“Never Have I Ever”

Created by: Mindy Kaling 

Rated: TV-MA

Runtime: 1 Season

Created by the one and only comedic genius, Mindy Kaling, known for her writing and acting work on television shows such as “The Office” (2005-2013) and “The Mindy Project” (2012-2017) among a few other shows and even films, “Never Have I Ever” is Kaling’s first project in the young-adult genre. The show follows Devi (played by newbie, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) — a first-generation Indian American teenager who is the queen of awkward moments. 

The show focuses quite a bit on Devi’s family life, living with her strict, dermatologist mom following her father’s somewhat recent death, but the show’s main focus is on Devi’s high school life and her constant aim for popularity amongst her classmates. She has two best friends: Eleanor (played by Ramona Young), the drama geek and Fabiola (played by Lee Rodriguez) the tomboy, science nerd. Devi’s journey begins in the pilot when she makes a pact with her best friends to become popular and get boyfriends. Other important characters include the school heartthrob, hot swimmer, Paxton (Darren Barnet), who Devi tries to inelegantly charm on multiple occasions, and also her archnemesis, Ben (Jaren Lewison), who has been competing academically and socially with Devi for as long as they have been in school together. If you ask me, (and this is not a spoiler), Kaling should have had these two end up together from the start. But, no, Kaling decided to make some other stupid plot choices instead.

First of all, the idea behind this show is great. Audiences have seen the portrayal of a first-generation Indian American millennial woman in Kaling’s semi-autobiographical show, “The Mindy Project,” but audiences have not yet seen the portrayal of an Indian American teenage girl until “Never Have I Ever.” That aspect of the show was original. But as far as everything else goes: this concept has been done way too many times before. 

The “nerdy girl tries to become popular” trope in the young-adult narrative has been done too often at this point, whether in television or film. I love this genre and it is easily my favorite, but something about “Never Have I Ever” felt way too forced for me. For one, I know that Kaling was trying to use a fresh new actor that no one has ever seen before, which is why she cast first-time actor, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. No offense to the actress because I’m sure she is a great person, but she could not act. Her acting style was forced for me. Everything she said sounded like it came straight out of the script. Yes, actors are supposed to recite from the script, but I felt as if Ramakrishnan needed to find her voice in the script for her to emote naturally to the audience, which brings me to my next issue with the show.

Aside from the show’s main character feeling forced, if I am being honest, EVERY character felt forced. Kaling has an extremely distinct voice when it comes to writing, and I love that about her. That is why she is one of my favorite screenwriters. However, every time any of these characters spoke, I heard her voice instead of theirs. I know I keep using the word “forced” but again, there is no other word to describe the acting in this show.

In the show, the narrator of Devi’s voiceover is ex-tennis great John McEnroe. But when the audience’s focus is switched to the storyline of Devi’s nemesis, Ben, for an episode, his narration is done by comedian-actor, Andy Samberg, and if you ask me, this narration fit perfectly, whereas Dev’s narration felt bizarre. John McEnroe’s narration was to honor Devi’s late father, who was a huge fan, but if you ask me, it did not fit with her storyline. The show would have been much more interesting and fun if Kaling herself, or some other female did Devi’s voiceover. 

If you’re a normal person and are not looking for little quirks and mistakes in the show like I am paid to do, you will honestly enjoy it. It is a coming-of-age story at its finest, but again, nothing we haven’t seen before. I wanted to like this show so badly, especially because all of Kaling’s other shows are some of my favorites. But, the coming-of-age Netflix comedy has been done way too many times in the past year. It is time for us to chill out, Netflix — we know growing up as a teenager sucks! I give it a 5 out 10 only because it was tolerable, and it had a few great moments.