
While this is ultimately the Devi show, Kaling was intentional with the support she surrounded Nalini with. She got to play a part in the shaping of a young woman with boundless potential who was caught in destructive behavioural patterns. Sure, she was on the clock every time Devi threw herself into that therapist's chair and spiralled into a rant, but that relationship became precious.

If we're talking about the sisterhood of support, then we would be remiss not to include Doctor Ryan (Niecy Nash) on that list. That balance offered her stability when things got too overwhelming. They were also the right people to call BS on her ridiculously unhealthy behaviour when she needed it. They were designed to be her biggest cheerleaders. Kaling also knew what she was doing when she placed Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) and Eleanor (Ramona Young) in Devi's life.

The show's creator Mindy Kaling takes this fragile relationship, strips it and rebuilds it from the ground up, and in doing so relays the powerful message that growing together is a choice and the responsibility of both to move with empathy. To see things from one other's perspective and to move with compassion instead of impatience, understanding instead of judgement, frustration or mistrust.
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Not only were they forced to cope with his absence, they also had to learn how to connect with each other. Never Have I Ever makes it clear that Devi's father and Nalini's spouse Mohan (Sendhil Ramamurthy) had always been the buffer between mother and daughter who could never see eye to eye.įollowing his death, they were ill-equipped to navigate each other's emotions without their referee. That this safety harness strapped around her grief was the core of the show makes this slightly more average season still feel wholesome and meaningful.ĭevi's relationship with her mother Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) is one such bond that has grown alongside Devi throughout the seasons. They empowered her, grieved with her, coddled her at times and equally removed the cotton wool when she needed setting straight. Yes, both Paxton and Ben supported her too, but it was the women who were the consistent source of strength. How she fought to navigate the turmoil of deeply bitter emotions surrounding her dad's death and throughout this painful process, it was the women in her life who nourished her in the most profound way. While a large part of Never Have I Evermay have focused on the ironing out of this threesome, their love triangle was far from the central attraction of the story – and if you missed that, then you missed the point.Īt its centre, it was always about Devi's journey through grief.

Even better once they'd been churned through the maturity mill and came out on the other side of adolescents a little more wise and compassionate.

It did such a good job that even we switched allegiances multiple times, and that's the point.īoth guys were great. We know, the show spends three seasons making us fall in love with these guys who are the complete opposite of each other.
