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Funny, heartfelt, and savvy, “Never Have I Ever” is a perfectly timed breath of fresh air in these weird, stressful times. Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher and based on the former’s own childhood in suburban Massachusetts, the Netflix comedy tells the story of Devi Vishwakumar (newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), a first-generation Indian-American teenager living in Sherman Oaks, California. The series kicks off with Devi praying before a Hindu shrine, begging the gods for less armpit hair and a boyfriend who is a “stone-cold hottie.”

Now entering her sophomore year, the overachiever is fully aware that she and her BFFs, a theater nerd (Ramona Young) and robotics enthusiast (Lee Rodriguez), aren’t cool, and she’s determined to “re-brand.” Desperate to “pop [her] cherry,” Devi devises a plan to change her peers’ perception of her, a journey that often leads her to neglect her long-term besties.

Viewers aren’t always encouraged to take Devi’s side. Whether she’s facing off against her friends or her overprotective mom (Poorna Jagannathan), Devi can be self-absorbed and melodramatic, short-sighed and smug. Still, we’re always rooting for her — hoping that she’ll get some perspective and stop spending so much time and effort worrying about what the popular kids think of her.

“Never Have I Ever” is also a story about grief. Devi’s obsession with boys and her social standing serves as a distraction from her father’s unexpected death. The teenager is unwilling to process the tragedy, and channels her energy into everything but coming to terms with the absence of her beloved parent. Her therapist (Niecy Nash) struggles to get Devi to talk about anything except her crush (Darren Barnet), a highly-sought-after heartthrob.

While it shows an affection for other teen series — it directly engages with “Riverdale,” for example — “Never Have I Ever” centers its story on a character whose race, culture, and religion would usually relegate them to the sidelines of this genre, if they are portrayed at all. Universally relatable yet refreshingly different, “Never Have I Ever” is so charming it had me wishing that a second season was already available to binge.

“Never Have I Ever” is now streaming on Netflix.