#NeverHaveIEver…The Relatable Netflix Series Breaking The Internet.

Never have I ever used to be the ominous game we all played with friends that took one of two turns. Learning each other’s deepest secrets or… well, let’s leave the other part out for my younger readers. Goodbye to secrets held over my head, and Hello, relatable teen drama because Netflix did its THING!

I stumbled onto this show on Tuesday because I needed a break from international movies. The trailer seemed cute, so I figured “WTH, I’ve got nothing to lose”. After binge-watching the entire show in a day 😅 (not my proudest moment but we’re quarantined) I fell in love and immediately googled season 2. That’s when I found out that this show JUST came out and was already doing numbers.

I know you’re wondering, well what’s so spectacular about #NeverHaveIEver, so here’s the trailer to what I have to say is my favorite new teen drama.

Immediately I fell in love and here’s why ⬇️

1. It’s a show about POC.

Okay… not to be that person, but DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND A SHOW OF COLOR? Like TRUE POC. This is an Indian family with a first-generation completely Indian daughter, born and raised in California. We finally have a television series with a brown girl. She’s best friends with an Asian girl, a Latina girl, and falls for a part Japanese boy. I’m sorry but WE STAN.

2. First Gen References/Jokes

This show has so many and I mean SOOOO many first-generation references that you have no choice but to love it.

She’s just so… Indian. Like, the other day she said she was gonna open the TV instead of turn on the TV” -Devi

-Never Have I Ever S1 E1

“I found a Bollywood movie about a princess who falls for a lowly street sweeper. It’s only seven hours long.”- Kamala

-Never Have I Ever Season1

As a first-generation kid of Caribbean parents, I’ve never related so hard to a quote in my life. Devi is the person inside of all us first-gen kids. We had to deal with balancing being American but also not trying to feel embarrassed about embracing your culture. She is the kid who suffers trauma so bad it physically breaks her legs, and her mother thinks therapy is for white people. Most importantly, she just wants her parents to say that they’re proud of her. (Yeah, I relate too)

3. Acceptance …

It’s a tough world for people part of the LGBTQ’ community. However, it’s a topic barely scratched in television shows. Somehow NHIE managed to show us the internal conflict of Fabiola. You felt for her when she expressed her fear of coming out. When she finally did, not only out herself to her friends and family, but her whole grade, she received nothing but positivity. It’s a dog eat dog kind of world, and it’s so refreshing to see the directors take on this. Were they hinting at an age of acceptance? (shout out to my fave for pointing this out 💙) Also, PHY’s sister with Down syndrome is completely normalized and WE LOVE TO SEE IT. She’s treated like everyone else, and that is such a breath of fresh air.

4. It’s realistic

Okay, no shade to Riverdale, but let’s be honest, none of that is realistic. These kids do drug wars, gang turfs, and still find time to be a part of the cheer squad. Meanwhile, I could barely make it to the end of the day without wanting to hide in my locker. NHIE was like that. Devi went to school, therapy, parties, and got grounded. She wanted to lose her virginity and get into Princeton. She was awkward, she lied, she was realistic. She gets drunk and runs away from home. (Now, I’m too Caribbean for that but seriously we all know someone who has.) I’m sorry, but I relate more to her blackmailing her cousin than I ever did to B & V solving murder mysteries.

Her cousin’s arranged marriage, her mom freaking out if she even thinks about sex, and let’s not forget Devi asked her therapist to buy her a thong. The show is hilarious in the cheesiest of ways. You relate to sneaking the boy into the bedroom or sneaking home and still getting caught. In 10 short episodes, I felt at home with these characters. Remember what high school was like? Never Have I Ever hit it right on the nail so you’ll spend the day reminiscing.

 

This show is a refreshing break from the teen dramas that we’re used to. It’ll make you laugh and cry and will have you begging for more. Just 3 days after it’s release, it’s one of the most talked-about shows on Netflix and has been trending on twitter on more than one occasion. After being on Netflix’s top 5 for over a week, it is currently ranked #10 in the US. There’s a relatable character for all of us, it’s a show you can watch with mom and your best friend but maybe not your 12-year old cousin. I’m excited to hear about a season 2 and if you haven’t already GO BINGE @neverhaveiever on Netflix.