One of these days I'm going to write a post about the intentional fusion of Ben and Paxton's archetypes, and why I think it makes people so upset.
We like to distill people into traits, but dynamic characters-healthy characters-integrate qualities of the people they interact with or aspire to become.
Paxton caring about school, becoming more vulnerable, adopting a "Ben-like" side to him.
Ben becoming a bit of a stud, rescuing Devi at the bar, climbing through her window, "adopting Paxton-like characteristics".
It has very little to do with ships, and much more to do with personal development. It’s intentional but it makes people angry, and I have a very specific theory as to why.
I agree with you! I've also noticed a similar but slightly different thing, where main characters often don't have a clearly defined "thing"-- they're very complex-- while side characters are distilled into traits. This phenomenon in NHIE is, to me, one of the clearest pieces of evidence why Devi and Ben are "endgame," because they're the two characters we know the most about and the characters who fit into typical archetypes the least.
Devi, for example, is smart and good at school, but she's also a hothead, she's also obsessed with TikToks/Youtube promposals, has eclectic fashion, grapples with her Indianness, has a complicated relationship with each of her parents, is rebellious despite being a nerd, etc etc etc. She's not about just one thing. It's kind of hard to sum her up. Eleanor, on the other hand, is about theater. Everything she does in the show sort of revolves around that. Fabiola is about robotics (do we even know anything else about her? her likes/dislikes etc?) Aneesa is about sports and *not* being nerdy. They all had other side plots, but their characters just don't feel as real/dynamic as Devi (at least to me).
Ben, similar to Devi, we know a lot about. He wants to get into Columbia and he's a competitive nerd, sure. But he also likes Rick and Morty and the NBA. He speaks Mandarin. He thought art was BS but came around to it. He's a softie at heart and is kind both to Patty and Devi, two of the only people in his life who show a genuine interest in him. His relationship with his parents is fleshed out and informs the way he behaves at school and in the rest of his life (Eleanor got a parent backstory too but it doesn't really affect the way she acts in the rest of her life.)
I think they tried to do this complexifiying (sorry) with Paxton after season 1 but it always felt a bit tacked on as an afterthought. It was always about proving he was "more than just a jock." With Ben, his nerdiness was never the sole thing about him-- he was able to charm Shira (not that much of an accomplishment) and Aneesa (a bigger accomplishment).
Back to your original point, I think part of the ire is because Paxton has been so defined by being the romanticized dreamboat/boyfriend/hot jock (like Eleanor and Fab, I think he has had other storylines, but they haven't really informed his behavior in the same way Ben and Devi's backstories have informed their actions) that the idea of him being deprived of that role is unpalatable.
But I don't know, I'm just spitballing here.
Wow, you managed to put this in a way that’s not only 100% accurate, but far more eloquent than what I would have written myself.
furoruisa asked: Hello 💕
I want to ask. Not predictions. What would you like to happen in S4? For benvi and Devi
Hi love 💕 Thank you for this ask!
In no particular order:
- A love confession.
- A scene that involves passionate, angst-ridden yearning through intense eye-contact (since Maitreyi and Jaren pull it off so well).
- Devi going to Princeton, Ben going to Colombia.
- A conversation that addresses the ramifications of season 2 head-on, subtlety be damned. Something akin to “Devi, I was in love with you, and you broke my heart.”
- Ben being proud of Devi when she wins valedictorian, showcasing his ability to put aside his competitive drive and support her.
- An acknowledgement of Ben and Devi’s loose threads (valentines day card, Eleanor’s reveal to Ben that “it wasn’t always him”).
- Devi choosing Ben (instead of Paxton being the one to shut things down again) and making it clear to Ben that he is her first choice.
- Ben letting go of his trauma from season 2, being an emotional anchor for Devi, and fully accepting her as she is.
- Fun banter laced with sexual tension
- Ben and Devi finally dancing together (throw in an almost-kiss for a side of extra torture)
- Full-circle moments and call-backs to previous seasons
- Nalini giving Ben and Devi her seal of approval, denoting a rite of passage into liberty, and ushering in the next phase of Devi’s life.
Anonymous asked: the trailer gave what it needed to give about Ben and Devi without giving us anything at the same time. It teases Devi and Paxton almost kiss and already teases Ethan and Devi. Nothing romantic from Ben and Devi.
All I know is what the bed scene is going to wreck us. maitreyi and jaren about to deliver their best scene together for sure.
It’s true (source: my imagination)
The one thing necessitated by every romantic male lead is not his looks, his charm, or even his wit - it’s his ability to portray a sense of yearning without so much as a word.Â
And in that regard, Jaren Lewison’s big blue eyes can do no wrong.
As for Maitreyi - she’s an absolute prodigy, and I think we’re about to witness her best work yet.
Anonymous asked: They surprised me because I was sure they weren’t going to do it so now this adds another layer to Ben and Devi because it’s a new level of intimacy unlocked and it feels serious now. Not the level of playfulness banter. There’s this still from 403 and Devi and Ben still seem to be avoiding each other on class and Devi still seems angry. But as someone theorized they’ll talk again in the trip to NYC (405) but won’t address the thing they need to address.
Ben and Devi at odds props to Devi being Devi and getting w Ethan. I don’t think this will be a Des situation. Ethan was described as a really bad guy so he’d probably be unpleasant. And this teaches a lesson to Devi about guys she definitely doesn’t want in her life (but also that she can pull bad guys now good for her).
The Ethan and Paxton arc will wrap before 408. Ethan’s arc probably earlier. So now they can focus on their endgame. I think the Paxton and Devi scene being teased is their only suggestive one and it will mark closure. A sweet one about their impact on each others life’s and that’s it. And that scene happens in 407 according to the picture source.
Prom episode is 409, at this point I agree with your that Ben and Devi know they are in love with each other so it’s not them but the fact they need to make choices about college. I see the bed scene to be rather emotional (and another sex scene happening there but this time is signifies a whole new thing for them)
Another person pointed out that Maitreyi and Jaren’s last scene with the yellow dress and corsage could be a retry to prom. And this is their confession scene after Devi gets a much needed push from Mohan. And the very last scene about the library could be Columbia’s library and this is a tiny bit of a skip forward to give us the answer that they’re together.
I love how this was sent to me weeks ago and every single point still stands. No notes, anon.
The only thing I’ll add is that Ben and Devi’s conflict won’t just be about college because that would lack emotional resonance. When building to a satisfying finale, we have to ask ourselves: what are the personal stakes in this conflict?
Okay, so Ben and Devi might not end up together. Why should we care? How does this affect Devi?
And, well, the obvious answer is that she’s in love with him and would be heartbroken. But the underlying stakes of her being afraid to embrace love are that she’s letting her own insecurities stop her from living a life that’s emotionally rich and fulfilling.
This will come to a head in the series finale, because that’s where the show’s central thesis of self-love needs to intersect with (and bring closure to) her core relationships.
Anonymous asked: To me the trailer shows exactly what they needed to show to tease but leave us curious. They couldn’t ignore the big cliffhanger so it was going to be mentioned on the trailer so I knew the answer of whether they did it or not would he answered there. This is the final season they are not trying to collect new audiences for a renewal. This is the endgame. I think the trailer shows what it needed to show. I could theorize about it but I still not nothing about them or what it’s happening.
And it also makes me think they will sleep together again (prom night) but this time without miscommunication and both being on the same page about what it means so it parallels the awkwardness from their first boink but this time is them being fine and confident of what it means for them moving forward.
I love this theory.
I haven’t wavered from the idea that the love confession is happening in episode 10, but I think it would be interesting if Devi and Ben have sex again in episode 9, and are much confident in their decision. It would elevate the stakes of the finale in an unexpected but fitting way.
Never Have I Ever’s style has always been: give the audience the most expected outcome in the most unexpected way possible.
I like the way you think Anon!
One of these days I’m going to write a post about the intentional fusion of Ben and Paxton’s archetypes, and why I think it makes people so upset.
We like to distill people into traits, but dynamic characters-healthy characters-integrate qualities of the people they interact with or aspire to become.
Paxton caring about school, becoming more vulnerable, adopting a “Ben-like” side to him.
Ben becoming a bit of a stud, rescuing Devi at the bar, climbing through her window, “adopting Paxton-like characteristics”.
It has very little to do with ships, and much more to do with personal development. It’s intentional but it makes people angry, and I have a very specific theory as to why.
collegeteamer23 asked: what do you think of the scene of the men grabbing devi at the party in New York in the trailer?
Hi, what do you think of ben coming to help devi from the creep grabbing onto her? do you think someone told ben to come quick or do you think he knew something was up and after that got knocked out? what do you think of that scene???
So… if I’m being honest, that scene hits a little too close to home. I think it’s an accurate representation of what happens to young women at these nightclubs.
As far as Ben’s involvement, I don’t think he has to be told to help her, he’s already watching her. We know that Ben tends to get more emotional when he’s drunk (“yeah well she broke my heart”) so I see him having a contemplative moment about his feelings, perhaps showing a bit of jealousy. When he notices the situation, he steps in without being told.
It’s pure impulse. A nice juxtaposition from 1x08 where he makes a move to help Devi out of the pool but doesn’t get there in time.
Anonymous asked: SO, Ben and Devi boinked… and it seems they haven’t spoken about it at all so Ben interpreted that as a one time thing and now are tip toeing around the whole thing. it’s weird but fair, I’d hope we get some inside on this in one of Dr. Ryan sessions which I assume we will since it’s a big thing for Devi. That changes the dynamic a lot for Ben and Devi separately and together because there’s this layer of intimacy that now exists between them that complicates things. I really need Devi’s inside about this situation and how does she feels about it, because as kamala said, is she ready for that vulnerability? and of course, Ben and his feelings. if he choses to date Margot out of fear of the boink not being a real thing for devi and interpretation her silence as a situation that will never happen.
surprisingly, i don’t think ben/margot will last long and she will have a lot more grace than what the writers showed to Aneesa (sadly).
the michael cimino situation as you guessed it’s going to be just in between the margot/ben situation but I doubt it gets past ep6. paxton and devi won’t get much screen time but will have a cute moment of closure. ben and devi will tip toe around their status until ep9 because i think the bed scene is THE moment. it’s after prom and i think something does happen before this that gets used as the detonate for them to grow some sense and just talk to each other.
Hey anon,
I’m glad you brought up Kamala because I think that Devi and Kamala are eventually going to have a conversation about the situation which will push her towards Ben. And to answer your question, I think that Devi wants to be ready for love, but that she still has some ways to go.
Even in the trailer, we get this line: “Now that I’ve done the deed, I can focus on what’s important.” It’s reminiscent of her mindset in season 1: compartmentalizing and refusing to process her emotions.
Devi’s never been in love before, and it terrifies her. But what’s far more terrifying is the thought that Ben loves her back. Because in order for her to be comfortable with that level of intimacy and vulnerability, she has to embrace herself.
All that to say, Devi’s feelings are going to come out at some point. :)
Unfortunately, I don’t share your optimism with the Ben and Margot side plot. I think it will drag on for longer than it has to, ending in what I hope is an amicable split between Margot and Ben where he breaks up with her. (Please writers, give us this one thing!)
I think the timeline for Devi’s relationships will be as follows:
4x01 - Ben and Devi fallout
4x03 - Ethan and Devi first kiss
4x06 - Ethan and Devi breakup
4x07 - Paxton and Devi closure
4x08 - Family-focused episode
4x09-4x10 - Ben and Devi’s love confession
But I think you’re correct about there being something that brings them together beforehand. I’m assuming that things are tense between them until the New York trip, at which point Ben defends her. From then on, they’re on talking terms, building towards the big finale.
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