Never Have I Ever season 2 is finally here, and with it comes a whirlwind of teenage drama and over-the-top antics. It might seem out of place somewhere else, but on a show as vibrant and strangely funny as Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher’s Never Have I Ever, it feels right at home.
Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off, with our protagonist Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) sharing a kiss with her nerdy rival at school Ben Gross (Jared Lewison). This might have seemed like a perfect happy ending for the couple, but her mother Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) quickly scolds her for the kiss and tells her they’re leaving. And then Devi’s longtime crush who she kissed in season 1, Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) texts her and the chaos begins.
In another season narrated by pro tennis star John McEnroe (which still feels kind of random, but we’ll go with it), Devi’s caught in the middle of a love triangle. This time, though, it feels different, because both guys want her. This may seem unrealistic, but despite the way the show candidly addresses certain topics, it never promised Devi’s love life would be that way. Devi discusses the pros and cons of both Ben and Paxton with her BFFs, who are also in their own relationships, but the list is very telling. When it comes to Ben, it’s about personality, and when it comes to Paxton, it’s about looks.
Her friends Eleanor (Ramona Young) and Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) encourage her to go with Paxton, saying he’s the cooler and hotter option while Ben is the guy who tormented her. Devi is unsure, but ultimately agrees, but obviously, things get way more complicated. She’s unable to tell either of them off when she remembers one very important fact: her mom is still set on moving them to India. Duh, perfect plan. She’ll just date both of the guys and pray it’ll be fine, which is really on-par with Devi’s character. So, she proceeds to two-time them – and it actually works for a second – until she throws a party with both of them there, which inevitably ends in a mess.
Devi’s problems are far from over when her mother returns from her short trip to India, saying that she doesn’t think moving there is the right step for them anymore. She also brings home her mother-in-law, which is sure to add a new sense of fun to the show with a new character around. So, yay for Devi, she’s stuck here and has to deal with her problems. Since it’s Devi we’re talking about, there’s no doubt she’ll make it 100 times more dramatic than it has to be, but that’s the charm of this show and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan shines in this role.
In terms of the rest of the characters, in just the first three episodes, it’s clear this season aims to develop them a lot more. Eleanor’s relationship with her boyfriend Oliver (Martin Martinez) seems shaky and gets even worse when a Disney Channel dropout shows up and pretty much steals Eleanor’s heart. Fabiola can’t seem to relate to the LGBTQ+ references her girlfriend Eve (Christina Kartchner) and friends keep making. This is kind of cringe because truthfully no gay person just keeps referencing gay media at all times in every conversation. There’s way more to an LGBTQ+ person, but anyway, Fabiola finds it hard to fit in.
Devi’s lovable cousin Kamala (Richa Moorjani) starts a new job at a lab under a scientist she really admires, but her first day isn’t anything like she imagined. This could be an interesting storyline for the show, one that could shed light on women in STEM and bring up an important conversation. She’s also still seeing Prashant (Rushi Kota) from last season, and it’ll be nice to see how that plays out.
However, a lot of focus in the early episodes of Season 2 goes to Paxton, whose life we finally get a glimpse of. His episode, narrated by none other than Gigi Hadid, talks about all the ups and downs of being only praised for his looks. No one believes in his ability, other than Devi, even though she did cheat on him in the episodes before. As Paxton grapples with his anxiety, Devi helps him in school. This might just be the push their relationship needs to get on the right track and prove that they have a connection beyond just the physical aspects. In the first season, and even the first few episodes of this one, Paxton is rude and immature, but there’s more to him than we may think. Ben was probably the obvious choice for Devi before, but it seems like they’re trying to get us more on board with Paxton.
As an Indian American, it’s nice to see the show incorporate cultural elements that make Devi relatable and make the show feel authentic. The conversations between the family members do reflect, in many ways, what it’s like growing up as an Indian-American woman, which is something that they hopefully continue in the rest of season 2.
Overall, this season feels a lot like the last which is a good thing. It’s far from perfect, but enjoyable nonetheless. The humor is fun, albeit a little cringe-y at times, and the stories are different and captivating. It’s all a little ridiculous sometimes, but it makes for a fun watch, so who’s complaining?
