One of Never Have I Ever. The series followed a young Indian girl named Devi who struggled with growing up in a strict household, dealing with past tragedies and the typical high school drama.
The show is elevated beyond the typical teen sitcom premise thanks to its characters. While most of the main characters are likable and complex people, some are easier to love than others. They are seen with their own flaws and positive traits that help to make them more compelling characters to follow.
Trent
Among the high school characters, Trent feels like the most unoriginal of them all. He is the typical dumb stoner teen who is part of the cool kid group and best friends with Paxton. Trent's popularity sometimes means he looks down on others and can be cruel, but mostly he's just oblivious.
It is not so much the things Trent does that make him unlikeable, but just the fact that he is a tired cliche. He is the kind of character who has been in teen comedies for decades and Never Have I Ever doesn't do anything new with this archetype.
Ben
Ben Gross is one of the more interesting characters on the show simply because of the unexpected journey his character goes on in the first season. He begins as the perceived villain, a rival to Devi in school, but ends up as a potential love interest for the future.
As the season goes on, it is revealed that Ben is just a lonely kid, which explains why he tends to lash out and be mean at times. But that is no excuse for the way he treats Devi and her friends, and the fact that he makes a drunken on Devi even though he has a girlfriend is bad. However, Ben does prove himself to be more caring than he lets on.
John McEnroe
One of the most unexpected hooks of the show is the fact that it is narrated by tennis legend John McEnroe. While it might seem like an odd choice, it actually works surprisingly well and holds more significance than it seems at first.
Since he is mostly just the narrator, there is not a lot of character to really get to know. Still, his humorous observations about the life of this young teen are great and he even appears in person during the finale to offer some words of wisdom.
Nalini
Nalini is Devi's mother and is not the typical sitcom mom audiences might expect, which is a great benefit of the show. Nalini is a hardworking professional dealing with raising a young daughter, arranging a marriage for her niece, and coping with the death of her husband.
With so much on her plate, Nalini is shown to make mistakes every now and then. She can be very hard on Devi and is strict about adhering to their cultural customs. She can also ignore what other people want and gets distracted by what she thinks is best. However, she is still very loving and helpful to her family and those around her.
Paxton
Paxton is the most popular boy in Devi's school and the object of her affection. Like many of the other characters on the show, his first impression as a stereotype gives way to a much more complex character. At first, Paxton seems like the stuck-up popular guy who is willing to have sex with Devi but doesn't show her any warmth.
As she gets to know Paxton, he shows that he is not always so self-involved and actually looks out for her in many situations. He is also shown to be a loving and protective brother, which makes him a lot more likable.
Elanor
Elanor is one of Devi's best friends and a theater kid at their school. Her overly dramatic personality was a bit annoying when the show first started, but she quickly became something more than just an over-the-top character.
Elanor has her own issues with her wannabe actor mother, who pops in and out of her life as she pleases. But Elanor will always put her own problems aside to be there for her friends, even when Devi is not there for her. She is grounded and ive despite her frenetic personality.
Fabiola
Fabiola is the third member of the friendship trio along with Devi and Elanor. She is a very smart and science-focused student who is also hiding the fact that she is gay. Fabiola's journey to coming to with herself is another highlight of the first season.
What makes it so easy to become invested in Fabiola's story is the fact that she is such a sweet and selfless person. Even in the midst of this very significant personal struggle, Fabiola is always looking out for her friends.
Devi
As the protagonist of the show, Devi is a complex and complicated character, which is why she is both likable and frustrating. When it comes to her dream romance with Paxton, Devi can be a bit selfish. She ignores her friends and their problems, disobeys her mother, and thinks the world revolves around her.
But while that behavior is not great, the audience also understands everything she is struggling with. Devi has been coping with the death of her father and cannot yet confront it. But even with this huge tragedy, Devi always goes out of her way to be nice to people and make them feel accepted.
Kamala
Kamala is Devi's cousin who lives with her and her mother while studying at Caltech. She is a very intelligent and beautiful woman yet is very down-to-earth and caring.
Like with most of the other characters on the show, Kamala is dealing with her own secret struggles as she is arranged to marry a man but has fallen in love with someone else. In this situation, Kamala shows her desire to make everyone happy even at the expense of her own happiness.
Mohan
Dev's father Mohan dies before the events of the first season, but his presence is a big part of the show. Though he is only seen in flashbacks, he establishes himself as one of the great television sitcom dads. He is funny, romantic, and always advocates for making the best of any situation.
He also seemed like the most level-headed member of the family, acting as the calm referee between Devi and Nalini. Given his loving and positive spirit, it is no wonder that his death created such a void for the family.