The Mindy Project is back for 2015 and it begins with Mindy moving to California to begin her 8 month fellowship at Stanford University. This is a great move, as I was certain that there was going to be a time jump and we’d soon be seeing Mindy back in New York City. As it stands, this new location gives the show the revitalising boost that it needs after almost three seasons in the same office.
Danny has helped Mindy move in to her new room at Stanford, and Mindy is looking forward to college life. After inadvertently insulting both a new colleague and her professor, Mindy is partly thrilled and partly wary when she learns that her professor, Rob, is actually an old college friend of Danny’s. After Rob becomes even more hostile with her, Mindy enlists Danny’s help to win Rob over.
Things take a turn for the weird when Rob’s wife Barbara (guest star Ana Gasteyer) takes a liking to Danny. Meanwhile, the team at Shulman and Associates are preparing to compete in the hospital basketball tournament. Tamra finds out that Morgan is dating someone else, and so takes her revenge by annihilating him on the court. Peter tries to make her see the error of her ways, and Tamra finds that good karma will always benefit you in the end – even in the form of a date with a new co-worker.
Mindy’s move to Stanford is a good move for the show. Not only does it introduce us to more characters, but it provides a shift for our main couple. It was nice to see Mindy out of her comfort zone and, more importantly, we get to see more of Mindy, the doctor, as opposed to Mindy, the woman who just hangs around in a doctor’s surgery.
I like that Julia Stiles is sticking around as Morgan’s friend with benefits, Jessica. Also great is the decision to give Tamra a new love interest, too. In the past, the focus of The Mindy Project has been on, well, Mindy herself. Giving the supporting characters more storylines is a great decision, especially Xosha Roquemore, who has been severely underused in the past. With next week’s episode being Adam Pally’s last as a main cast member, these other supporting characters will have to step up to the plate to fill the large hole he will leave behind.
Review Score: THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Mindy Project screens in Australia on Channel 7
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