“Never Have I Ever”: Mindy Kaling Does It Again!
November 13, 2022
Creator: Mindy Kaling
Starring: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison and Richa Moorjani
Rating: 4/5
Many people know Mindy Kaling from her role in “The Office,” but since the show has ended she has gone on to create today’s most progressive sitcom. Her latest release was season three of “Never Have I Ever.” This series follows the high school drama and racial struggles of Devi Vishwakumar. An Indian-American teenager struggling to find love at her Malibu High School. While the show has had many ups and downs throughout the first two seasons, season three could not have been a better wrap-up before the show’s finale.
Season three again follows Devi’s love triangle between popular jock, Paxton Hall-Yoshida, and longtime academic rival Ben Gross. Season three begins with Devi’s junior year where she is dating Paxton, but after a heartbreaking split, a new love interest is introduced to Devi when she falls for her family friend Nirdesh. Nirdesh is seemingly perfect and to the audiences’ shock, Nirdesh feels mutually for Devi, but if the past seasons have taught audiences anything, this can’t be that easy.
This season is what television has been missing. While seasons one and two were incredibly repetitive with the same love triangle, this season’s plot includes new love interests, new drama, new conflicts and new experiences. The show is written with flawless humor and physical comedy. Yet, it doesn’t overshadow how some aspects are deeply personal to creator Mindy Kaling.
Producer, Mindy Kaling created something that tells her own story as well. Kaling, also Indian-American, portrays her struggles as a teenager with issues such as racism, the loss of a parent, and just about every other teen struggle. Kaling tells Today about the real idea behind Devi’s quirky character, “We have this 16-year-old girl (Devi) whose father died and (she) is dealing with that grief with Niecy Nash’s character Dr. Ryan,” Kaling explained. “(It) is such an important part of her life. She has friends. She has a mom who loves her. But being able to go to see and use her therapist as a resource is huge.”
Season three had an incredibly satisfying ending with the perfect amount of a cliffhanger. Netflix confirmed that season four will be the end of “Never Have I Ever”, but it doesn’t diminish fans’ excitement for what’s to come. Devi will be a senior and her new relationship with Ben will also unfold. “Never Have I Ever” is a great recommendation for comedy fans alike.
