Review: Never Have I Ever Season 2
In our new series, we at Suggest Nest will do a review each week of the latest movie/tv show/ music album/ book. We will try to make the review as honest and raw as possible without giving away any suspense and also keeping it as brief as possible.
Type: Comedy, Drama
No. Of Seasons: 2 (20 episodes)
Duration: 22 - 32 mins
Original Release: 2020 - present
Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Darren Barnet
Where To Watch: Netflix
Synopsis
Tired of being invisible and not getting noticed, Devi, a 15-year-old girl in high school decides to turn things around, however she soon learns it's not as easy as it seems. The show also presents Indian American society from a fresh perspective. This coming-of-age story provides just the right comic relief for those hectic days at work and is a great watch if you’re into teen drama.
Highlights
The season starts with Devi the protagonist kissing Ben Gross but there is a glimpse of the future that things might turn out different for her. This is because she has a tendency to ruin good things in her life and act berserk in testing situations when it comes to family, friendship and relationships. In the first episode, she finds Paxton (her longtime crush) at her doorstep asking her out on a date and Ben (her previous arch-enemy) asking her to be his girlfriend. Well, you guessed it right - Devi plays a ‘Devi’ and decides to double date with both of them. And now the premises of the show is set.
This season also has many other story arcs like Devi’s mother starting dating again, her cousin Kamala fighting sexism in the workplace and the arrival of a new Indian girl in school. Eleanor gets into a relationship with a former Disney star and Fabiola explores her relationship with Eve. Now the question is who will Devi end up with at the end of the season and finally get a boyfriend that she wants.
Positives
This season is definitely wittier with numerous LOL (laugh out loud) moments. Especially the first three episodes which have the best dialogues that take hints from pop culture which certainly resonates with youngsters. Also, various social issues like eating disorders, workplace sexism, dating at an older age and teen angst are treated in an approachable and relatable manner.
The acting skills of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Devi), Poorna Jagannathan (Nalini), Jaren Lewison (Ben) stood out the most. The overall appeal and charisma of the show remained intact and the wait for a new season remains at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Negatives
Devi’s character continuously making stupid mistakes starts getting under the skin of the viewer as it gets too monotonous and predictable at times. Some storylines are pretty similar to that of the previous season which could have been a bit different.
The Paxton-Ben-Devi drama feels a tad bit stretched out leaving little place for newer faces. Her so-called rivalry with the new Indian girl seems too far fetched and a bit unrealistic. Otherwise, this series has few flaws and is a great watch.
Conclusion
This new season will have you smiling from ear to ear most of the time and is an enjoyable ride that is a must-watch. We wish our school life was this fun!!
Our Rating of the show is 4/5
By Arushi Garg (Suggest Nest)
