It’s the last day of school. Junior year is ending and that means that senior year is right around the corner. Devi’s been planning out her senior year since she could remember.
But even the best laid plans have issues. Even the best laid plans change. For Devi, things are starting to change when her school principal tells her that they nominated her to get into a prestigious boarding school, Shurbland. They have an intensive program for seniors and it’s a big fucking deal that she got in.
But Devi, well she decides that she doesn’t want to go. She’s got plans and she doesn’t want to miss out on milestones with her friends – senior pranks, senior prom, etc…
When getting to class, Ben sees the Shurbland brochure and asks her about it. She doesn’t waste time to trade digs with him, letting him know that he would get into an Ivy League school just using his Dads connections.
Ben and Devi are always trading insults, but they’ve shown over and over again that they are there for each other when it really counts. They tell each other the hard truths, the hard facts, the moments that matter. They care and both try to make it seem as though they don’t.
Devi tells her friends that she isn’t going to go. That there are no prospects there and that she doesn’t want to miss out on senior year with them. And somehow, this transitions into us finding out that Fabiola has had sex with Addison. Devi and Eleanor congratulate her – which I find awkward, but like whatever. I never congratulated anyone on loosing their virginity, though I have congratulated some on their one night stands or relationships.
I should shut up now.
Lets move forward. It’s the last day and Devi finds Trent and Paxton. They are all talking about their last day, and Paxton talks about how it’s bittersweet. Trent, though, he doesn’t want to hear it. He gets up and walks away; Eleanor saying that he is in complete denial.
This is Trent and he is kind of awkward, but in the best way. One thing I have grown to learn over this season is that he has a heart of gold and he just expresses it differently. But that is a big part of his charm. Trent loves hard and deep. (It’s later we learn that Trent flunked his senior year and that’s why he’s avoiding things).
Now, we all know that just because Devi made a choice to not go to Shrubland, doesn’t mean that her Mom is going to take that. She asks Devi about it at dinner, and Devi just is like I am not going.
Nalini isn’t ready to let Devi go, but when Kamala tells her that she should really think about sending Devi there, she wonders if she’s being selfish. Is she keeping Devi home for her self? Her and Mohan had wanted the best education for their little girl. Would he want her to go?
She decides that her and Devi are going to Colorado to look at the school and buys the tickets. Seeing your options is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. However it’s something that Devi is aggressively against. Until she gets to Colorado and realizes that it’s not a bad place, that this school may be the thing for her.
And like all Devi things, she changes her mind really quickly. She now wants to go to Colorado and starts telling her friends that this is the best thing for her. Truly, I am a little confused by the whiplash of Devi’s choices but also remember being seventeen and I was so indecisive. I also remember what it felt like to want to run away from the life that I had and wanting to fit in.
She’s taking in the moments and is at graduation with her friends. Paxton is the class speaker and while everyone is expecting him to do something outrageous, he speaks about hard work and about how someone special pushed him to do things he didn’t want to do, but he knows now that he can do anything. I honestly thought that Devi would be freaking out, but you can tell by the look on her face that she’s not. She’s just accepting of the moment and glad for her friend.
I think that Paxton maybe, possibly really still likes Devi, but Devi, she’s moved on. The look that she used to give Paxton, she gives Ben when he overhears that she’s going to Colorado.
Ben is shocked that she’s leaving. He doesn’t want her to leave. He admits that he’ll miss her and you can tell that they both would miss each other. Look, Devi and Ben are sometimes annoying, but they really, really like each other. Who are we to judge if annoying each other is their kink?
There comes a time in life where you can’t hide your feelings from those around you anymore. I’m really not just talking about Ben and Devi here. I am talking about all the feelings that live inside of you and all of the things that matter. Devi telling Paxton that she’s thankful for him, he got her through her Dads death, is an important moment and once again feelings that she can’t hide.
I think that we all spend our lives searching for the future, how to fit in, and how to make people like us. We spend our lives not living in the moment. It takes Devi talking to Ben and Paxton for her to see that she’s accepted. It takes these moments for her to realize everything that she doesn’t think that she has – she actually has.
She does fit in.
She is accepted.
And she wants more time with her Mom. Things may not be perfect with her and her Mom, but they love each other. She doesn’t know what will happen (and trust me you never do) but she knows that she needs more time before she has to grow up.
As much as Nalini tries to hide it, this gives her some comfort too. Devi isn’t going to leave Sherman Oaks. She’s making choices and is about to make the biggest one ever.
Remember that “One Free Boink” coupon Ben gave her? She heads over to redeem that coupon.
And the smile on Bens face says it all.
This season of Never Have I Ever has been amazing. Do I like things ending on a cliffhanger? Nope. But the thing is, it reminds us that we never know what is going to happen and we need to be out there, living in the moment.
Never Have I Ever is streaming now on Netflix.
