Mindy and Peter have different ways of dating, but both get results – kind of. Check out the The Mindy Project season 2, episode 19, “Think Like a Peter,” recap!
Mindy begins to date again, and does not like what she sees. Phil (Adam Shapiro) is sweet enough, but she is simply not into him and doesn’t know how to proceed. Lying on the floor of her office seems like a good place to start.
Danny walks into Mindy’s office and immediately assumes there’s drama going on in her life. He, however, doesn’t seem to realize that that drama is about him. Acting as Friend!Danny, he is ready to hear whatever is on her mind, but her frustration is about boyfriend Phil, and furthermore because she isn’t completely over Danny, so she shoos him away in favor of Peter.
Peter thinks himself a ladies man, and offers to assist Mindy in her dating endeavors. He reminds her to “think like a Peter, don’t talk like one” (we all know Mindy’s penchant for impressions.)
Mindy tries to break up with Phil by writing a five page break-up letter. When he texts her a selfie of him making a walrus face with chopsticks (they’re getting Chinese food for dinner!) Peter is revolted. He tells her the best way to break up is to go radio silent. He grabs her phone and runs around the office, with her chasing close behind. It takes only minutes, but Phil gets the hint (her lack of response) and bam! Just like that, he is out of the picture and Mindy is convinced the Peter way to dating is the way to go. If only life were that easy.
Elsewhere: Danny just wanted a knife from the hospital’s pantry to cut his chicken. But he found Morgan and Tamra hooking up instead.
Tamra immediately apologizes to Danny for what he saw, explaining she’s still with Ray Ron and would be willing to talk severance packages. Instead, Danny allows her to open up to him about her conflicted feelings.
He helps her construct a pro-con list. When Morgan comes out ahead, Tamra is ready to go for it, but Danny reminds her that they work together and we all know that is a recipe for disaster. Tamra doesn’t really listen to that logic though, because he makes her a better person overall, and she’s off to do some thinking. Parallels, people!
At a bar, Mindy and Peter scope out guys to be Mindy’s next target boyfriend. Enter: Lee, with holy music playing, wearing a New Girl Schmidt-esque scarf.
Mindy and Lee hit it off at the bar, both behaving flirtatiously and kind of awkwardly. He asks her to move to a second location, and she’s all for it until Peter texts from nearby to play hard to get. Shockingly, this works.
The next morning:
Mindy rolls over in bed ready to greet Lee, and finds it empty. But she isn’t discouraged, he left his scarf in her apartment. The classic Cinderella move! Leaving behind something so the two have to meet again. She receives his message loud and clear, despite Peter’s insistence that it was simply an accident and guys don’t actually do that.
Danny harps on the fact that office romances never work and wants to help cheer up Morgan. Lunch date!
Morgan finds RayRon and comes clean about the kiss, but instead of punching him or breaking up with Tamra, RayRon hugs Morgan, saying the incident simply brought them closer together as a couple.
Mindy tracks Lee down at his school and interrupts him during story time.
Side note: Was it just us or did it look like he was reading Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 to his class?
Lee admits it was an accident, leaving his scarf at her place – point to Peter! – and then callously asks if she’s a parent of one of the children in his first grade class.
Dejectedly, Mindy wonders if she’s good enough for any guy, striking out with Lee and Danny. Peter bursts into his classroom during drawing time and demands Lee apologizes to Mindy.
In a moment of self reflection, Peter finally realizes he’s a dick (his words). But when Mindy notices the wedding band on Lee, Peter is infuriated and socks him with a nice swift punch. Adios, Lee!
Peter realizes he may need to think like a Mindy. He needs to be a little more romantic. She may date some frogs, but she’ll eventually find her prince.
Mindy visits Phil and officially dumps him. She needs to take a break from dating to really get over Danny. There is significance in how long it is taking her to get over her all-too-short relationship with Danny, as compared to other guys she dated much longer but was able to get over much faster.
That’s proven to us when we see Danny is lying in bed with Sally, but underneath his bed are a nice pair of diamond studs. We know it’s Mindy, pulling a Cinderella. Only question is, how long until that plot point becomes relevant?