'Never Have I Ever': Mindy Kaling, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan break down that Season 2 love triangle
Spoiler alert! Contains details about the Season 2 finale of Netflix comedy "Never Have I Ever."
Every show needs its Bennifer or Brangelina.
After an unsuccessful attempt to secretly date them both, undaunted teen Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) finally chooses between the brainy Ben (Jaren Lewison) and dreamboat Paxton (Darren Barnet) in the Season 2 finale of "Never Have I Ever" (now streaming on Netflix). Despite their hooking up in private, Paxton refuses to make his relationship with Devi official. That is, until their high school college counselor (Alexandra Billings) assures him that the unlikely couple actually make a great team, given Devi's help in his raising his grades through tutoring.
In an inspired bit of rom-com high jinks, Paxton accidentally hits Devi with his car as he comes to the school dance to ask her to be his girlfriend. Lovestruck and concussion-free, Devi walks back into the dance arm in arm with Paxton, much to the surprise of their classmates – including Ben, who still has feelings for Devi, even though he's dating her new friend Aneesa (Megan Suri).
'There's no textbook for this': 'Never Have I Ever' Season 2 shows there's no one way to be gay
Ramakrishnan, 19, already has a couple name in mind for Devi and her new beau.
"It's Daxton, right?" Ramakrishnan says. Devi choosing Paxton makes sense, because she "has been after this guy (since) the dawn of time. She's also just a teen who's still trying to figure out what she likes. She's not now some miraculously secure person that's going to be the best girlfriend. We have no idea what that's going to be like for her."
Mindy Kaling, 42, co-created "Never Have I Ever" with Lang Fisher, and the series is loosely inspired by "The Office" alum's childhood as an Indian-American.
With its heightened emotions and eleventh-hour suggestion that Ben might've stood a chance with Devi, the season finale "reminded me of 'Can't Hardly Wait' and a bunch of '90s high-school romantic comedies," Kaling says. "It kind of captured that vibe to me."
Kaling and Ramakrishnan discuss the Season 2 finale, favorite jokes and last-minute addition of model Gigi Hadid, who replaced Chrissy Teigen as the narrator of one episode following accusations of cyberbullying in May. (Tennis star John McEnroe is the show's sardonic primary narrator.)
Question: Did you always want to lean into the love triangle in Season 2, or did that come after seeing how invested fans got in those relationships during the first season?
Mindy Kaling: In the first season, we had an episode where we got to see the interior life of Ben Gross, with an Andy Samberg-narrated episode. We thought, in order to make this a fair fight, we need to learn more about Paxton, besides his hot body and pretty face. So that's why we did the episode where he finds out more about his own family's life and his grandfather's (experience) in (Japanese) internment camps. I think knowing some of his pain and why he makes some decisions and feels underestimated made it so that you three-dimensionalized both characters and you're rooting for both (Paxton and Ben).
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan: They're both really good characters on their own that we get to see through Devi's eyes and appreciate that they're more than just the nerd and the hot guy.
Q: After Chrissy Teigen, why did Gigi Hadid seem like the best fit to narrate Paxton's solo episode?
Kaling: She's obviously an incredibly famous model and someone who people think of in a certain way because of the way she walks on the catwalk or who she's dating or who her family is. Being gorgeous and underestimated just felt like a funny thing; plus she is a joy to work with and was a fan of the show. So we felt excited and blessed that she wanted to do it.
Q: I loved when Devi's dad appears in her dream and tells her, "Just because you made some mistakes doesn’t mean you deserve to settle for less." It seems like a good summation of her journey overall. How would you describe her arc in Season 2?
Ramakrishnan: At the end of Season 1, she started to confront her grief. It doesn't go away magically, because that's not realistic. We've reached that breaking point where Devi has tried listening to her father's voice, and now that's not really working. She's tried getting his advice to apologize (to people), but she didn't necessarily get that right. And now she sees him in her dream and she's wanting to be perfect. She's definitely able to make her mistakes, she is a bit of a mess, but she is, deep down, a really good kid. She doesn't want to disappoint anyone.
Q: Ben and Devi still have this incredible connection, particularly when he comforts her in the girls' bathroom after Paxton turns her down. How do you think that dynamic will shift or intensify in a potential Season 3?
Ramakrishnan: Ben was really hurt by Devi's actions in the beginning. But I do think the friendship between Ben and Devi is really sweet. There is a lot to unpack there and we do love the drama, so that's always on the table (going forward).
Kaling: There's lots of different kinds of chemistry. You have the undeniable chemistry of a soaking wet, handsome man (like Paxton) who enters your bedroom and looks into your eyes. But then also the chemistry of people who just have really good timing and repartee, which I think (Ben and Devi) have.
Q: One of my favorite throwaway gags was the Jodie Fasters T-shirts during the relay race. Do you have a favorite joke from Season 2?
Kaling: I really like when we're reminded that Devi's a good student. There's this one line when Paxton comes in soaking wet and (John) McEnroe says, "Had he used well instead of good?" It was like, yes, that's great! Your character does admire people who are smart and judges people who aren't, because she's so bright herself.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mindy Kaling: Gigi Hadid 'a joy to work with' on 'Never Have I Ever'
