FOX's The Mindy Project - Episode 2.22 "Danny and Mindy"
Mindy thinks she's met the man of her dreams after he writes a description of their encounter in a New York newspaper, leading to a surprising reveal.
The Mindy Project in its second year has gotten way more consistent. It hasn't suddenly become great but it's now operating under consistently better. It's always been a show about Mindy's romantic entanglements. This year though the show was playing a long game. It was actively working to take the show's two leads - and only strongly consistent and interesting characters - and turning them into friends and eventually pairing them together. There was always the will-they/won't-they dynamic between Danny and Mindy from the very beginning. It was mostly there as something we know was going to happen as an end game but along the way she'll have various entertaining romantic liaisons with a handful of hot white guys. This year the show went there and became much better because of it.Those first two episodes back from the midseason hiatus were hilarious and the show at its best. It was spending almost all of its running time on the two characters we actually give a damn about and put them in interesting situations. But then, the show took a step back. Broke them up and had them move on and fall back into the same pattern of meeting other people while still pining after each other. It was such a weird decision to make. The reason for the split felt emotional honest - Danny was scared of how a relationship with Mindy could effect the workplace should they ever break up. But the relationship drama that resulted because of the breakout was much more irksome than the charm they exhibited when they were together.
It took the will-they/won't-they dynamic and turned it into an on-again/off-again dynamic. A card that already feels overdone as the two of them end the finale back together again. That's the way the season should have ended. It's boiled down to a guy running to be with a girl and it basically becomes every other romantic movie cliche there is. Mindy thrives on those details - even though they end up being the opposite of romantic in her own life. It's a farcical of events that leads to both of them ending up on top of the Empire State Building together. She's rushing up the stairs while he's running through the streets of New York City and getting hit by a taxi. The universe is trying to keep them apart but they magically end up together as they embrace lovingly. And start talking about their future together. They're all in with the relationship now and I can't wait to see if the follow through can be just as emotionally complicated as their coming together this season.
Some more thoughts:
- "Danny and Mindy" was written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Michael Spiller.
- Danny pretending to be the other guy was just so unnecessarily manipulative. We are suppose to be rooting for him but that kind of gesture just read too creepy for me.
- But Sam Page is exactly the type of guy Mindy would have gone after. He is just so her type so of course she thinks there's a connection there immediately. Under different circumstances, he could have been a recurring love interest of hers. But please, without that horrible accent.
- The show resolved Mindy's relationship with Charlie in the most emotionally uncomplicated way possible.
- It's astonishing how well something pays off when the show puts the time into it. Peter pulling Mindy aside to show her the earrings in Danny's box was such a great moment of friendship.
- Things seem to be good with Peter and his brain surgeon girlfriend. Too bad Tracey Wigfield didn't make a return appearance here.
- Gomez! I thought you were dead?
- Danny: "You're gonna end up in the Post. OB slayed by S.O.B."
- Danny to Morgan: "How did you find out? How did you find out?"
- Mindy: "Anthony Francis? What is he gonna become the pope?"
