Episode 2.1 “All My Problems Solved Forever”
Photo Credit: Jordin Althaus/FOX
As Mindy and Casey adjust to their new life in Haiti, their blissful time is cut short when Mindy suddenly falls ill and is airlifted back to New York. Meanwhile, Schulman & Associates welcome their new resident OB/GYN Paul Leotard (guest star James Franco), a charming, former model who also happens to be a sex therapist and offers sex therapy advice to Danny and Christina.
My favorite new comedy of last season is back and just as incredible as I remember. Take away the first few minutes of the episode and this is definitely a winning premiere! Why am I not feeling the opening? Well, my sister just got back from a 10 month missions trip in Haiti and after that experience, a few little details just made me scrunch up my face and tilt my head. There is no mail system in Haiti. I know this show is a work of fiction but little things sometimes mean everything. People underestimate what details can take you out of a story. Also, I mean…I totally get dressing things up for the screen but if you’re not going to show a third world country as…a third world country, why bother? Haiti is not the thriving bit we see in the opening. Especially since Haiti is still reeling from the earthquake, what better a time to remind people of that? The opening just rubbed me the wrong way. Anyway, moving on…
Mindy: “Guys, I lost three pounds of water weight from diarrhea!”
James Franco guest starring is actually more entertaining that I thought it would be. Franco is a great actor. Great. Sometimes feedback from the mainstream audience overshadows that and I forget just how great he is. Speaking of familiar faces, Xosha Roquemore now has more screen time as Tamra since Amanda Setton who played Shauna has moved onto The Crazy Ones on CBS. I think it’s safe to say that her lines brought the most laughs. Her lines and Morgan’s physical comedy. There really was so much hilarity intertwined in such a well crafted story with the well rounded characters we’ve come to know and love. The characters. Story. Comedy. The laughs just keep on coming! I think the writers and actors have it down to a science now. They don’t miss a beat. I mean, can we talk about the comedic timing and delivery? Totally reminds me of how memorable so many lines from The Office are. I can definitely see The Mindy Project as that show everyone quotes. Soon enough. Just you wait.
Waiting for Mindy and Danny to hook up? Do you think that’s where they are headed this or next season? I can’t decide if I want it to happen or not but the season two premiere sure did a great job watering the idea. I think I was in denial about the idea being planted last season but now seeing how the two interact here…well, the chemistry is strong. Mindy’s fiance be gone! What do you think? All in all, this was a great episode. The Mindy Project is back and frankly, still the best comedy on Fox! No sophomore slump here.
Episode 2.2 “The Other Dr. L”
Photo Credit: Beth Dubber/FOX
As Mindy adjusts to her long-distance relationship with Casey, she also must adjust to the fact that she is no longer the office’s “Dr. L” – her office, patients and dignity have been overtaken by Dr. Paul Leotard (guest star James Franco) – so she challenges Paul to get her former life back. Meanwhile, Danny has a new extracurricular activity following his breakup with Christina.
What’s better than watching Mindy Kaling trying not to laugh at James Franco in a scene? Nothing comes to mind. Oh, wait! Maybe magic? The magic onion ring trick, how cool was that? Mindy had plenty to compete with here, readjusting back into the work place after her trip but she ends up finding herself in a predicament where she doesn’t have to fight that hard. Danny trying to figure things out = priceless. Danny quitting the practice = heart cannot compute. Even with Bill Hader and Kris Humphries sharing the screen, it just wasn’t worth seeing with Danny out of the practice. If there’s one thing I don’t want to see, it’s Danny leaving the practice. Even if only for as short as a time as he did here.
Now it’s time for the writers to find the right balance between familiarity and change. What a thin line that is. Everyone showed themselves up for the challenge in the premiere but the rest of the season is where it counts. So while this episode is not necessarily as strong as the premiere, it has given us a taste at what we should expect moving forward and I am really looking forward to seeing the direction the writers take us in season two. Is it too early to be thinking about the awesomeness we can expect during November sweeps? One week at a time. One week at a time.
The Mindy Project Season 2 premieres TONIGHT at 9:30/8:30c on Fox.