FOX’s “The Mindy Project” debuted its third season last Tuesday. If anything, the premiere reassured viewers this fresh and innovative sitcom isn’t growing old anytime soon.
In season two’s finale, Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) and Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) found themselves at the top of the Empire State Building in a Nora Ephron-esque conclusion. It was a “happily ever after,” but fans remained wondering whether their romantic relationship will last or if they’ll simply revert back to playful banter come season three.
Whenever sitcom writers choose to pair up main characters, they run the risk of either boring viewers or exhausting overdone storylines. In past seasons, Mindy's and Danny’s playful relationship stemmed from “the chase.” Guessing when, let alone if, the two characters would be together kept fans on their toes.
Now that the driving force behind the show is resolved, writers came into season three facing the important task of keeping the relationship fresh. Sitcoms have a bad history of running stale after the main couple unites — Jim and Pam's flirtatious friendship kept viewers invested in "The Office" for several seasons, but a season six wedding brought their relationship's charm to a grinding halt.
Not all hope is lost for Danny and Mindy though — their relationship could steer toward a Ross and Rachel “breakup/makeup” scenario. If it does, it runs the risk of continually teasing viewers like the “Friends” couple did for a majority of the series. At some point, their relationship would run in circles, become meaningless and lose viewers’ interest.
It’s difficult to predict how Mindy's and Danny’s relationship will play out, but judging from season three’s premiere, it will be anything but boring.
In the premiere’s opening sequence, the couple still maintains their quirks and humorous banter that charmed viewers from the start. Mindy neatly sums up the episode in posing the question, “what is a relationship if not doing things you hate in between sex sessions?”
The couple has unparalleled chemistry on screen, yet their personalities noticeably clash. Throughout the episode, the couple learns more about each other — the annoyances, habits and secrets which make their relationship so engaging.
As the episode plays out, it’s clear their honeymoon phase won’t last long. Mindy’s loud mouth and Danny’s lack of openness threatens their relationship. The challenges they face don’t suggest the show will veer toward the storyline “Friends” depended on, but rather underscores the writing's tendency for unpredictability and excitement.
The show's witty dialogue, timely punch lines and likable supporting characters reassure viewers season three can be as entertaining as ever.
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