September 15 came around, and that meant that it was finally time to see America’s favorite doctors back on TV. These are the doctors of “The Mindy Project,” who seem to barely speak about medical needs at all, but more about what happens when their strangely entangled lives get even more complicated.
This episode starts off just the way it should, with Mindy (played by the show’s writer, Mindy Kaling) and Danny Castellano (played by Chris Messina), finally being a couple. Anyone who watched more than one episode of the previous seasons knows that the show was always leading up to Danny and Mindy getting together.
One would not expect Mindy, the loud, pop-culture obsessed, slightly independent woman, and Danny, who is usually an angry divorcee, to have the chemistry they do — but the writers and actors have done a good job at finding things for the two to bond upon. Mindy and Danny should in no way get along (as shown in the first two seasons), but are now in a committed relationship.
This episode had Mindy and Danny’s first fight as an official couple, and in proper “Mindy Project” fashion, it was an unusual disagreement. It began with Mindy finding a thong in one of Danny’s drawers, believing it was for another woman. Later in the episode, Mindy and viewers discover that Danny had previously become a stripper to pay for med school.
While I am a fan of “The Mindy Project,” this plot just reminds me of a Season 1 storyline from “Grey’s Anatomy,” in which Izzy (Katherine Heigl) becomes a lingerie model to pay her way through med school.
While that plot might have otherwise felt slightly unoriginal, Kaling brings us Dr. Mindy Lahiri, who is anything but unoriginal. The character feels genuine, like someone I could be friends with. In a lot of ways she does remind me of myself: celebrity-obsessed, generally happy, and very loud. I have found that many people who watch the show agree with me that the character of Mindy Lahiri is an overall loveable one.
Danny in some ways is the opposite, but is equally adored by fans. Danny is quieter about his personal life (as seen in this episode), and is usually upset or trying to play off his dislike of something. Even so, Messina brings a charm to the role. With his leather jacket and always-perfect hair, viewers can’t help but fall in love with the character as soon as he provides a glimpse of happiness. Even when he has issues, like his long-standing hatred for his father, Messina has a way of making viewers feel comfortable and happy when Danny is on their screen.
One of my only criticisms about this episode, besides the overall plot, was that it didn’t focus enough on the show’s supporting cast. This includes talented actors like Ed Weeks, who plays Dr. Jeremy Reed, and Adam Pally, who plays Dr. Peter Prentice. I first saw Pally as a scene-stealer on “Happy Endings,” and he has proved to be equally impressive on “The Mindy Project.”
This week’s episode featured a new guest star: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s” Rob McElhenney as the criminal cousin of Morgan Tooker (Ike Barinholtz). McElhenney came full of tattoos (including one on his neck of Bruce Jenner’s face), and had plenty of stories and hilarious scenes with Barinholtz. Barinholtz consistently delivers with his character, who says the most outrageous things, but is always forgiven because of his love for Mindy and the doctors he works with.
Overall, I found this episode of “The Mindy Project” enjoyable as a viewer and a fan of the show. The plot was a slight downfall, making it feel a little unoriginal, but the actors have good chemistry, and Kaling’s writing is very quick and smart. The jokes are sometimes subtle and other times obvious, but always fit the character and scenario they are written for.
“The Mindy Project” airs Tuesday nights at 9:30 on FOX.
PHOTO TAKEN from asi.csus.edu
