This week I was home sick, and I managed to consume the entirety of Never Have I Ever season 3 in one day. This show lends itself to bingeing by being light and funny, and just completely easy to watch.
One of its main successes, I believe, comes from skillfully deploying a narrative trope that often fails teen dramas: the love triangle. Its a remarkable accomplishment that after three seasons, we are still being well served by the ever-shifting focus of our central teen lovers. Usually, the bouncing back and forth, from friend to friend, or from current lover to ex, is a slog. It’s played out, its unbelievable, its frustrating because usually there is an obvious right choice, and the show is creating drama for the sake of … well, drama.
But in Never Have I Ever, the central love triangle is so nuanced, and the characters are given just enough depth and shape, and individuality, that it’s completely understandable that a girl might be confused about who she would rather date. Her options are complete opposites. But they are both ideal, in their own ways. They also both have issues, in their own ways. One is not objectively better than the other (hotter, sure. smarter, sure. But a better match? Undecided!)
So, while I usually get frustrated with dragging out love stories for too long, (will they, won’t they, yes just get on with it!) I’m fully on board for the ping pong ball of Devi’s heart bouncing back and forth between her various (but really two main) suitors. I get it. I’m not on a team for this one. I don’t see it as getting through a lesser relationship to make way for the right partner to come along. It’s just complicated, because teenage feelings are messy, and they don’t always get the timing right.
This is the rare love triangle where both branches feel equal, the weight is balanced, and it truly could go either way. With all the back and forth, we are left guessing who will finally score, until the very end.
