Annette and Mindy have trouble setting boundaries tonight on The Mindy Project season 3, episode 9, “How to Lose a Mom in Ten Days.”
It was the kind of episode that had all (most) plots converging by the end. Mindy wants to set boundaries with Annette, so she convinces her to start dating. Morgan and Tamra broke up, leaving Morgan heartbroken and looking for love. Lightbulb! Mindy thinks to set the two up. Not so fast, Lahiri.
We always knew Danny was a momma’s boy. Even if we never met Ma before season 3, he was always on the phone with her or referencing her in conversations. So, it should come as no surprise that Annette would be a tad overbearing when it came to his relationships. She just likes to be reminded that she is his number one girl.
At the top of “How to Lose a Mom in Ten days,” Danny and Mindy try to enjoy a romantic bath, but Annette bursts in, causing Mindy to hold her breath underwater a la Monica in Friends. Mindy cites other instances that Annette has overstepped: after sending a dirty text to Danny, Annette replies on his phone how inappropriate the content is, and the passive aggressive notes left in the bed saying “remember you’re not married, it’s a sin. Love, Annette.”
At the hospital the next day, Mindy notices Jeremy chatting up an older doctor – Dr. Ludrow – in an effort to get his patient list for when he soon retires. Jumping on the ass-kissing train, Mindy sets the doctor up with Annette. If she can get Annette off her and Danny’s back for an evening, and gain the goodwill of a doctor in the process, what could go wrong?
Turns out: Annette liked Dr. Ludrow, but is going all-in on this ‘dating’ thing and decides to sign up for online dating. She’s matched with Morgan, horrifying Mindy but also hatching yet another plan: set the two up to show Annette the kinds of creepy men (Morgan) troll dating sites.
Tamra had dumped Morgan earlier in the week, leaving Morgan to mope around the office until Peter tries to snap him out of it. While they discuss the merits of online dating, Tamra watches it all unfold around the office and is realizes she wants Morgan back. When she comes groveling, asking him to take her back, he says no. He thinks he can do better than her thanks to the advice of Mindy.
When Mindy gets home from work, Danny is there with a bouquet of flowers to apologize for getting defensive about his relationship with his mother. But, just as Annette is involved in every aspect of his relationship, he wants to make sure that he is always the number one man in her life.
Danny is uncomfortable with his mother dating or seeing her with any man. She reveals to him that she wanted to date during Danny and Ritchie’s childhood, but she didn’t want to bring another guy into the house who could disappoint them like their father. She didn’t mind giving up dating because she had her sons, but now that they’re grown, doesn’t she deserve a romantic life of her own? Heck yeah!
The progress the three have made is proven when, at the end of tonight’s episode of The Mindy Project, Annette knocked before interrupting Mindy and Danny’s bath, which is good enough for Mindy. Plus, she brought ziti!