_Girl-xd8wy lol yes. That happens most of the time irl. Why can't that actually be reflected on screen? Nobody said white people can't exist in the show's universe, but they don't need to be included in the main cast. Let them be side and background characters like Jonah, or Sheila, or Trent.
Hey I'm new to your channel and I agree with the interracial love trope comment I wish there are more shows that showcase black love or even love from different ethnicity. I believe they done this to be inclusive with the audience but it's starting to become common and overused. I will love to see more healthy relationships of black love in high school series and even adulthood.
thissss
caucasians love to force themselves and their beauty standard onto people, it’s not going to happen
@@laylah7806 isn't the creator Indian.
Well, tbh. Its creativity, and i love how the show is. All people that are cast are the best at their job/roles. And its cool to see that a indian girl can love white people, and vice versa. Devi has clearly a type.
None of her 3 love interests are white. One Japanese one jewish and one Indian.
i loved this show! I think it gave me the perfect amount of cringyness while also delivering the coming of age story i would like to see, while also keeping a good story plot. Thank You for this video, I love it haha.
in the first episode they even addressed her being a "hothead" and there was the whole scene when she broke her window and ran out.
and that was when i really fell in love with the show and devi as a character. i've broken enough things and yelled/lashed out at so many people- maybe she seems unlikeable to others, to me she's just an extremely relatable character.
plus, it's not like she gets away with the shit she does. there are consequences and pretty much everyone is genuinely mad at her at least once in the show.
also, oftentimes (especially in teen dramas) the main character is supposed to be the (in a cute way!) "quirky" outsider who gets the guy because of all her "quirkiness" or 'cause she's "not like the other girls". hurts to even think about. they didn't do that in never have i ever. of course it's still teen drama, but c'mon - if everything were super realistic, and the the main character the embodiment of christ or whatever, _no one_ would watch it.
I agree with your view of Devi! She really reminds me of myself and allows me to see how I can reflect on my mistakes and make better decisions.
I love the face that Devi’s inner voice is John McEnroe. Your review is great.
One thing I enjoyed from the show was seeing Devi and her mother interact..Eventhought their not "besties" it gives a lot more dimension to the show and I actually related to that
aww, i actually really like that the plot is so simplistic. i don't think this is what you were getting at, but it's nice to see poc be in stories about the dramas and fun of every day teenage life, like it doesn't always have to be about some cultural trauma or subject of equal emotional weight. i feel like the show does a good job of balancing the lightheartedness with the heavier stuff (therapy, death, culture) and now that i'm typing this out i think it was probably intentional that they chose the general setting of high school romance to even out the harder topics.
also hell yeah, nalini is my fav character as well! ^_^
what kinda rubbed me the wrong way with Devi is her responding to fabiola coming out with "i've always wanted a gay best friend" like ??? other than that ig she's an okay character
edit: okay y’all i get it 😭😭 apparently devi didnt say that but i hope you know regardless of who said it, it’s still weird
WAIT YES THE LACK OF DISCOURSE AB THIS
ikr I don't want fabiola to fall into this "gay bestfriend" trope where devi treats her somehow as an accessory
I think that was her way of trying to make Fab not feel bad or show her shes okay with her being gay. Like it came off as awkward but accepting friend
@@CherryBlossomBlyue ye i think thats what it's supposed to be
That was Eleanor not Devi
I have ptsd because of my fathers death too and the show has actually helped me. Of course, everybody is different, but the way the show handled devis trauma, how she kinda repressed her sadness and the memories of her father, but then almost halucinated that he was still there really reminds me of when i was a 16 year old girl trying to somehow cope with this experience. I hope the next season shows her really working on herself and taking her therapy more seriosly, i like her because i understand her trauma, but i have years of therapy behind me at this point and grown so much because of it, it would be very nice to see her heal too.
I felt like it wasn’t cookie cutter, because usually the main character in a show like this is normally really perfect and bland or like quirky in a palatable way that Devi isn’t. Like the theme throughout is that she had anger issues on top of really messy trauma, which is why they tied in John McEnroe who was known for blowing up on people. I like Devi bc she’s relatable on another level, like I can see her lashing out reflecting some of what I did as a teen. And her stuff was REALLY bad, like I can’t imagine losing a parent like that, especially when you feel like your other parent doesn’t even like you as a person.
The love interest sh*t is tired tho, like c’mon. Give me brown girl content without the love interest being a white boy!! (Paxton is cute af but come on, brown & black boys are just as dreamy!)
when you talked about not dealing with trauma even after *that* episode, I realized that even with special/significant moments about your pain, your loss, your trauma have a huge effect... I've been throught a lot starting from 5 years old and even now that I'm 22 I still struggle...
It's nice to see this kind of representation in movies. I grew up thinking that some magical turninig point would cure all my trouble just like in movies... something like screaming and crying and someone or something coming to save me and change everything, but it's not like that at all. I am going to therapy and taking medicines since 2017 BUT............ there is still pain... I feel like it's good to show this kind of thing in teen series/movies, like "YOU ARE NORMAL DESPITE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TROUGH" and the positive relation with therapy (almost never depicted in media or presented as something "unusual/not good").Teenagers must see that is ok to have emotional/psychological problems
Though it was a pretty regular plot line with typical conflicts and storyline I feel like it was refreshing to have POC portrayed in a relatively normal lifestyle. Too often I think diverse shows with various representations of cultures circle back to racially charged narratives where the main conflicts stem from financial difficulties such as being poor or homeless or racism that ranges from covert to physically violent. Being able to see POC teens living their complicated and tumultuous lives while navigating the intricacies of their own culture and not just white culture really makes me feel seen and lowkey grateful for a show like Never Have I Ever.
I really connected with the show in that it was one of the very few, if not the only show I’ve seen that has a character who has a psychosomatic response to her trauma. I have a chronic illness and at one point in my life my doctors thought it was psychosomatic. This show is probably the closest thing I’ve seen to a character with a illness like mine. I had to leave high school for a while I couldn’t lift my wrist because it was so painful and walking up and down my school hallways was too painful as well. I’d really love to see season 2 go more into her illness or the reason why she couldn’t walk, and perhaps it’s happening again. I realize the show was not fantastic but I think it has a lot of heart behind it.
I like that she was unlikable. She’s going through a rough time and it’s obvious that she’s going to be a bit of a prick. There’s always the thing in shows where the main character handles their trauma perfectly with kindness and grace and then once in a while breaks down in such a cute way. This shows the reality of emotions and how sometimes we get mean and destructive
I CLICKED SO FAST FOR THIS SHOW
PLSSS ME TOO
SAME
so we're all here at the same time huh
SAME
Oop same name-
(same)
I usually hate this kind of main character but I was surprised that I like it. Probably it's because she's still young that she did those mistakes because she never faced those before. With Aneesa, she learns a bit how her words have consequences
Not all main characters have to be likeable. It's actually incredibly refreshing to see flawed female protagonists after having grown up with one dimensional female characters in media up until very recently.
I feel like creative industries forget that interracial relationships aren't always between a POC and a white person. Like, these relationships can exist between 2 POC from different ethic backgrounds too!!
Or the same ethnic background
“She’s kinda like a dead horse… respectfully”
LMAO I DIED WHEN HE SAID THAT
Great review! I liked listening to your points. For me personally as an Indian, I really enjoyed seeing aspects of our culture on screen from family values to religion. The Indian girl balancing tradition and the modern world is relatable to a lot of us. I enjoyed that Devi wasn't perfect, no one is. I liked seeing her navigate this odd time in her life. I think a lot of people will relate to her. The power of family and their reconciliation was emotional for me. I agree with you that Devis mom was a very interesting. I admit it wasn't perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of the characters.
6:13 I noticed this as a teen, but thought out was all in my head. I'll also add Manny from Modern Family, all the crushes he's had ate always white (I'm on season 8).
Idk im mexican but seeing Indian representation was so cool , i love that show and shes so funny
honestly even if devi isn’t “perfect” I will take any representation i can get, there isn’t a ton of south Asian representation, especially in a teen audience setting, and although I’m a little older now, I am so damn happy to watch a show that highlights people who look like me and who I can relate to
something i actually like is that the highscjoolers actually look like highschoolers (aside from paxton i guess). like fabiola actually looks her age and so does devi.
a video but make it ✨a banger✨ get it bestieee
now let’s talk about season 2 and how the fact that devi CHEATED was kinda brushed over
Ya
Doesn’t that happen in like every teen drama?Like,the main character ALWAYS cheats?and it’s brushed off as him/her figuring out their feelings?
i dont think it was brushed over bc this show focuses on how devi can be a HORRIBLE person, and cheating is of one of her many horrid decisions. if she was painted as a likeable character, then yes its brushed over. but since shes crazy already, it wasn't unexpected
It wasnt brushed over, both guys literally tried to "even the score" with her and her friends kept bringing it up. It really showed how Devi is not great at redemption and she doesnt handle herself well. I dont think it was brushed over but it also wasnt beaten like a dead horse - i think because thry have to see each other evry day makes the issue work itself through the pipes, whereas if they could block and delete it would be more dramatic
If I could've lashed out the way Davi did I would be like her too🥴 but that's the point. I relate to her but I don't like how she handles things, also the rivalry with Ben takes me back to primary school when my classmates would compete for good grades 🥺
you should watch the society on netflix!! it got cancelled for a second season but i find it a super interesting show.
It’s canceled?!? Where did you find out about this?
@@sofiahernandez5108 It was announced a while ago.
I love the show but it left on a HUGE cliffhanger. That makes it really hard to recommend the show to people
Why does Netflix cancel good shows like “I’m not okay with this” and “Anne with an e” and do more of shit shows like “the kissing booth” and “emily in paris” 🤦🏻♀️
@@abhinayasubramaniam8751 ikr. I lost so many brain cells watching the kissing booth
They also showed represented disability in a positive way, Paxtons sister
Gosh she was soooo funny
I relate to the main character’s anger issues
Same
The finale really saved the show. Devi was very unlikable in almost every episode but she did have her moments
i was sobbing at the ending. it personaly hurt so much.
I sobbed at the end lol when beautiful day played I couldn’t handle it 😂
Right that song just hit different 😭
@@praisesade omg yes I literally can’t listen to it now without crying 😂
I love this show a lot and have watched it multiple times, and the only belief that solidifies over time is that Devi is meant to be someone whom we don't like. She does go through a lot of shit, but it doesn't excuse her behaviour with her friends, people she claims are her besties. It's inexcusable to choose a "hot boy" when one friend's coming out with her sexuality, and the other is dealing with parental abandonment. Devi is selfish and self-centred, but I have faith that they'll knock sense into her in Season 2. I'm looking forward to some character growth for her.
Definitely relatable, but I honestly like her. She is simply problematic and that invites the drama. That being said, white boy or not the guy we all know she fell for at the end - his character arch was just pristine.
yes it sometimes feels like when doing a show w POC as the main leads, they HAVE to put white love interests to balance it out..? i’m glad you touched on that bc it’s getting very annoying.
I’m so glad this video came up on my feed, I really liked your thoughtful critique and I just subscribed :) I agree that there wasn’t a whole lot of motivation established for Paxton to have feelings for Devi, but I think that a major reason is because Devi treated his sister with genuine kindness. It’s alluded to (or directly stated, I can’t remember lol) that people have bullied Paxton’s sister in the past… and so Devi’s friendliness towards her left a positive impression on him. And I also agree that Devi is portrayed as very volatile and self centered in many instances… I can only hope that in season 2, Devi is given a story arc where she actively works on herself and her relationships.
My interpretation of the show was that it displays how life still goes on after traumatic events. And if you don’t consciously try to heal, that trauma will impact all areas of your life. I think this first season established a great world/theme to work with despite some of its deficiencies, and I have hope that the next season(s) will provide the characters with the depth they all deserve
I actually really loved Devi, she reminds me of myself in a lot of ways.
One thing I really wish happened in the show was a chance to see Paxton swim, because he’s hyped up as this champion swimmer and then just gives up on it once his arm breaks. Even after it heals, Paxton just doesn’t return to swimming!
Haha I'm glad you finally covered this one! I'm kind of surprised you didnt talk about fabiolas side story tho!
Honestly when I watched the show
*i didn't care about Kamala's storyline
*I didn't care much about Eleanor and Fabiola. What I didn't get was how the show made it come off that Devi didn't tell them she liked Paxton until episode 2? It could be a high possibility that Eleanor and Fabiola knew, but they made it misleading.
*I didn't care about Ben until he and Devi had their thing, I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers.
I think this show could have been better if they had more than a 10 episode span. If they were gonna develop each character with their own storyline, it could have had more episodes. Especially since Ben has this banter with Devi and then he becomes forgettable mostly for episode 3 and then he's completely not in it for episode 4. I would have liked to see her friendship with Eleanor and Fabiola more.
@@devisrina same, everything felt a bit rushed. I hope they slow things down in season two!
ON POINT review. amazing job
the best characters in the show is the therapist and devi's mom. period.
and Kamala
This is Trent slander and I will not accept it lol
The fact almost all the main characters were lying or hiding emotions made this show even more accurate.😩😅
Plus Eleanor deserves better,her family seems they don't care about her that much in this season,especially her mom.☹️
You on to something bc I'm not saying media is forcing interracial relationships but its normalizing the idea especially with BIPOC queer people that only or mainly white love interests can be their match or this opposites attract idea. I've seen the same issues in books.
I haven't seen the movie everything everything yet, but in the book the main girl was half black, half Japanese. And the movie had a half black half white actress. Which is kind of annoying. I like the actress though don't get me wrong. She was adorable in hunger games
@@Hope-si1kb Amanda uses they/them pronouns but I get what you are saying! Same thing with The Hate You Give- in the book Starr is dark-skinned Black girl and Amanda plays her in the movie but Amanda is lightskin I'm not sure if they are biracial
I think where this show made an impact was seeing her right so hard to not feel grief and to not face her own emotions. Her being temperamental was the whole point of her major flaw and the backbone of her arc. Also this show does a good job of showing that trauma is not linear. I personally liked it because she was so flawed and her friends constantly put her on blast and choose to stay because they love her.
Interesting video though!
I think the white love interests are purely Mindy Kaling's idea because, as a viewer of her shows and longtime fan, I know that she grew up very entuned and obsessed with American culture, she's kind of like a white girl in an Indian girls body, so she grew up on a lot of American media and TV shows and thus mostly likes and dates white men. even in her show, the Mindy Project, the majority, if not all of her male love interests were white. She also seems to have a thing for Jewish men.
Maybe she doesn't like cooking.
white girl in an indian girls body?
@@kianaw.8096 that's kind of how she talks about herself in her book
Yep the white love interest for all POC is a Mindy Kaling thing. The only exception was her remake of Four Weddings and a Funeral but the Black gal Mc wasn’t developed well (and every White character’s punching bag imho). Even though it was cute to have a POC interracial pairing.
I'm not sure if that's fair to say. That might be an insecurity she's growing out of, and the way she talks about it now, I feel like she's grown out of it. Also, they're setting Nalini up with a black man next season
Definitely enjoyed your commentary
thank youu
in both "to all the boys 2" and "kissing booth 2" -- we're introduced to a much better new poc love interest, and the whole movie is based on how they're the better option. But in BOTH MOVIES, the protagonist goes back to the white love interest... WHY
I’m not gonna lie, I would drop my friends too for THAT man. If I walked past them holding his hand, i simply wouldn’t bat an eye, idk them. I hate to say it I really do but I’d be down bad
Tbh at first Paxton and Devi wasn’t even meant for each other yet until he started to study, cares for his future and actually embraced Devi at the end, he knew what he did wrong and made up for it
1:48 Very relatable, all my intelligence levels are stored in book smarts and my social intelligence bank is empty 🤦🏾♀
Devi’s mom is definitely the highlight of the show 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾
I feel like South Asians are sadly just so invisible in Hollywood so even though Devi was not the best it was still a step forward. I also think that seeing Devi be seen as attractive or exploring her sexuality is important because there are too many shows where they always make south asians seem weird or Other or unattractive (ex. Raj in Big Bang Theory when the actor playing him is a BEAUTIFUL man)
I do also hate the "white love interest" trope tbh. I was genuinely happy when Eleanor got a bf who was a poc as well bc everyone else had white s/o's or love interests.
I also don't quite agree with you on how to see Devi's anger issues. It's true that many teenagers stray learning how to respond better, but speaking from (horrifying) experience, when I was in 10th grade (the same age as the characters) my depression started manifesting and I already had anger issues, so seeing how Devi overreacted to seemingly regular obstacles with over the top behavior made me reflect on how I was at exactly that age. It's not just her being dramatic, it's genuine neurodivergency. A lot of people who share these symptoms AREN'T likeable, like you said, but I definitely related to her.
(Also, yes she was a terrible friend and I hope in season 2 they backtrack the friendship between the trio bc that scene was NOT reflective enough.)
I agree that the premise is bare bones basic high school drama but that is actually one of the charms of the show for me. We rarely get to see POC characters living generic lives... its always some extreme struggle situation. I think poc kids also deserve to see themselves typical generic plot lines.
love how you say “yet another word from my editor” and it’s just you LMAO
I gave this video a thumbs up just for what you said about Devi's mother. Your description made me realize how complex and layered that character was while also being realistic and relatable. Great work 👍
I really liked this review! Very honest and straight to the point. I think the show definitely has some plot holes and places where you’re like wuut. Can you please make a review of season 2?
I quite liked the show. Non-white lead AND non-white family members? Culture differences? Family trauma? A high schooler not being all about sex?!???? Big love for me.
The show might have been a bit basic but that’s what I love most! We deserve run of the mill shows that portray an array of cultures and ethnicities.
My madison beer moment is that i went to highschool with maitreyi, she got cast almost immediately after graduation. I was a year younger than her but we have alot of mutual friends.
I have never watched this show (or the other 2 show reviews ive seen of yours) but somehow i find these incredibly entertaining. Awesome vids dude! 😄
THE WAY I LITERALLY SCREAMED ILYSM
Honestly, the best part of the show for me is how relatable Devi is. As an Indian person living in America with her mom, a successful cousin I’m jealous of but admire, and no other siblings- every aspect of Devi’s struggles is very close to me. Plus I really appreciate how we FINALLY got the representation with maitreyi and mindy kaling because this is the first time any successful show in western media has even come close to accurately representing me and my identity. Not to mention how s1 released exactly a week before I moved to America, on point.
i watched the whole show in one night without breaks so i was like extremly emotionally invested in it