Since Never Have I Ever is a series about the awkwardness of a teenager's life, it makes sense that romance is all over the place. At that age, people fall in and out love and start relationships on a constant basis. The same is true for Devi, Eleanor, Fabiola, and their classmates.
However, the show also features some romantic pairings from the adults including some of the parents on the series and Devi's cousin Kamala. As always, some of these relationships are far better and healthier than others.
Updated on August 21st, 2022 by Kevin Pantoja: Season 3 of Never Have I Ever arrived on Netflix on August 12th and added another impressive slate of episodes to the well-received series. Love has also never been more in the air than it was throughout the new season, with several new couples forming or at least getting more time to develop their relationships. Some relationships are healthy, others are pairings that never had a chance to work, and all were entertaining to see unfold.
Eleanor Wong & Malcolm Stone
Easily the most unhealthy relationship in this series is the one in season 2 between Eleanor Wong and Malcolm Stone. Eleanor was immediately obsessed with Malcolm after he returned to school following a few seasons on a Disney Channel show.
Ever the aspiring actress, Eleanor felt she found a kindred spirit in Malcolm and dumped Oliver to get with him. Unfortunately, Malcolm was a complete jerk to everyone, especially her. He manipulated almost every conversation to make himself into the victim and Eleanor fell for it every time until he dumped her. Thankfully, it led her to realize that she deserves better, opening up a romance with Trent.
Eleanor Wong & Oliver Martinez
Long before Eleanor was interested in Malcolm, there was Oliver Martinez. The two were an item throughout season 1 and Oliver mostly seemed like a nice guy. He was actually kind of at Eleanor's beck and call whenever she needed something.
Eleanor was clearly not that happy as she left him for Malcolm. While Oliver was certainly a better option than him, this relationship was never at the focal point of any real storylines, so it was hard for the audience to get behind them. Most viewers likely even forgot Oliver's name at times.
Kamala Nandiwadal & Prashant
Kamala Nandiwadal instantly stands out for her beauty but she's also brilliant, kind, and funny, so she has no shortage of suitors. She dated Steve for a short while but it was mostly to avoid the arranged marriage she had set up.
When she met the man her family wanted her to marry, Prashant, he turned out to be pretty great. They dated during season 2, getting along well and having a lot in common. Prashant eventually had a less than ideal reaction to Kamala being treated unfairly at work and she realized he wasn't the one. She left their engagement dinner to hang out with Manish.
Aneesa Qureshi & Fabiola Torres
Not many fans expected to see a romance blossom between Aneesa Qureshi and Fabiola Torres but it was a pleasant surprise in season 3. Following rough patches with their previous romantic partners, Aneesa and Fabiola shared a kiss, followed by mutual crushes, followed by becoming an actual couple.
They had all the makings of a great TV couple but unfortunately, they never found their groove. Things like kissing and finding common ground didn't come easily to them, forcing them to realize they were better off as friends. It was welcome to see a couple come to understand this and split in a mature way.
Chris Jackson & Nalini Vishwakumar
In season 1, Nalini Vishwakumar came off as somewhat unlikable. She was seemingly too strict and often mean to her daughter but that changed and she was a highlight of season 2. Part of it was her funny lines but the other part was her new blossoming romance.
With plans to move to India, she offered to sell her client list to a rival dermatologist, Chris Jackson. The two butted heads immediately but Chris proved to be far more down-to-earth and nice than Nalini expected. Sparks flew and they went on a few dates but she ultimately realized she might not be ready for romance again.
Devi Vishwakumar & Des
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The focal point of Never Have I Ever has seemingly always been the love triangle between Devi, Paxton, and Ben. Given the ending of season 2, it seemed like this would be more prominent than ever in season 3, so not many viewers expected that these new episodes would introduce a new man to the mix.
Devi found herself enamored with her mom's new friend's son, Des. After a rocky start, they actually had a lengthy relationship (by Devi's standards) and really liked each other. Alas, once Des's mother suggested Devi had too many problems that he'd have to deal with, Des gave up on anything romantic between them, proving this wasn't actually a strong bond.
Fabiola & Addison
Technically, this is a relationship that fans haven't seen nearly enough of. Aneesa saw just how little there was romantically between herself and Fabiola when she saw Fabiola instantly have chemistry with Addison, one of Des's friends.
Addison only appeared in a handful of scenes but it was clear that there was something between them and Fabiola. The two met up again at a coffee shop and Fabiola revealed that she lost her virginity to Addison, meaning they might appear in season 4 as Fabiola's new partner.
Devi Vishwakumar & Paxton Hall-Yoshida
As soon as the series began, the focus was on the way that Devi Vishwakumar felt about Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet). He was the unattainable cool hot guy who was way out of Devi's league, yet somehow they found their way to one another.
Although Paxton likes her more than most girls, he often gets in his own selfish way. He doesn't do the things that someone like Ben does for Devi and even his apologies to her are poor but she looks past it because of her attraction to him. He finally stepped up for her in the season 2 finale and they dated in season 3, though Devi's constant self-doubt and jealously led to them splitting up.
Ben Gross & Aneesa
Things went terribly for Devi when she dated both Paxton and Ben at the same time. Once that went down the drain, Aneesa came to school and formed a friendship with Devi that was going well until she started showing an interest in Ben.
Together, Ben and Aneesa were actually very good. They clearly cared for each other and always had a good time. The thing that held them back is that they didn't have a strong connection. Ben's condescending nature put off Aneesa, as did the way he always put Devi before her, leading to their split.
Eric Perkins & Rosalia
Talk about a romance that came from out of nowhere. Eric Perkins (Jack Seaver McDonald) was a background character in season 1 on the Robotics Team who had a crush on Kamala but nothing more. In season 2, he attended Devi's rager and attempted to woo a girl by stealing their hats and waiting for one to respond.
It failed until Rosalia (Andrea Ramos) seemed smitten by it. From that moment on, Eric and Rosalia were inseparable. While they aren't main characters, they were pretty adorable together and others often commented about how they were basically the perfect couple. Season 3 barely saw an Rosalia appearances though.
Fabiola Torres & Eve Hjelm
A major part of season 1 saw Fabiola Torres (Lee Rodriguez) coming to terms with her sexuality and coming out to her mother. She had a crush on Eve Hjelm (Christina Kartchner) and eventually the two began dating, becoming the cutest couple around.
Season 2 was a bit rocky at times since Fabiola didn't know much about pop culture and lesbian culture in general. She tried too hard to be cool and fit in, which upset her friends. However, being the great girlfriend that she is, Eve proved that this didn't matter to her. She liked Fabiola the way she was and even adored her mother. They're fantastic together but unfortunately, Eve had to leave in the premiere of season 3 and the two broke up due to long distance issues.
Eleanor Wong & Trent Harrison
For the longest time, Trent Harrison was a background player in Never Have I Ever. He was a comedic character and Paxton's funny friend but nothing more until he started dating Eleanor in season 3. The two have different personalities but that's what made them work.
Elanor loosened up with Trent and both admitted that the other makes them better. It was even clear that their friends accepted their new partners as Trent hung around Devi and Fabiola more, while Eleanor was even there when Paxton found out he got accepted to college.
Kamala Nandiwadal & Manish Kulkami
Most of Nirmala's season 3 storyline saw her pressuring Kamala into a wedding. She wanted her to get married to Prashant or at least someone else with an impressive career who she believed was a fitting partner. Kamala, not ready for marriage, rebelled against that and found happiness with Manish Kulkami.
Manish is one of the sweetest and most likable characters on the show and the same could be said about Kamala. It made them a perfect pair that audiences loved to see. Even Nirmala was ultimately won over by Manish's charm. Hopefully, season 4 sees these two remain an item.
Mohan & Nalini Vishwakumar
Sadly, this is a relationship that can only be seen through flashbacks since Mohan Vishwakumar (Sendhil Ramamurthy) died before the series began. Devi holds Mohan up in the highest esteem but has a poor relationship with Nalini, detailing how different this married couple is.
However, that's exactly what makes Nalini and Mohan so great. They balance each other out as Nalini was the serious one who could be the stern parent while Mohan was the relaxed one who kept everything at ease. It's the kind of pairing that makes for a long-lasting relationship that works.
Ben Gross & Devi Vishwakumar
It's a classic case of two people who tease each other but actually really like one another deep down. Devi and Ben are rivals for the top of the class and constantly bicker at every turn. But along the way, something remarkable happened and they ended up sharing a kiss at the end of season 1.
In season 2, they began dating but Devi messed that up by also dating Paxton. Ben is the guy who goes the extra mile for Devi, being there when she needed it at the end of season 1 and always taking her feelings into consideration. They also both always call each other out when they need to and even support their romances with others. Season 3 ended with the two having sex for the first time, setting the stage for something big in season 4.