Never Have I Ever
By Joyce Slaton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Drinking, language, sex talk in fresh, charming teen series.

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Never Have I Ever
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Based on 23 parent reviews
sis it’s not that inappropriate
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I think 12 and up
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What's the Story?
Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher (The Mindy Project), NEVER HAVE I EVER stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi, a 15-year-old Indian American girl in Southern California who's been through a rough year. She's invisible to boys -- unless they want to mock her, like her chief rival Ben (Jaren Lewison) does nonstop -- she hangs out with a crew that other students find irredeemably nerdy, and, worst of all, she's only recently recovered from a bout of possibly psychosomatic paralysis that landed her in a wheelchair for months following her father's untimely death. With unfathomable pain lying just beneath the ordinary slings and arrows of teen life, Devi fixes on a solution: If she loses her virginity to hottest-guy-at-school Paxton (Darren Barnet), surely she'll finally be cool in the eyes of her classmates, and then she'll experience true happiness.
Is It Any Good?
Sex-obsessed teens are nothing new in entertainment, but sex is just a cover for what the leads in this fresh, charming series are really seeking: love, acceptance, and validation. When we meet Devi, it's on the first day of her sophomore year of high school, fresh from having endured incredible pain and humiliation as a freshman. Chief among her woes is the untimely death of her father, an event that Never Have I Ever shows viewers in flashbacks that emphasize the horror Devi is hiding under layers of easier-to-take pain, like the embarrassment of belonging to a social niche that Devi's nemesis calls the U.N. (which stands for "unf--kable nerds"). Devi knows she's not happy. But rather than dive into a pool of unfathomable grief, she'd much rather focus on more typical teen angst and worry about boys and being cool.
Thus Never Have I Ever, like Devi, has depths that are barely papered over with plot lines about parties and romantic misunderstandings, problems at school, and fights with her mom. Underneath these everyday concerns lurks a terrible sadness, but on the surface Devi is a regular TV teen who worries whether her outfit's cool enough and hesitates to approach the boy she likes when he's hanging out at the "Hot Pocket" (where all the cutest, coolest boys at school sit at lunchtime). The moments when Devi and this show get real, though, are remarkable for their sincerity. When Devi blows off her therapist's suggestion that they discuss her father's death in favor of impressing upon Dr. Ryan (Niecy Nash) just how desirable Paxton is, the doctor gently reminds her that Paxton is also a person with feelings and problems -- and that instead of focusing on losing her virginity, Devi has the option of finding something to succeed at that will give her a more genuine and lasting happiness. At such moments, Never Have I Ever truly shines. By weaving fun and forgettable teen antics with true sincerity, this show rises above teen cliches and becomes something more than the sum of its parts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Never Have I Ever portrays teens and their struggles. Are Devi, Ben, Paxton, and other leads believable characters? What do you think of their attempts to use sex, romance, and alcohol to deal with their problems? What are some more constructive ways of coping? Is it a problem to depict underage drinking on TV shows?
Devi's mother is a strong central character who has lost her husband, Devi's father. Why do you think parents are often absent in stories about teens and young children? What types of storytelling would the presence of parents inhibit? What types of dilemmas do children and teens find themselves in when they must act as their own authority? What drama does Devi's father's death add to this show? Is it realistic?
How does Devi demonstrate integrity and self-control? Are there ever moments when she shows the opposite of these traits? Why do you think these are important character strengths?
How does this series depict female friendships? Do you and your friends have similar relationships?
How does Never Have I Ever represent an Indian-American family? Have you seen this kind of diversity on other shows?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 24, 2020
- Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: High School
- Character Strengths: Integrity, Self-control
- TV rating: TV-14
- Award: Common Sense Media Award
- Last updated: April 11, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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