Seasons 1 and 2 are both the SUPERIOR, BEST seasons of this coming-of-age comedy drama Netflix series. Also, one of Netflix's best teen series that is for all ages and not just for Gen Z and younger.
Seasons 1 and 2 are bingeworthy, engrossing seasons, while Seasons 3 and 4 range from decent to half effort dipping up and down on filler episodes, cringy subplots shoehorned in on supporting characters like Kamala's involvement in wondering if Nirmala and her new boyfriend's relationship is a sham, focusing too much on inessential supporting characters (Margot in Season 4), and discarding focusing on continuous character development from essential supporting characters we've had since the first or second season (Paxton, Aneesa).
While I have mixed feelings about both Season 3 and Season 4 having both good and bad components, such as I love that Season 3 focuses a lot still on Paxton's individual character growth and Season 4 focuses on Devi's college expectations and doubts and her full circle growth from the grief and trauma of her father's sudden death, they just aren't GREAT seasons that continue the same excellence and gripping feeling as the first two seasons. In Season 3, I was not a fan of Paxton's character being written to leave to go to college in a different state because that literally sets up a plot device issue in the following season. Hence where we get Paxton's character growth stunted in Season 4, where he comes back temporarily to work as an assistant gym teacher because he feels lost at college and doesn't feel like it's the best fit for him. And the end of Season 3, yes while I admit Ben and Devi do have chemistry, it's not a tension-filled romantic chemistry that Devi has with Paxton. Sorry not sorry. I didn't like that the end of Season 3 leads to Devi losing her virginity to Ben. These two characters are TOO MUCH ALIKE that I very much prefer them as friends, besties even, but not as a romantic pairing. I'm all for a enemies to lover trope (i.e. Delena from The Vampire Diaries)... just NOT HERE. It feels forced, dull, and cliché especially the end of Season 4, IYKYK.
I feel like the writers (Mindy Kaling especially) didn't have the balls to have Devi get together with Paxton again because they thought that would be a superficial couple (really not); both characters are good for each other and helped each other become better people and grow individually, also I love opposites attract couples and Devi and Paxton easily fit this bill. Or this second option could've instead been part of the series finale: Devi ends up single, focusing on herself and not relying on a relationship to fulfill a void, happiness, etc., which I'm not saying is the case with Devi in any relationship but you get what I mean. This issue and fear of being alone, societal pressure to get into a relationship is a huge factor for a lot of people still when choosing to pursue or get in a relationship in reality and perhaps with some of the characters in this show even if it's not blatantly stated.
I agree with another Reddit user that the writers literally checked all the boxes on rom-com clichés: having most of the characters end up in a couple. It's like the writers think it's not a happy ending for a character unless they end up in a romantic relationship. Eyeroll-inducing bulls**t and how original. Not. Just like writing Paxton to start dating that young teacher whose name I forgot because she's that forgettable lol. Like where's the chemistry? So cringe and forced. Yeah, obviously I'm disappointed that Paxton and Devi didn't end up together but don't shoehorn in a new forced relationship for Paxton. Since he didn't end up with Devi at the end of the series, just leave him single. Also, I can't be the only one but the last Devi/Paxton scene had major romantic tension vibes, it felt like Paxton still had lingering feelings for her (I mean come on they made out in a closet which wasn't just closure IMO). And we can always leave Devi's future romances up for interpretation... who knows if she and Paxton will reconnect down the line and rekindle their romance. Who knows? Ben may be a good relationship for her when she's starting college, but in a couple years it may change.
I recommend Seasons 1 and 2 if you're looking for an entertaining, feel-good comedy drama. Seasons 3 and 4 are optional viewing.
Seasons 1 and 2 are bingeworthy, engrossing seasons, while Seasons 3 and 4 range from decent to half effort dipping up and down on filler episodes, cringy subplots shoehorned in on supporting characters like Kamala's involvement in wondering if Nirmala and her new boyfriend's relationship is a sham, focusing too much on inessential supporting characters (Margot in Season 4), and discarding focusing on continuous character development from essential supporting characters we've had since the first or second season (Paxton, Aneesa).
While I have mixed feelings about both Season 3 and Season 4 having both good and bad components, such as I love that Season 3 focuses a lot still on Paxton's individual character growth and Season 4 focuses on Devi's college expectations and doubts and her full circle growth from the grief and trauma of her father's sudden death, they just aren't GREAT seasons that continue the same excellence and gripping feeling as the first two seasons. In Season 3, I was not a fan of Paxton's character being written to leave to go to college in a different state because that literally sets up a plot device issue in the following season. Hence where we get Paxton's character growth stunted in Season 4, where he comes back temporarily to work as an assistant gym teacher because he feels lost at college and doesn't feel like it's the best fit for him. And the end of Season 3, yes while I admit Ben and Devi do have chemistry, it's not a tension-filled romantic chemistry that Devi has with Paxton. Sorry not sorry. I didn't like that the end of Season 3 leads to Devi losing her virginity to Ben. These two characters are TOO MUCH ALIKE that I very much prefer them as friends, besties even, but not as a romantic pairing. I'm all for a enemies to lover trope (i.e. Delena from The Vampire Diaries)... just NOT HERE. It feels forced, dull, and cliché especially the end of Season 4, IYKYK.
I feel like the writers (Mindy Kaling especially) didn't have the balls to have Devi get together with Paxton again because they thought that would be a superficial couple (really not); both characters are good for each other and helped each other become better people and grow individually, also I love opposites attract couples and Devi and Paxton easily fit this bill. Or this second option could've instead been part of the series finale: Devi ends up single, focusing on herself and not relying on a relationship to fulfill a void, happiness, etc., which I'm not saying is the case with Devi in any relationship but you get what I mean. This issue and fear of being alone, societal pressure to get into a relationship is a huge factor for a lot of people still when choosing to pursue or get in a relationship in reality and perhaps with some of the characters in this show even if it's not blatantly stated.
I agree with another Reddit user that the writers literally checked all the boxes on rom-com clichés: having most of the characters end up in a couple. It's like the writers think it's not a happy ending for a character unless they end up in a romantic relationship. Eyeroll-inducing bulls**t and how original. Not. Just like writing Paxton to start dating that young teacher whose name I forgot because she's that forgettable lol. Like where's the chemistry? So cringe and forced. Yeah, obviously I'm disappointed that Paxton and Devi didn't end up together but don't shoehorn in a new forced relationship for Paxton. Since he didn't end up with Devi at the end of the series, just leave him single. Also, I can't be the only one but the last Devi/Paxton scene had major romantic tension vibes, it felt like Paxton still had lingering feelings for her (I mean come on they made out in a closet which wasn't just closure IMO). And we can always leave Devi's future romances up for interpretation... who knows if she and Paxton will reconnect down the line and rekindle their romance. Who knows? Ben may be a good relationship for her when she's starting college, but in a couple years it may change.
I recommend Seasons 1 and 2 if you're looking for an entertaining, feel-good comedy drama. Seasons 3 and 4 are optional viewing.