Never Have I Ever is an American comedy-drama television series created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher. It premiered on Netflix on April 27, 2020 and stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who plays an Indian-American high school student dealing with the sudden death of her father and the bumpy journey through her last three years of high school.
Though it takes place in the San Fernando Valley, the series has been reported to be loosely based on Kaling's childhood experiences in the Boston area, while Kaling herself has said it is based "in the spirit of my childhood".
The series has received critical acclaim and has been described as a watershed moment for Indian representation in Hollywood.
The series concluded on June 8, 2023, after 40 episodes spanning four seasons.
Plot The story centers around Devi Vishwakumar, a 15-year-old (at the start of the series) Indian-American Tamil girl from Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. After her father, Mohan, dies suddenly at her band performance, Devi enters paralysis due to psychological trauma, making her unable to walk for three months. One day, in an attempt to see her crush Paxton Hall-Yoshida, she miraculously recovers and stands on her legs. After having a socially horrible first year, she wishes to change her social status, but friends, family, and feelings do not make it easy for her. Meanwhile, Devi's friend Eleanor deals with learning her absentee mother has been back in town for months with no contact, while Devi's other friend Fabiola struggles to come out as lesbian. Devi's live-in cousin Kamala tries to hide her college boyfriend from her family, as her family expects her to wed Prashant, a man she's met once, in an arranged marriage.
The following year, Devi tries to deal with her grief, her identity, and school life. At the same time, her relationship with her mother, Nalini, becomes strained. When Devi finds out she has to move to India, she and her mom get into a huge argument before they spread her dad’s ashes. While spreading Mohan’s ashes, Devi says sorry to her mom. Devi also has to deal with her feelings for Paxton and Ben, after she cheats on both of them with each other. She also finds out she isn’t moving to India any more, so she has to make up with Ben and Paxton. Adding to the mix is a new Indian-American in school, Aneesa Qureshi. Devi starts to feel jealous about her popularity/dating her ex, Ben, and starts a rumor about her anorexia, at the track race because there's a tent that Trent started to hook up, and Devi saw Ben and Aneesa in there and spreads the rumor but then after Devi finds out Aneesa and Ben are just friends, they make peace and become close friends. Devi also finds her mother romantically involved with Dr. Jackson and is upset that she moved on so quickly from the death of her father, so Nalini ends things with Dr. Jackson for Devi. Paxton gets over Devi's betrayal and the two become romantically interested again after Devi tutors Paxton. Meanwhile, Kamala experiences sexism in her biology research lab. She grows close to Prashant before running away from their dinner because she was scared for marriage. Kamala does try to apologize to Prashant, but they both realize their relationship is not going to work out.
Paxton doesn't refer to Devi as his girlfriend, and publicly refuses her when she asks him to the dance, which makes Devi think that he is using her. They later talk, and Paxton says that they cannot date publicly because Devi cheated on him. Devi agrees to privately date him, but she later changes her mind and breaks up with him because that is what her dad would have wanted her to do. Paxton realizes his mistake and goes to the dance with Devi, apologizing to her. The two begin to date publicly, but Devi starts to feel insecure due to others gossiping about them. When Paxton has a friendly reconciliation with a girl he wronged in the past, Devi's insecurity turns to jealousy, causing Paxton to break up with her.
In the beginning of junior year, Devi finds out that Paxton has a new girlfriend, and Paxton thinks that Devi is really sad about him moving on so quickly. Devi later goes to a birthday party and her mom tells her to take her friend's son, Des, there because he has no friends. Devi is expecting Des will be a complete dork at the party, but is actually surprised as they get along and start dating without their mothers knowing. Paxton realizes that Devi has moved on and they are both in good relationships. Soon, Des’s mom, Ryah, finds out about Devi and Des dating and Nalini approves of them being together. Fabiola and Aneesa also start dating after Fabiola stood up for Aneesa and proved that she deserved someone better than Ben. Devi is really excited for her new relationship with Des, but Des’s mom tells Des to break up with Devi because she “has too many problems”. Devi finds out about this and Nalini stands up to Ryah and tells her that Devi does not have problems. Nalini helps Devi with her breakup. Paxton decides to break up with Phoebe, while Fabiola and Aneesa break up when they realize things are too awkward for them.
In the summer before senior year, Devi loses her virginity to Ben, but it ends awkwardly and Ben ghosts her soon after. Devi grows frustrated, which is amplified when her senior year begins, and she finds out Ben has a new girlfriend named Margot. The two girls get in an argument, which results in Devi yelling profanity that results in a principal's office visit for her and Margot. Margot gives her a series of back-handed apologies, but with the help of Devi's therapist, Devi tries to make up with Margot. This attempt fails and Margot only ends up more enraged with Devi, though they eventually make peace as Margot's father dates Nalini. Devi begins a sexual relationship with "bad boy" Ethan Morales, only to have to break up with him after he steals from a visiting Princeton rep. Devi's dream of getting into Princeton is complicated when Fabiola's mother forces her to apply for Princeton and she gets in ahead of Devi. Encouraged by her counselor and Ben, Devi works hard to get off the waitlist and finally gets accepted at Princeton. Given the proximity between her and Ben, the two decide to date during university life after confessing their feelings to each other the previous night. Pati, Devi's paternal grandma, marries her boyfriend Len, whom she dated for a brief time after overcoming her orthodox and conservative thoughts about aged widows being interested in love after their husbands' deaths which Nalini, Kamala and Devi are extremely enthusiastic about. Kamala is shown to be a little skeptical about Len, believing that he is attempting to scam Pati, but is proven wrong later. Paxton starts dating Ms. Lindsay Thompson, a fellow replacement faculty member at Sherman Oaks High. Fabiola is shown to be enjoying robotics at Howard University, as she previously decided that despite her acceptance at Princeton it was not right for her, and Eleanor is trying to make her way into directing films while happily dating Trent. Nalini has moved on by dating Margot's father, Mr. Ramos, after the two are set up by Devi and Ben's ex Margot. Kamala moves to Baltimore after her promotion under Dr. Logan and is shown to be with Manish there. On this note, the show comes to an end with every character being at their rightful happy place.
The majority of Never Have I Ever is narrated by professional tennis player John McEnroe particularly in scenes and episodes revolving around the main character Devi with the latter often showing flashes of McEnroe's legendary temper and references to past tennis matches. Two of the episodes are narrated by Andy Samberg for Ben, and another two by Gigi Hadid for Paxton. The narrators, often breaking the fourth wall, give insight into the thoughts of each character and his/her personal struggles.
Cast and characters Main Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi Vishwakumar, initially a 15-year-old high school sophomore who wants to improve her life and harbors feelings for both Paxton Hall-Yoshida and Ben Gross. She is based on the show's creator, Mindy Kaling. She is known for her emotional and erratic behavior at times and sees a therapist to help deal with the loss of her father, who died prior to the events of the series. She is a star student and has dreamed of going to Princeton University since an early age. Poorna Jagannathan as Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar, a successful dermatologist who owns her own practice and mother of Devi, with whom she has a mixed relationship: she cares strongly for her daughter but believes in tough love and strict parenting, causing friction between the two at times. Over time, their relationship evolves and becomes a beautiful one at the end. Richa Moorjani as Kamala Nandiwadal,Season 2, Episode 7 "... begged for forgiveness" Devi's cousin who is staying with Devi's family while completing her PhD at Caltech. Although she is better behaved and more devoted to her culture than Devi, she struggles with expectations put on her to marry and develop her career. Jaren Lewison as Benjamin "Ben" Gross, also a high school sophomore. Initially Devi's nemesis at school as the two frequently compete for academic accolades, he becomes a good friend for whom she has complicated feelings. The two become more supportive of each other and eventually date. Darren Barnet as Paxton Hall-Yoshida, a popular, athletic 16-year-old high school junior and Devi's crush, later love interest. He used to be the captain of the high school swim team, but was forced to give up swimming after suffering a car accident. After graduating, he attends Arizona State University, but later becomes an assistant swim coach at the high school upon deciding university is not for him. However, he realizes the needs of life and moves back to ASU at the end of Season 4. Ramona Young as Eleanor Wong, one of Devi's best friends who has a passion for acting and struggles with the fact her mother is absent after abandoning her for acting when Eleanor was 7. Lee Rodriguez as Fabiola Torres, one of Devi's best friends who is on the robotics team and struggles with her sexuality, later coming out as lesbian. John McEnroe as himself, the narrator of the series and Mohan's idol. In the season 1 finale, he makes a brief on-screen cameo.
Recurring Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohan Vishwakumar, Devi's deceased father, who appears in flashbacks and visions Niecy Nash as Dr. Jamie Ryan, Devi's therapist Eddie Liu as Steve (season 1), Kamala's secret boyfriend. Christina Kartchner as Eve Hjelm (seasons 1–2; guest season 3), Fabiola's love interest who later moves away Alexandra Billings as Jennifer Warner (seasons 2, 4), the school's college counselor Benjamin Norris as Trent Harrison, core member of the Hot Pocket, Paxton's best friend, and later Eleanor's boyfriend Dino Petrera as Jonah Sharpe (seasons 1–3), a boy who comes out as gay and helps Fabiola with her sexuality Tembi Locke as Elise Torres (season 1, guest seasons 2, 4), Fabiola's mother Jae Suh Park as Joyce Wong (season 1; guest season 4), Eleanor's absent mother who is a bumbling actress prioritizing her non-existent career over her daughter Adam Shapiro as Mr. Lyle Shapiro, a history teacher who tries to relate with his students and be the 'cool' teacher Cocoa Brown as Principal Grubbs who is often tired with Devi and Ben's rivalry Martin Martinez as Oliver Martinez (season 1–2), Eleanor's boyfriend and later ex-boyfriend Jack Seavor McDonald as Eric Perkins, an unpopular student and member of the robotics team who later trains for the swim team with Paxton in season 4 Lily D. Moore as Rebecca Hall-Yoshida (seasons 1–3), Paxton's sister who is interested in fashion design, Paxton is very protective of her as she has down-syndrome and is targeted by bullies. She and Devi develop a friendship