Never Have I Ever is a 4 season Netflix teen drama based on the life of Indian-American Devi Vishvakumar. Recently 4th season of this series is released making it the talk of town. But why to look the show only as a comedy-drama this show also makes us learn a lot of life lessons which are very important for these day teenagers. This article talks about life lessons and psychological themes of this show.
Summary of Never Have I Ever
Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) is a high school girl with an excessive amount of ambition and a short fuse who frequently finds herself in sticky circumstances involving one of her current crushes, who may or may not be Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) and/or Ben Gross (Jaren Lewison). Speaking of males, this season Devi will have a new distraction in the form of Ethan (Michael Cimino), who joins the cast just after Paxton leaves for college. As seen at the opening of the season 4 teaser, Devi seems to have moved on from option A, Ben, whom she lost her V-card to, by the end of season 3. Devi’s love life this season might not even be the most interesting of all of the characters.
The existence of a wedding has been confirmed, but the bride and groom’s identities are still a mystery. The apparent candidate is Manish Kulkarni (Utkarsh Ambudkar), the new beau of Devi’s cousin Kamala (Richa Moorjani). Wildcard possibilities include Trent Harrison (Benjamin Norris) and Eleanor Wong (Ramona Young), as well as Dr. Vishwakumar (Poorna Jagannathan), who is falling in love this season with Andres (Ivan Hernandez), her mother-in-law Nirmala (Ranjita Chakravarty), who meets a sweet new man named Len (Jeff Garlin), and Nirmala. Anyone could be the culprit.
Psychological Themes and Life Lessons
We can not only look upon the series as a drama but this series provides the audience with various psychological themes and life lessons which are:
1) Psychological Theme
Coping with grief and loss: Devi’s difficulties adjusting to her father’s unexpected death are shown in the series. It draws attention to her mental distress and her struggles with navigating the grieving process. This component of the performance helps us understand both the hardships of coping with loss and the significance of seeking support from loved ones and professionals at such times.
Assimilation and cultural identity: Devi’s experience as an Indian-American teen gives light on the psychological processes of assimilation and cultural identity. She struggles with the tension between wanting to blend in with her American contemporaries and respecting her Indian ancestry. The programme examines the challenges of cultural adaptation and how it affects one’s sense of identity and self-worth.
Peer relation and Social Dynamic: The series explores the complexities of teenage friendships, crushes, and love relationships. Peer connections and social dynamics are also covered. It depicts the highs and lows of Devi’s relationships with her friends, focusing on issues like peer pressure, social hierarchy, and the results of rash decisions.Viewers can be taught the value of communication, empathy, and establishing appropriate boundaries in relationships.
Parent-child connections: The show highlights the hardships, tensions, and progress that may occur in parent-child relationships while examining the complicated dynamics between Devi and her mother. It depicts the difficulties of communicating across generational divides and cultural expectations. The programme might offer tips for encouraging a healthy environment.
Relationships with men and attachment: Devi’s relationships with men and her search for a lover provide a backdrop for examining attachment dynamics and the need for connection. The show discusses issues including attraction, jealousy, and the difficulties of preserving healthy relationships. It sheds light on the complexity of adolescent love and how it may affect someone’s emotional health.
Impulsivity and emotional regulation: Devi’s impulsiveness and her tendency to act without thinking through the repercussions offer an opportunity to study emotional management. The show serves as an example of the difficulties in controlling strong emotions like sadness and anger as well as the potential consequences of acting impulsively. It provides an insight into how people learn to manage their emotions
2) Life lessons
Self-Love: The show teaches the audience about self-love. Initially, Devi experienced self-doubt and even when her colleges rejected her, she chose to disgrace herself. However, gradually her mother helped her realize her self-worth, and she gained confidence in herself. So one should always love themselves no matter what happens in life.
Mental health issues: “Never Have I Ever” discusses mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Devi’s encounters with these difficulties and her attempts to get counselling show how important it is to acknowledge and take care of one’s mental health. The programme places a strong emphasis on the value of de-stigmatizing mental health issues and getting treatment when necessary.
Resilience and personal growth: Characters in the series encounter many difficulties and setbacks, which presents opportunity for personal development and resilience. It illustrates the value of accepting vulnerability, learning from mistakes, and finding strength amid hardship.
Appreciate Family: This series also gives a glimpse of what a teenager goes through when they have to stay away from their family. So it makes us realise that we should appreciate our family for what they do for us. And that effective communication is something that is important in every family.
Despite being a fictional series, “Never Have I Ever” deals on psychological issues and experiences that many people, particularly teenagers, may identify with. The presentation can serve as a springboard for discussions and observations on many psychological facets of human behaviour. Its development by delving into these issues.
