Character Relationship Map: Doin' It

Characters

• Maya (played by Lilly Singh) — protagonist

  Maya is a former teenager who was sent to India by her mother after being caught in a sexually compromising position. Years later, she returns to the United States seeking funding for her teen-focused...

• Madison (played by Jessica Clement) — protagonist

  Madison is one of Maya’s students. She tries to recruit Abbey Ho into the Abstinence Club, but Abbey’s blunt response highlights the gap between the club’s message and students’ varied experiences. Ma...

• Veena (played by Sonia Dhillon Tully) — supporting

  Veena is Maya’s mother. After Maya is exposed to cruel gossip following a school performance, Veena responds with anger and shame, warning her about boys and what people might think. Her reaction shap...

• Abbey Ho (played by Sydney Topliffe) — minor
• Jess (played by Sabrina Jalees) — minor

  Jess tries to rally the Melanin Mafia during the school performance after a dancer is injured. A backstage mishap involving Jess and Derek spills into the performance and draws the audience’s attentio...

• Derek (played by James Goldman) — supporting

  Derek is involved in the school performance at the start of the story. He struggles with an ill-fitting costume, and a backstage mishap involving him and Jess spills into the performance, drawing the...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Maya → Veena (Family Mother And Daughter) — Veena's shaming response deepens Maya's confusion and discomfort around sex and intimacy.

  The plot identifies Veena as Maya's mother. After Maya is exposed to cruel gossip, Veena reacts with anger and shame and warns her about boys and what...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jess → Derek (Unknown Performance Mishap Partners) — Their mishap disrupts the performance and contributes to the embarrassing incident that leaves Maya exposed to gossip.

  A backstage mishap involving Jess and Derek spills into the school performance and draws the crowd's attention.

• Madison → Abbey Ho (Conflict Abstinence Club Recruiter And Resister) — Their exchange exposes a conflict between the club's abstinence message and Abbey's perspective.

  Madison tries to recruit Abbey Ho into the Abstinence Club, and Abbey responds bluntly, showing that the club's message does not neatly fit students'...

Story Analysis

Maya confronts inherited shame and uncertainty while teaching students to speak honestly about sexuality, consent, and identity.

Plot Progression

1. A Performance Becomes Public — A school performance is disrupted by an injury, costume trouble, and a backstage mishap. The resulting attention exposes Maya to cruel gossip, and Veena's response intensifies Maya's shame.
2. Teaching Meets Lived Experience — Maya teaches sexuality and abstinence while students' experiences challenge simple lessons. Their questions and responses sharpen her doubts about her own understanding and ability to teach.
3. Shame and Self-Doubt — Maya's attempt to explore attraction ends painfully, and she considers leaving teaching. Barb's candid account of sex and repression helps Maya recognize the shame she has carried.
4. Truths and an Unresolved Gesture — Students publicly share personal truths, showing Maya that her class has made space for honesty and choice. The gathering then turns uncomfortable when a student makes a suggestive gesture toward Lind...