Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” is the representation we all needed. Devi Vishwakumar, the main character, has captivated young girls all over the world, as she struggles with her identity and navigates boys, school, and her father’s death. Although Season 3 was just released in Aug. 2022, fans are already anticipating the series’ next season. 

“Devi Vishwakumar is the first brown girl in the media whom we see as an attainable woman with a vibrant dating life, as opposed to the stereotype of being undesirable and existing for comedy (…) it makes brown girls feel desired. We no longer feel the need to conform to other individuals’ idea of beauty and instead learn to know that we are also wanted,” Deesha Panchal, senior, said. 

The few mainstream T.V. shows that feature Asian women as characters either display them for comedic relief surrounding their ethnicity and undesirability, or they completely remove/ dismiss these characters’ heritage from the storyline. “Never Have I Ever” instead creates an ideal balance that demonstrates Devi grappling with her culture in an area where she felt unwanted while also showing her as a typical teenager. 

“I have been acting for a couple of years, and I remember that every pilot around an Asian or Middle Eastern family would get killed in the pilot stage,” Actress Poorna Jagannathan, who plays Devi’s mother, said in a recent Variety interview. 

“Never Have I Ever” has dismantled South Asian stereotypes. To have multiple seasons of a show that follows an immigrant family in a multi-generational household navigate through life experiences just like everyone else is groundbreaking. The show offers a glimpse into South Asian culture to a wide range of audiences and is diversifying the entertainment industry.  

“Devi was my first example of positive Asian representation seen on a mainstream show. Honestly, I cried multiple times throughout the show because of how heartfelt and accurately it illustrated Devi’s life as a person of color in a predominantly white community,” Priscilla Dice, senior, said. 

Because of how organic and heartwarming Season 3 is, many people—not just young South Asian girls—relate to the show. Be sure to watch the new season, which is currently streaming on Netflix, and stay tuned for more updates.