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The show’s season three pulled a surprise in the very last scene. This left the audience wondering what was in store for the famous foes at Sherman Oaks High — Ben (Jaren Lewison) and Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) — who have been on-again and off-again friends. But as the new season (also the show’s finale) unfolds, one gets the feeling that the makers probably did not want to risk adding many surprises to the familiar tale of Devi Vishwakumar, the grief-stricken and academically-bright teenager, trying to keep her temper in check as she pursues her romantic interests and secure a seat at Princeton University.
In the new season, the affairs at Sherman Oaks seem repetitive and drab. Yes, Sherman Oaks gets two hotties — Devi’s original crush and senior at school Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) is back and there is a very “claw-able” bad boy Ethan (Michael Cimino) grabbing attention with shirtless appearances. Yet, they are not able to spice up the proceedings. The season remains in the familiar zone even though new romances blossom.
Never Have I Ever made us aware of a first-generation Indian-American teen’s struggle to balance desi culture at home with American ways. As Devi, instead of processing her grief of losing her father, chose to find a hot boyfriend to make her final years at school memorable, it led to several messy and some genuinely heartwarming moments. The series addresses her rage and unreasonable behaviour while celebrating her never-say-die spirit.
Her actions mostly follow a pattern that has been established in the previous seasons. As Devi once again flies off the handle or lands in some sticky situations thanks to her impulsive behaviour and bad decisions, one gets the feeling of seeing it before. The series follows the developments at the Vishwakumar household more closely with its four women following their heart. Looking at them one realises how there is no set formula to constitute a family. This takes away the focus from the drama that Devi usually creates with Eleanor (Ramona Young) and Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) in tow.
One of the best features of the show has been its smart writing that packed wry humour and funny observations about teen behaviour, mainly by its narrator John McEnroe. The humour occasionally seems to lack punch. Maybe because the creators seem to be more concerned about neatly tying every plot strand. The show also takes care to underline themes like self-love, forgivance, charting out one’s own path and embracing change.
In the final episode, Ramakrishnan and Richa Moorjani dance to Pushpa’s Saami Saami song as part of a wedding celebration. It reminds one of the fun dance cover when they danced to Sheila Ki Jawaani as a birthday gift from Moorjani to Ramakrishnan, a couple of years ago. The Saami Saami sequence lacked the spontaneity and cheekiness of their Sheila Ki Jawaani dance. The final season too needed more of that too.
The season ends with a hint that the series is bidding goodbye only for now. We will wait till the makers wish to bring back the story of this hotheaded desi girl someday. After all, Never Have I Ever told the story of an Indian-American girl the way it should be told — with all the chaos and confusion ruling her life.
Never Have I Ever Season 4
Creators: Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher
Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, John McEnroe
Streaming on: Netflix
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