Never Have I Ever season 4 review: Netflix says goodbye to a gem

The end of a beloved TV series usually invites conversation about its legacy. It’s a particularly hot topic right now thanks to recent series finales from favorites like Succession, BarryAnd The wonderful Mrs. Maiseland how this shows left an indelible mark on the current landscape in just four or five seasons. While it’s not celebrated enough in comparison, though it should be, that’s from Netflix Never have I ever is just as good a tent pole for several reasons. For one thing, the persistently delightful comedy ranks high as one of the first shows to center on a multi-generational Indian-American family. And it ends as remarkably as it began, with season four comes out on June 8.

Mindy Kalining and the coming-of-age phenomenon of Lang Fisher will be remembered for his stellar lead performance, with breakout star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and MVP Poorna Jagannathan deserving of all the accolades. Who can forget the drool about a love triangle similar to the eighth’s beloved YA dramas? (RIP, Team Ben vs. Team Paxton) Like any good teen show, it also dabbled with aplomb in fun high school swear words, from unsupervised parties to Model UN trips, from classic cliques to memorable friendships. However, NHIE will go down in history mainly for its depictions of complicated, highly recognizable South Asian protagonists in the mainstream media.

Devi Vishwakumar (Ramakrishnan) couldn’t be more chaotic if she tried (and she often does). When the show started, she was mourning the sudden death of her father, turning her loss into unprecedented anger and often arguing with her mother, Nalini (Jagannathan). Her mission: to shake off her nerd persona, become popular and lose her virginity to a hot jock. As annoying as she could get on this mission, it was a sigh of relief to watch a flawed, multi-dimensional South Asian girl try to find a place in the world. Ramakrishnan’s heartbreaking work helped elevate the material further. And NHIE however, was not a typical image of brown women the lens is slowly shifting.

There have certainly been nuanced South Asian women on the small screen before ranging from ER Unpleasant New girl. But this series is a game changer because of the specificity with which it explores generations of Vishwakumar women, whether succumbing to or subverting diaspora stereotypes. Over four wholesome seasons, the show has charted a unique path with Devi, Nalini, Devi’s cousin Kamala (Richa Moorjani, who puts on an increasingly powerful performance every year) and grandmother Pati (Ranjita Chakravarty). Thanks to the accurate portrayal in the writers’ room, the show never felt like it was checking off a diversity list. It’s representation with hilarious, heartfelt stories to back it up. And the final season is no different.

About this final batch of episodes: Despite being a YA show, the heart and soul of the series lies in Devi’s endearing family relationships. Sadly, there’s less Sendhil Ramamurthy as her late father here this season, and the show could use more Nalini and Kamala in this final round. But it still ends with a beautiful tribute to the evolution of Devi’s personality in conjunction with how her bond with her mother, cousin and grandmother has developed. She keeps doing stupid things – dates the bad guy (like every teen’s rite of passage), messes up her college applications, lies profusely about that mess, nearly gets someone expelled from school, and starts a brief fight with BFF Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez). ). Devi’s rebellious actions are no longer surprising, but she takes her leave as a smartly layered character who accepts her shortcomings.

Season four also reaffirms the show’s theme of letting go, with Nalini embracing the idea of ​​independence and a potential new romance. Kamala goes through ups and downs that feel like a nut at first, but eventually end with a similar hopeful message to stand up for herself. Even Pati enters an exciting new relationship. However, why NHIE cast Jeff Garlin playing her love interest remains a puzzling mystery; his dour demeanor adds nothing of value to the otherwise promising storyline. The other sore spot of season four is a blatant lack of Megan Suri’s Aneesa, but at least there’s plenty of joy to be had from Devi, Fabiola, and Eleanor’s (Ramona Young) senior year at Sherman Oaks. And don’t worry, Devi’s Infinite Ben (Jaren Lewison) vs. Paxton (Darren Barnett) drama meets a swoon-worthy conclusion.

finally, Never have I ever retains the same sense of optimism and charm it has carried throughout its run. It has the same sense of goofy humor as Kaling’s work The office And The Mindy Projector Fisher is on Brooklyn nine-nine, making the show appealing to a wider audience while capturing a specific community, all with great performances to boot. (When will the Academy retroactively give Jagannathan her Emmy?) And that’s the legacy: Never have I ever symbolizes a time of change for South Asians on TV; it’s both a memorable stepping stone and a perfect little four-season treat.

Never have I ever Season 4 premieres on Netflix on June 8