“Ultimately, in my opinion, season 3 of Never Have I Ever was the most enjoyable and cleverly written yet.” Have you seen the new season of Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever? Season 3 brings drama, humor, and heartwarming moments, telling relatable stories of relationships, representation, recovery and more. Today’s woman dreamer (also a Women Who Win intern) Dia Arora shares a thoughtful review of this must-watch season! Enjoy!

With current trendy teen television characterized by Dramas, packed with overly saturated displays of sexuality, drug use, and melodrama, Never Have I Ever consistently stands out. Its witty humor, heartwarming moments, and of course the infamous love triangle between #Daxton and #Bevi keeps fans always coming back for more. Since season 3’s initial release on August 12th, the show has remained in Netflix’s Top 10 World Wide and has even been renewed for a new (and final) season.

So what is it about Season 3 that made it worth a near-immediate renewal, especially in an era where teen comedies seem unmarketable? 

Well to begin the realism of Never Have I Ever really shines. Does the show have absurd plot lines at points? Yes. Does the show have some cringe lines pointing to the generational disconnect of the writers? I think so. Yet despite this, watching Never Have I Ever truly makes me feel like I am delving into a hormone-driven bubble of angsty awkwardness, a perfect representation of chaotic high schools.

In season 2 Devi’s antics may have coined her the nickname “Crazy Devi '' but this season truly humanizes and transforms that perception. Her growth through season 3 differentiates it from the show's previous installments. Season 2 Devi was a cheater, impulsive, and emotionally stagnant. Don’t get me wrong. I found her chaos appealing, but that doesn’t mean what she did to Paxton, Ben, or Aneesa was right. This directly juxtaposes season 3, where she not only has the skills to listen to her therapist for the first time but also begins to embrace her family and culture. Her character arch flows so naturally through the course of the season it is hard not to root for her. 

Break up with Paxton? That's okay, she took his advice and began to find a semblance of self-worth, at least more than she ever had before. Date Des? Finally, we see her open up to the Indian culture she has been negligent of. Embraces the opportunity to go to a new school, but rejects it to be with her mom? Devi is learning to repair the relationship with her mom and confront her resentment. Yes, Devi still may go through the occasional mood swing - but without those how would she even be a teenager? All of these examples would have quite probably ended up in disaster previously, but Season 3 Devi proves us wrong. She continues to confront the trauma of her dad's death but for the first time doesn’t turn to self-destruction or projection on others to cope (Ryah was simply rude to suggest otherwise). Her growth is monumental and makes me excited for next season, where I hope her realistic recovery arch may continue. This is why when it comes to the inevitable question of #Daxton or #Bevi for next season, honestly I’m simply #TeamDevi.

As for the supporting characters this season, Paxton stood out in portraying the most depth. His graduation speech concludes with a final preach of hard work and dedication, something virtually unknown to him before. That being said, I am interested to see how the story will go with him away at college. While the drama he provides is entertaining, I hope it allows more space to highlight the other side characters. Aneesa, a bisexual Muslim teenager, has such potential to create an important impact. Yet, her story seemed to fall flat with nothing but a series of unsuccessful surface-level romantic pursuits. Similarly, Elanore’s abandonment issues and theatrical pursuits seemed to be trumped by her relationship with Trent, acting as nothing but comedic relief. I hope next season these characters (including Fabiola, Ben, and Des) receive the same growth Devi did. Not only would this continue building realistic complexity into the show, but it would also give Devi more chances to learn from her friends. 

Ultimately, in my opinion, season 3 of Never Have I Ever was the most enjoyable and cleverly written yet. Devi’s character framed the season to display the struggles of recovering from trauma while also being a normal teenager. Whether you are Indian, boy crazy, in grief, or just an average teenager - everyone can find some way to relate to Devi. Even in a culture of romanticizing graphic teenage drama, the realism and relatability in Never Have I Ever is what I believe keeps fans constantly coming back for more. As a viewer, one minute I was crying and the next I was laughing: a true staple of Mindy Kaling shows. Overall, I am enthusiastic for next season and cannot wait to see more relationship drama, quirky family dynamics, and ultimately see Devi and her friends grow into complex young adults.

Thank you Dia for this thoughtful review. We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!

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