Was thinking about what my favourite Daxton scenes have been over the course of the series and why. A quick list:
5. ‘I don’t fake kiss and tell’
This is the first time that Paxton forgives Devi. Unfortunately it won’t be the last but in this case Paxton forgives her not because he loves her or has feelings for her that he recognizes. He forgives her because he’s Paxton. This scene says
so much to me about him, and it’s validated when we see him repeatedly move past slights and attacks as the series progresses. Paxton is not a grudge holder. He’s not vindictive and he certainly isn’t vengeful. In any other teen show
the high school jock would’ve probably exposed Devi’s lies for what they are but Paxton takes the heat and keeps his mouth shut. They’re cool he says. And then, the shows SHOWS us how cool they are. For a few seconds, they sit in silence, next to each other, there’s an easy harmony between them. No need to fill the silence with inane small talk, they’re natural and comfortable and cool with each other. That ease is my favourite thing about their relationship.
4. ‘.. we used to hook up’
Paxton and Devi studying together at home is a VIBE. I love how one minute they’re exchanging playful banter about academics and then suddenly they’re slipping into a palpable state of sexual tension that turns the atmosphere electric. These two have chemistry and it shows. Paxton knows exactly what he’s doing here, and Devi is simply no match for his charm. She’s flustered and
lost for words and damn it so are we! Though there’s no kissing or making out, I find this scene very hot. More of this please.
3.’ It feels like everyone in my life is just done with me’.
Having just been humiliated in front of her peers, and rejected by her best friends, Devi is driven home by the only soul at that night that felt sympathy for her and acted on it. She’s feeling the weight of her own actions and their consequences, she’s almost resigned to being friendless and alone. It slips from her, in a moment of vulnerability and Paxton just takes it in. Then before she can gather her walls back up, and before he loses his nerve, he leans over and kisses her. Softly but firmly, chastely but there’s no mistaking the desire behind it. It’s not a coincidence that Devi in arguably her lowest moment socially ends up being rescued, comforted and desired by Paxton. We don’t see it explicitly until the next season but he’s the one who’s never ‘done with her’.
2. I just wanted to say thank you.
I love this scene for all the good stuff it gives us, the rain, wet Paxton, the killer soundtrack, the awesome kissing. All good, delightful stuff. But I really love this scene because Paxton says thank you to Devi for her help. We often talk about how selfish Devi can be, as a friend and as a daughter and how hurtful her self absorption has been to others. And it’s true. And Devi is troubled by how frequently her actions screw things up. But Devi is also rarely acknowledged or recognized for her efforts when she’s helpful or being selfless. And I love that Paxton direct and clear-headed, says THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR ME. I can only imagine how good that must have felt to Devi. Almost as good as the kissing I’d bet!
1. ‘Who cares what people think, you do you Vishwakumar’
As season 1 unfolded, one of the primary things Devi struggled with was acceptance. Accepting what had happened to her, starting to come to terms with her trauma but also accepting herself, the things she wished she could improve on (her temper). Paxton gently calls her out on her frequent loss of control
but without judgement, and then goes on to ask about the one thing she’s particularly sensitive about that day, her ethnicity. Devi is also struggling to embrace all that makes her, including her culture, and Paxton, totally unknowingly encourages her to just be her. His use of her ethnic last name when Devi’s been subjected to “David” all season long just hammers home the point. And THEN Paxton goes to leave, turns around and tells Devi that she in all her brown, ethnic glory, looked ‘cool in that outfit’. People, it’s not just about the superficial compliment, as great as that is, it’s about the acceptance of who and what Devi is, even if it was only in that small moment in time. What Devi hears Paxton say is “I see you and what I see is good”. She beams, her face lights up, gratitude and pleasure written all over it. And he smiles at her, and turns away, unware of what an impact he’s just had. Beautiful.
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