Never Have I Ever
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Like many children of immigrants, Devi exists in multiple worlds.
Devi tries to bond with them over rolling eyes at her own culture, but they arent having it.
Bollywood dance is cool not dorky, Preeti argues.
Devi carries shame, and shes too quick to draw lines between herself and someone like Kamala.
Why do I think its so weird and embarrassing to be Indian?
Devis friend asks, his introspection briefly stirring something in her.
She runs from feelings instead of sitting with them.
Outside of the bubble of her Indian community, though, Devis Indianness is indeed held against her.
He basically tells Devi she wont get into an Ivy because shes just another hardworking Indian kid.
Devi refuses to mine her life for inspiring content.
Grief also forces people to split time between worlds.
Every time Nalini and Devi flash back to Mohan, they are transported somewhere else.
Grief splits the self, often complicating a sense of identity.
But here, her mind settles on a simple, sweet scene of playing ping-pong with her father.
Theres also the discomfort with which people talk to Nalini and Devi about their loss.
Its something to gaze at and gossip about.
Even Nalinis grief does not feel entirely hers.
And Devis experiences are exploited by the college counselor when he suggests she use them to get into Princeton.
Its in these gray areas and in-between spaces thatNever Have I Everreally thrives.
Her marriage didnt work out, and now Jaya feels like she severed ties with her family for nothing.
Jaya is a compelling character, but shes used too swiftly, merely a cog in Kamalas arc.
