Top 10 Most Relatable Never Have I Ever Moments

The start of the school year used to feel kind of magical. After a long summer break anything seemed possible. Devi’s feeling this energy in a big way at the very start of the series. As she starts her sophomore year of high school she’s ready for big changes. She comes in armed with a plan and ready to introduce the world to a brand new version of herself. Not everyone wants to be popular, but the need for reinvention is one that plenty of people still feel well into adulthood. When you come down to it, we all just want to feel like we’re living the most exciting version of our lives possible.

Anyone who has applied to college recently will tell you the process has become so competitive that it’s practically an Olympic sport in and of itself. But seriously, do you play a sport of the Olympic level? Because that’s great for your transcript. Devi and Ben are laser focused on getting accepted to elite universities, and push themselves hard to build up their grades, test scores, and extracurricular credentials. Ben even lands in the hospital from the stress. But even the chilled out Paxton finds himself stressing about his academic future. Ivy league or state school, coasting isn’t enough to get anyone an admission letter. Watching these characters really sweat for their college dreams adds a layer of realism to the series.

It took a lot of courage for Fabiola Torres to come out to her friends and family. But when she did she found nothing but love and acceptance. Fabiola’s mom especially wants to go above and beyond to be supportive. Navigating queer identity may not be a universal experience, but mortifying parents? Who can’t relate to that? And in an effort to stave off the inevitable, Fabiola spends most of the charity relay trying to keep her girlfriend Eve away from her mother. Eve’s got the right idea, of course. She’ll have to meet the parents eventually, so it’s better to just make it happen. And of course, it’s not as bad as Fab feared. Okay, still a little cringe, but it could have been way worse.

High School is a busy time for any teenager, but for many there’s one thing that occupies more of their mental and emotional energy than anything. Okay, maybe not that specifically, but for a lot of us there was a period when nothing mattered as much as our love lives. Davi’s an extreme example of this. When it comes to either of her two main love interests, Paxton and Ben, she has a tendency to put her romantic desires above anything else. Unfortunately, this has included even her closest friendships, with predictably disastrous effects. For a while, Devi has a bad habit of framing everything in terms of her love life. But Eventually she does learn that romance isn’t some magical key to a perfect life.

We’ve all heard advice about not comparing ourselves to other people, but it can be hard to avoid. Especially when they seem to be everything we’re not. Devi lives with Kamala, which she finds difficult enough, but she’s not ready when Aneesa transfers to Sherman Oaks. Aneesa is another Indian-American sophomore, but as far as Devi’s concerned that’s where the comparison stops. Pretty, and fun, and effortlessly cool, Aneesa brings out all of Devi’s biggest insecurities. But she also takes us back to our own moments of self-doubt. There’s always that one person who seems to highlight everything we feel we lack. But just like the rest of us, Devi eventually learns that everyone is struggling with something.

Breakups are tough, especially if you have to keep seeing your ex on the regular. But it’s bound to get awkward when your former flame moves on to someone new. There’s a lot of pressure to seem cool and unbothered in these situations. There’s nothing worse than looking like you’re not over your ex when they’re clearly over you. Heck, even if you are over the breakup, something about seeing them in a new relationship always feels like salt in the wound. Watching Devi navigate this emotional minefield reminds us of our own breakups past. Though she got the satisfaction we only dreamed of when Des stepped in to help her save face.

Kamala is psyched to start her new PhD lab rotation with “Scientific Rockstar,” Dr. Peters. That is until she actually meets her coworkers. From trivializing her input, to forcing her to work overtime while the group socializes, Kamala’s labmates are kind of the worst. And it’s a familiar scenario to a lot of women. On and off the clock, Kamala bends over backwards to prove herself, even making a key research discovery. But when her supervisor, Evan leaves her name off the corresponding paper, it’s clear that nothing will ever make them see her as an equal. Dr. Peters refuses to intervene, and even her boyfriend Prashant isn’t very supportive. So many of us have these experiences, but at least we get vicarious satisfaction when Kamala finally snaps.

There’s a reason love gets compared to intoxication so often. Because, for one thing, it severely impairs your judgment. And the crazier the crush, the crazier the mental gymnastics you will put yourself through. Devi’s been head over heels for Paxton for years, so when he starts paying her a little bit of attention, she gloms onto any tiny indication that he might possibly reciprocate her feelings. The bar is on the floor, frankly, and any decent thing Paxton does is enough to give Devi hope. Similarly, when Eleanor falls for former child star, Malcolm Stone, she can’t see his many red flags through her rose colored perception of him. But we can’t really judge, because we’ve all been there.

Identity can be tricky, and “Never Have I Ever” reflects this in numerous characters. Devi spends the series trying to reconcile her real self with the kind of person she wishes she were. And we see Kamala torn between the traditional expectations of her family and her own vision for her life. Fabiola, on the other hand, is someone who started off pretty comfortable with herself. However, once she starts dating Eve she begins worrying that she isn't the right kind of queer girl. We see her abandon her identity in an effort to be cool enough for Eve and her friends, only to end up miserable. But eventually she learns what we all need to remember. That the only way to be is to be yourself.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Yup, Just Said That, “Never Have I Ever…had sex with Paxton Hall-Yoshida”
We Never Cease to Be Amazed At How Quickly We Lose Any Shred of Cool When A Crush is Involved

There’s Definitely a Type, “Never Have I Ever…been ghosted”
Anyone Who Has Been a Drama Club Girl Will Feel A Little Called Out Here

A Grounded Perspective, “Never Have I Ever…thrown a rager”
When Your Life is Such a Mess That Your Only Hope is Parentally Enforced Social Exile

Winter Formal, “Never Have I Ever…been a perfect girl”
We Build Up a Lot of Expectations for the Big Dance, But the Real Thing Rarely Lives Up to the Hype

There’s Always a Trent, Various
So Dumb They’re Deep or Just Deeply Dumb? We’re Never Entirely Sure, But Everyone Knows and Loves A Version of Trent

Mohan Vishwakumar passes away prior to the main events of “Never Have I Ever,” but his presence looms large over the series. Not only is he regularly seen in flashbacks, but the entire story is about Devi’s journey to come to terms with his sudden death. Just like in real life, this undertaking is messy, complicated, and sometimes non-linear. While all five stages of grief are represented, they’re never so cut and dry. Devi frequently experiences several at once, and while she makes huge progress from season to season, we also see how events in her life can knock her back. It’s a realistic portrayal of the long process of grieving, where there are no easy answers or tidy endings.