the unhinged protagonist saga: never have i ever

the unhinged protagonist is a trope that seems to be appearing quite frequently on nikszine these days. maybe it’s the influx of toxic characters in today’s media or it’s my obsession with dissecting every miniscule detail of a highly crafted show character. today we’re going to be dealing with devi, from never have i ever.

devi, a character i have never been happier to see on media, a character i never imagined to like but keep rooting for now despite her horrendous decision making skills. if there’s anything devi needs, it’s the ability to think rationally and sensibly. from the perspective of the masses, i’ve never been happier to see an indian being represented and while most of the jokes are accurate and happily overused, the show gives me a sense of comfort in a way.

i think a major role as to why despite devi’s obvious misgivings, she seems to have a lot of people rooting by her side, is her indian-ness. and her honesty. she’s upfront and straightforward about the things that upset her and she’s also not scared to make the first move. remember that scene from season one where she boldly approached paxton and declared her love for him? me neither. jokes aside, devi’s also a hardworker. she gets good grades and gets bit by wild animals. she jumps through hoops and hoops of an adventurous life all the while sailing through MUN. 

in the hopeful occasion that never have i ever does get a season four, i’d love for devi to embark on a journey of self-sufficiency. this wishful thought is pretty unlikely to see its debut on the big screens considering devi pulling up to ben’s place during season 03. a fan can still hope though. devi is desperately problematic which is exactly why a redemption arc should be in the making.

devi suppresses her trauma’s until they get the best of her and uses hyperfixation to cope, her redemption barely occurs and when it does, it’s in miniscule increments. it’s honestly comical and more than a coming of age show, there’s so much action going on, never have i ever is absolutely escapist and i’m living for it.

i think it’s also nice that while “indian kids are good at math” and devi’s decent at math, devi also has a mind of her own and while that sometimes leads her getting into problematic situations, i always appreciate a character going after what they want and speaking their mind regardless of the consequences.

question: who’s an unhinged protagonist you’d like to give a shoutout to?