High school is a bitch. I mean, I think that we can all agree on that. Some may say that it’s the greatest time of their lives, but I would argue that even if it is, it is still a time of insecurity, confusion, and trying to find your way.
That’s just the way that life is. Any stage of life is a coming of age story. After all, we are all growing to the next stage of who we are.
And for Devi, her next stage is being Paxton’s girlfriend. Not his secret girlfriend, but one that he acknowledges. One that the whole school can see on his arm. Walking in with him felt like a triumph, as if her dreams had come true. But sometimes having your dreams come true is not all that its cracked up to be.
Devi and Paxton have been together for two weeks and everything has been pretty PG. They haven’t slept together, it’s something she’s actively been avoiding because she’s not ready. But when she hears the popular girls at school talking about her and saying that Paxton would only be with her cause she puts out, she takes it hard.
Now, I think that we’ve all been there. We’ve heard shit about ourselves and we’ve taken it to heart. We’ve let it guide us and think that is who we should be. When you’re a teenager peoples opinions of you can hurt.
Hell, when you’re older, they still hurt.
Devi has been so happy to have a boyfriend, even wanting to throw a party at therapy to celebrate. But what the popular kids have to say hurts her and she can’t even eat cake. Of course Devi isn’t willing to take her therapists advice to not do something and be the bigger person.
Confronting them though, probably not the best idea. This is high school after all. But when you’re the person who is actually in high school everything feels fatal and as though it’s the biggest thing in the world.
Devi tells them shit that is none of their business – that her and Paxton aren’t having sex. They tell her that Paxton is not the type of guy to stay with a girl who isn’t putting out and this makes Devi insecure and feel like she has to have sex.
I’m gonna go preachy on my soap box for a second. Anyone who makes you feel like you have to have sex is not someone worth your time. You don’t have to do shit until you are ready to do it.
Devi tells her friends that she’s going to have sex with Paxton. And this plan is going to move forward with their upcoming dinner date. He’s invited her to CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) and to hang at his house afterwards. She’s got it all figured out, until she realizes she has nothing figured out.
But count on her cousin Kamala, to be the voice of reason. She catches Devi looking for “sexy” underwear and realizes Devi has decided to have sex. The advice she gives Devi is more advice for herself, but it is advice none the less.
One thing that Never Have I Ever excels at is the way that they convey messages. It’s not preachy, it feels like you’re listening to a friend and that you can interpret what they are saying how you choose. But either way you know that some character on this show is like you, understands you, and wants you to succeed.
Devi and Paxton have their date and head back to his place, where things start to heat up. You can tell that Devi isn’t ready for the possibility of what is going to happen, especially when she says to “just put it in” and tenses up like no other.
What I do commend is Paxton telling her that they don’t have to have sex. He’s okay going slow. It’s something we overlook in television and movies at times, that yes, guys can be horny toads, but it doesn’t mean that you have to have sex with them.
They can be okay waiting.
And if they really care, they will be okay waiting.
Circling back to the popular girls – when Devi tells them that her and Paxton have decided to take it slow and they don’t care, she learns a valuable lesson.
Devi doesn’t matter to them, so why should what they say matter to her. It’s a huge thing in life, when you realize that peoples opinions on things don’t necessarily matter. What matters is your own.
Now the question is – who created the fake account and told Devi that Paxton isn’t who she thinks he is.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- The school having their own Lady Whistledown – love it. Even if everyone knows who it is.
- Trent may not be my favorite character but he’s endearing so I am happy to see him have more of a storyline. He has grown on me.
- Fabiola and Eve trying long distance, with Eve moving to Korea, well, that’s not something I saw coming.
- Also Eve’s Mom moving them to Korea to expand her butt sculpting business… well, ok.
- Trent burping Eleanors name was gross.
- The road to Eleanor and Trent figuring out they like each other and he considers her his girl – that was a good storyline. Also been in the same situation, so appreciate that.
- I get why Kamala’s Grandma is mad that she ran when Prashant was gonna propose, but I also think she’s over reacting when she tells Kamala that she’s dead to her.
- Kamala figuring out she doesn’t want to get married. Glad she figured that out.
- Devi’s Mom drops the best knowledge. Love her.
- Love Mr. Shapiro.
- Ben not being able to do extra credit is amazing. Love seeing him have to change.
- We all need a Dr. Ryan in our lives.
Never Have I Ever is streaming now on Netflix.
