We are a handful of episodes into The Mindy Project season 3 and we’re evaluating the relationship between Mindy and Danny. A state of the union, if you will.
Over the first two seasons, we saw the glances Danny gave Mindy that always were a beat too long, too meaningful. Even as he dated other women, and Mindy rotated through her list of Tall White Guys. Danny dated Jillian (Allison Williams) for a hot minute – she appeared in three episodes – and had a seemingly on-again-off-again feelings for his ex-wife, Christina. Mindy dated, among others, Duncan Deslaurier, Cliff Gilbert, and Josh Daniels. Her longest relationship spanned the season 1 to season 2 jump, with ex-fiance, Casey Peerson. Through it all, the two co-workers bickered over the little things and were there for each other during the important moments.
Overall, The Mindy Project is as much a work-place comedy as The Office was about selling paper. It’s a relationship comedy. Mindy Kaling and her team of producers, writers, and the rest of the show’s staff has been able to truly create the rom-sit-com. By directly adapting from certain rom-com cliches and motifs, the show is setting viewers up to eventually deliver the grande finale of happily ever after. It’s how When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and countless other classics ended.
This differs from a show that is similar in audience demographics, yet vastly different in terms of character trajectory: New Girl. We would not be surprised if the show ended with Jess getting married to someone – within the group (Nick) or outside of it. We’d be pleasantly surprised if the writers were able to pull something like that off down the pipeline, but it’s not expected. Sure, coupling off a cast has worked before (Friends) but that’s comparing apples (single-camera) to oranges (multi-camera with a live audience). But we digress.
So we get to the real point of this State of the Union: where are Danny and Mindy heading?
There are ultimately only two paths: break up and marriage.
At this point, having them break up by the season’s end would defeat the entire third season of the show, and with the insane chemistry between Chris Messina and Mindy Kaling, anyone else who appears on the show to date Mindy Lahiri or Danny Castellano would seem insufficient and underwhelming.
In season 3, episode 2’s “Annette Castellano is My Nemesis,” Danny makes a few off-handed mentions about their hypothetical marriage, but this isn’t a show to toss in throwaway lines like those – Danny has probably certainly thought about marrying Mindy. And as Mindy finds herself settling into a relationship with a guy she didn’t consider a romantic partner until a few months ago (as far as viewers know), the turn from casual to very serious could be coming up.
The two have exhibited signs of comfortable domesticity that we haven’t seen on the show before. Mindy’s relationships are usually over within few episodes, something sends her or the guy off. Not this time. They work through their issues rather than running in the other direction when things get tough. They work together, both literally in the practice and theoretically as a couple.
As we head into The Mindy Project season 3, episodes 5, “Caramel Princess Time,” on Tuesday, November 4, we haven’t seen the two sit down and seriously address their future, and nor should we. If they were to get married on The Mindy Project, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was a minor event. However, based on Mindy’s characterization up to this point, we know she must have a Pinterest board titled ‘Fantasy Wedding’ or something of the like and therefore her wedding will probably rival Kimye’s.
As it is, we saw Mindy making an effort to leave a toothbrush and some essentials around Danny’s apartment, but he resisted. That is, until the end of the episode when he bought her a pink nightstand. The uncharacteristically out-of-place piece of furniture is reflective on the way these two are adapting into one another’s lives. Danny indulges her crazy demands, Mindy finds something appealing in Danny’s neuroses.
Viewers will be left waiting for the other shoe to drop – The Break Up or The Engagement – no matter how many seasons down the road that may be. Now, of course, these two could break up and get back together down the line, but seeing as that has already happened, it seems like an unlikely plot line. Unless they have a romantic grand gesture up their sleeve.
What do you think will happen with Mindy and Danny this season on ‘The Mindy Project’?
Are we getting ahead of ourselves? Focusing too much on their relationship? Let us know in the comments!
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