One thing that I love about Never Have I Ever is that they can make anything funny. It may not be a something is actually funny, but they find a way to present it to you in a way that feels light. You still see the gravity of a situation, but you also see that you can make it better.
Things do get better.
It’s just the journey to getting better that takes awhile and can be painful AF. For Devi, it’s been a process. It’s been months of trying to figure out who she is and months of trying to deal with all the awkward stages of being around Paxton.
Now, I will say this, some may find episodes like this one – well filler episodes. I don’t think that this one is. I think that it was the perfect way to transition to another stage in life, while introducing new characters and showing growth with the current ones.
Again, breakups are hard, but they are a part of life. And though we fast forwarded through the months after, I don’t find this to be a big issue. I actually think that it was a great way for this story to progress. I think that it was important that we didn’t see Devi and Paxton getting back together immediately or arguing, or their whole process. Reality is that every breakup is different and healing is not linear.
And so that gives me the opportunity to not dwell on the breakup, and to see how they grow, evolve, and how it changes them. The heartache – we’re all gonna get that. But seeing someone really evolve, that’s something we don’t always see.
But what Never Have I Ever excels at is doing just that. Making sure that characters aren’t stuck. They are always moving – forwards or backwards – they are always moving and learning about themselves.
PAXTON HAS A NEW GIRLFRIEND
Devi has had a hard time. Seeing Paxton isn’t an easy thing for her, but she’s trying. You can tell that it’s hurting him also, but both of them know that they need to move forward and move on.
Paxton and Devi’s breakup was devastating, but the more that I think about it, it was necessary. We all need to have that one big breakup in our life to teach us what we want, need, and who we are. But the reason that it was necessary, was because, like I have said, Devi has a lot to deal with, within herself.
When she thinks that she has a hold on her feelings and can deal with everything, her friends tell her that Paxton has a new girlfriend.
I think we can all appreciate that Eleanor and Fabiola are there for her, but I do believe that Paxton should have told her. He doesn’t owe her anything, but him being around her, him caring, he should have told her.
TRENT AND ELEANOR ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD
Paxton and Devi are forced to be around each other a lot, because Eleanor and Trent are still going strong. High school is so different than being an adult, because like, I would never in my life bring my BFF’s ex around her. It is a huge NO.
Trent mentions that it is his 18th birthday and tells Paxton and Eleanor to throw him a party. Trent may not be my favorite character, but he is definitely growing on me more and more. He’s all about a good time, but he’s also shown that he is deeper than that.
Devi says she can’t attend because it’s the Hindu holiday, Navaratri.
What made me want to slap Paxton was that he ends up telling Devi that he knows that she’s not that religious and if she’s not going because of his girlfriend (and him having one), she should go. He tries to apologize for hurting her. Look Paxton, that may be part of the issue, but also – you don’t know her life. Like want to think highly of yourself, and that Devi’s life revolves around you, but also – don’t.
What makes things also worse is that Eleanor and Fabiola tell Devi that she needs to go to the party, if only to prove to Paxton that she is not still pining over him.
I am just going to say it, no one should have to prove anything about themselves to anyone. If you’re over someone, great. If you aren’t, also great. Relationships are a bitch and the truth is – it takes a lot to get over them. Eleanor and Fabiola are not the best people to give advice and the advice they are giving Devi is subpar.
But it is also high school and all advice – ok 90% of it – is bad.
THE HOLIDAY
Navaratri is happening and Devi is hanging with Nirmala, as she sets up her Golu. If Devi is like anyone in her family, she is definitely like Nirmala, who has a level of petty and wanting to upstage others that one can only hope to achieve in their lives. She’s definitely my fave.
Nirmala always wants to one up people, but what is frustrating is that at some points it is at the expense of her granddaughters feelings. Kamala and Manish are going strong, but Nirmala is still against Manish. She doesn’t like him. But Kamala isn’t willing to give up on Manish and Nirmala liking him, so she invites him to the party.
Well, this is going to be interesting. Nirmala is all about one upping her friends. The aunties are all very judgemental, but you can’t help but love them. This is what will make Manish showing up very interesting.
Manish really likes Kamala and is trying very hard to be the man that would make Nirmala accept him. He knows that he needs to be accepted by the family to be with Kamala, or at least that is what he thinks. I think Kamala has proven with the choices that she has made that in her life, what comes first to her is her own opinion.
Manish is trying, but he’s trying too hard, and it’s taking away from who he is. I know why he’s doing it, watching it, but I am also like frustrated by it. Who he is, the charming, dorky, overly zealous teacher is what Kamala loves. It should be enough for her family. And yet, I also understand why she wants their acceptance.
What ends up happening though – because he couldn’t be himself – is that Manish ends up knocking one of the aunties over and destroying the Golu. Kamala telling him that it’s best if he leaves, is somewhat heartbreaking, because you know that he was trying.
FABIOLA TAKES ON BEN
At the party, there is a lot, but nothing. Of course Eleanor and her dramatics are going to text Devi when Paxton’s girlfriend arrives. She’s being told that she needs to show up and prove that she’s moved on.
Someone needs to talk to Eleanor and sit her down. Tell her that life is not a movie and that it’s not necessary to prove yourself to anyone. Someone needs to tell her to calm down.
Of course Devi’s gonna find a way to go, trying to sneak out and getting caught.
Fabiola though, she’s not Eleanor. She’s willing to just say it like it is and tells Ben that she’s not happy with the way he treated Aneesa and that he looks down on everyone. None of that is a lie.
I am totally Team Ben, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t think that Ben is self centered, selfish, and condescending. I do believe that he needs a reality check. Desperately.
So Fabiola willing to take him on in a drinking game and kicking his ass – well that’s what I needed. I need Ben to be knocked down a notch, but also for Fabiola to find footing. She’s a lot more than the robotics geek and that’s one thing that we don’t see a lot of.
Where Never Have I Ever excels is character growth – but the two that they haven’t shown enough of their growth are Fabiola and Trent. That’s my opinion and I stand by it.
DEVI STEPS FORWARD
Nalini is navigating family and friends. Her and Rhyah have grown to be friends, which is a good thing. Nalini needs to have friends and a life. Everyone does.
Rhyah is upset because her son is upset. He feels like he doesn’t have friends and alone, which you know, would be hard for any parent to deal with. This makes Nalini change her mind about Devi going to the party. The only thing is she has to bring Rhyah’s son.
Of course, as any teenager would, takes the chance to get out of the house. She wants nothing more to be with her friends and prove she’s moved on.
Arriving at the party, she tells Eleanor that her Mom would only let her come if she brought one of her Moms friends kids. Because she is afraid that the kid is dorky, she tells Eleanor that she’s gonna tell everyone its her cousin.
As soon as she says that you just know that he’s going to be hot as fuck. Nirdesh is just that… drool worthy. Lord, he’s hot.
Devi has to backtrack on calling him her cousin quickly. He’s – rightfully so – upset and wants to leave. But before he can leave, Devi runs out in tears. The reason? Paxton.
I think we all think that at a certain point think that we can handle seeing our ex with someone else. After all, we’ve moved on and done bigger things or we’re gonna fake we have. But as a teenager, when everything seems so detrimental, we’re never prepared.
Especially when we’re emotional and consumed by the pain of the breakup. You can never really know until you see them in person or see them with someone else how detrimental it will be.
Nirdesh is there to listen and comfort, even though them meeting started off with her being kind of an asshole. He seems like the nicest guy and also like he truly gets what Devi is going through. He offers to help make Paxton jealous and show that she’s moved on.
I have respect for him over this. Paxton isn’t over Devi, but letting her go was the right thing to do. Seeing her with someone else hurt him, it’s all over his face. A part of me thinks that it’s a mixture of two things – hurt and jealousy. I don’t think he ever thought that Devi would get over him.
But that’s the thing – life always moves on. It may not be immediate. It may not be the way we want it to happen. But life goes on. Things get better.
Devi is allowing herself to open up to the possibilities. Am I a little worried about the fact that she’s moving on with the first guy that gives her attention? Sure. But hey, rebound romances are a thing.
We shall see what happens.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Paxton thinking Devi is lying is shitty
- Paxton making everything about him is shitty.
- Paxton worrying about Devi is sweeet.
- But Paxton not talking to Devi and asking Eleanor to checkup is shitty. Let her go dude, you moved on.
Season 3 of Never Have I Ever is streaming now on Netflix.
