The following contains spoilers for Season 3 of Never Have I Ever, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
One of the most welcome aspects of the modern streaming war is how fans engage with franchises that embrace the concept of the “other.” This allows people of color, minorities, and marginalized groups to see themselves in the show, and after decades of being an all-white entertainment industry, it’s becoming more diverse. Such orientation builds a sense of acceptance and equality. So it’s no surprise that more companies and studios are expanding their stories into something more mundane, international, and relatable.
Two such examples are Disney+’s Ms. Marvel and Netflix’s Never Have I Everboth touch on South Asian cultures in American society where teenagers are learning about themselves. However, while the former really hit the mark as Pakistan’s representative just one season after Kamala Khan’s superhero origins, the latter continued to miss the mark three seasons later when it comes to Devi’s Indian heritage.
surely, Ms. Marvel Showing religion as an important part of Kamala’s family, she sets a high benchmark in the way she speaks to Muslims at home and in mosques. was on display. Kamala visits her grandmother in Pakistan and learns that her power is very expensive. Ms. Marvel It felt like a Pakistani show with an American cast rather than an American show incorporating Pakistani people.
This is a monumental achievement and adds so much real energy and Bollywood exuberance when Hollywood runs occasional violations of appropriation and tokenization. and everyone danced to Bollywood music and made the Khan tradition a character of its own. It helped educate the audience.
Sadly, Never Have I Ever, despite starting running in 2020, never really connected to the nuances of Devi’s people outside of Season 1’s Ganesh Pooja. . of course, Ms. Marvel There were also these, but in small quantities, Never Have I Ever Continuing to beat the drums, these pranks became a creed of the Devi people. It’s a shame, because there’s a lot of it. Instead, it turns the auspicious Navaratri into a joke, with Devi’s teacher Manish destroying a prayer place with a murtis (religious statue) and granny hating him for being with his cousin Kamala. pressed the arc of
Using a religious festival for the purpose of a romantic joke is insulting and reductive. Never Have I Ever I decided to throw everything into one arc without respecting the other, which is a mistake Ms. Marvel did not do it. Kamala’s story went in the opposite direction, still focusing on her crush, but she didn’t ignore things like feminism and the evolution of women in the Masjid.
Until that point Never Have I Ever Failed to evolve, Devi’s culture has become a running bat of so many jokes. Her full episode where she experiences the beautiful Festival of Lights aka Dibali with her crew of tweens was so wholesome and broadened her horizons while setting a bright backdrop. Blooming romance and love. Unfortunately, Devi’s story didn’t quite handle the concept of tradition and heritage very well, essentially incorporating her teenage roots into her formative identity. This was replaced by a cheesy, humorless joke that was heard repeatedly on Apu. simpsonsor from Large big bang theoryKamala’s journey was original and refreshing. remained as American and rebellious as Devi for the sake of personality.
Never Have I Ever is available to stream on Netflix. Ms. Marvel is available to stream on Disney+.
