The third season of Netflix’scoming-of-agecomedy-dramaNever Have I Evergets straight to the action and gives fans what they’ve always wanted: a scene between the show’s two core romantic interests, Ben and Paxton, respectively played by Jaren Lewison and Darren Barnet.
Created byMindy Kalingand Lang Fisher, the show has been well acclaimed since its first season in 2020. The series follows Indian-American teenager Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and her journey through high school, which involves friends, family drama, and lots of boys. Season two began in rocky territory with Devi controversially dating both boys, and concluded with her choosing Paxton as her date to the school dance. In its final scenes, Ben confirms that he still has feelings for Devi and the plot continues to thicken in the new season. Devi and Paxton discover that have some intimacy issues caused by the boy-crazed teen’s obsession with public perception, and Ben sabotages his relationship with his new girlfriend, Aneesa.
Related:Never Have I Ever Season 3 Review
Game Rant had the opportunity to chat with Jaren Lewison and Darren Barnet about the new season. We spoke about their initial reaction to their big scene together, both of their character’s journey throughout season three, and even got a few hints at the “mind blowing” plans for season four.
Game Rant: I was so impressed with the new season, especially the nice bromance moment between your characters. It felt like it was a long time coming. What was your initial reaction when you read the script and saw this scene?
Jaren Lewison:I think I read it first and texted Darren immediately. I was like, “Dude, we have a scene together, and you’re not going to believe what it is.” When we actually got the chance to end up doing it, it was even better than I could have imagined. Speaking, at least for me, Darren is such a giving actor, and I’ve been a fan of his work and some of the scenes that I had seen him do with Devi and Trent, and all that stuff. But to be able to do a scene with Ben and Paxton was just so much fun. They have very different energies, so there was a lot to play with and Kabir Akhtar, the director of that episode, had so many different fun notes. It was such a blast and a pleasure to do a scene because we’re so close in real life that when we get to be in a scene together, it’s even more fun.
Darren Barnet:Jaren is just as giving, and it’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time. I love how it turned out.
GR: Darren, your character Paxton is a year older than everyone else, and it’s time for him to graduate. What would you like to see him get up to next?
Barnet:He has had to do a lot of work on himself because once swimming went out the window, it was a whole new journey of self discovery and figuring out the direction he wanted to go in. I just want to see him be happy, regardless of what it is. He needs to find that security within himself to be okay with not being the star athlete and the star person anywhere he goes because that’s just not real life. It’s not always how it turns out.
GR: Did you expect this character arc when you first came on board for the show?
Barnet:No, there were a lot of slo-mo and shirtless moments in season one, but as we kept reading along, it was like, “Okay, this guy’s the stable, hot guy, I guess.” They really gave him a heart. You know, even in season one, they gave him a heart. It was really fun to play with, and they’ve kept developing on that through seasons two, three, and even four, which we cannot discuss at all.
GR: While we’re on this topic of character development, Jaren, Ben has had such an amazing arc throughout the years. What are some of the challenges he faces in season three?
Lewison:I think that the theme of this season for Ben is pressure. Ben’s dealing with a lot of pressure in terms of relationships, where he has these complex feelings towards Devi, and he’s also trying to be a great boyfriend to Aneesa, so there’s the pressure of those relationships. Then there’s also thecollege application process, which he has put an incredible amount of pressure on himself in order to strive for greatness and perfection. He really, really wants to get into this specific school, and he’s going to do literally anything to make sure that he can get in there.
He deals with a lot. I think that with Ben’s journey, especially at the end of the season, I can look back and say, “Wow, I’m really proud of some of the steps you’re taking in terms of your growth and the process of building your identity. I know that you have a long way to go, but I’m proud of you for starting, and I’m proud of you for trying,” and in season four, I was blown away and I’m truly speechless. Not even because I don’t want to spoil anything, but also because I’m speechless.
GR: You mentioned all the pressure that Ben is putting on himself—which we see, ends up causing some damage to his health—how did you handle filming those scenes?
Lewison:They were really funny scenes at the end of the day. Darren had this one line that was like “oh god,” that was it, and I could not stay in character. I was trying so hard. I was biting my cheek. I was pinching my leg, but I could not, for the life of mem stop laughing because it was so funny. I heard that the situation was also based on real life, and it happened to one of the writers—I won’t out who it was—but that makes it even funnier. So, it was a blast to do those scenes, and they’re also really heartwarming.
GR: This last question is for both of you guys. What has been your favorite season so far and why?
Barnet:They keep getting better. I’m not being biased. Every season easily becomes my favorite. I think the writers are just very competitive with themselves. They keep wanting to one-up themselves, and they keep doing it. They give us a lot of fun stuff to play with, and there have been a lot of scenes this season that I’ve gotten to do with characters I’ve never really interacted with before which was so much fun to do.
GR: The Trent stuff was really fun to watch this season. I feel like he was a character that we’ve never really spent time with before.
Barnet:Benjamin Norris is both of our best friend. Trent is probably both of our favorite characters, too, and be honest, he deserves it. He’s so funny. He deserves all of it.
GR: I’d love to hear that. And then Jared, how would you answer the same question about your favorite season?
Lewison:Exactly what Darren said. It just keeps on getting better and better. The writers are so incredible. To be able to come up with such complex, multifaceted storylines each and every season is really special.That doesn’t happen a ton for shows. Sometimes you watch a season and you’re like, “Okay, that one wasn’t as good,” but not with our show. It just keeps on getting more and more fun and heartwarming, and you’re crying more, you’re laughing more. The magic in each and every season is so unique, and it’s just really fun to get to watch. I’m so excited for fans to see this third season and eventually the fourth season, which is just mind-blowing. It’s going to be a really fun journey.
Never Have I Everseason 3 is streaming on Netflix.
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