I am a big fan of all of Mindy Kaling’s projects, and The Mindy Project is definitely one of my go-to shows. It tells the story of Mindy Lahiri, an OBGYN balancing her work and love life in New York City. I have completely fallen in love with this show, from its absurd comedy to its heartwarming romance. I really recommend it if you’re looking for a fun comedy to binge (all seasons are currently on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu). However, like most long sitcoms, sometimes it’s nice to start from the middle before diving in. Here are my 5 favorite episodes to check out:
Warning: This ranking contains light spoilers.
5. Danny Castellano Is My Gynecologist S1 E5
Mindy’s gynecologist retires, leaving her in search of a new one. After Danny says that he does not have a personal relationship with her, Mindy begs to differ and challenges him to be her doctor, hoping that he won’t be able to complete her appointment. It’s a playful contest between work rivals as each of them tries to make the other feel too uncomfortable to continue the consultation and subsequent exam. These guys really will do anything to best each other. This episode is one of the first that showcases the chemistry between the two, and it’s really fun to watch.
4. Danny Castellano Is My Personal Trainer S2 E12
Mindy’s boyfriend plans a romantic ski getaway for the two of them, causing our girl to realize she needs to get into shape ASAP. She enlists Danny as her trainer, which leads to more hilarious Mindy and Danny banter. This episode also has some of the most notorious scenes of the show, including one where Mindy accidentally flashes Danny in the gym steam room, thinking it was women-only. Meanwhile, Peter takes charge of the practice while Jeremy is away, and realizes that being a managing partner is a lot harder than it looks.
3. Josh and Mindy’s Christmas Party S1 E9
Honestly, all of the show’s Christmas episodes are great, but this one takes the cake. Mindy decides to host the practice’s Christmas party, but the night takes a turn when she finds out that her boyfriend Josh has been cheating on her. The comedy gets to a whole new level when Josh’s other girlfriend (played by The Office’s Ellie Kemper) crashes the party in a crazed tantrum. This episode also gives us another look into Mindy and Danny’s growing friendship, as Danny tries to help her through her situation.
2. You’ve Got Sext S2 E8
Both subplots in this episode are comedic gold. Peter and Morgan find Mindy’s phone and have a hilarious and sexy text exchange with her crush, impersonating her. However, this effort to get Mindy with said crush soon backfires. Meanwhile, Mindy has to stay the night at Danny’s and acts as his girlfriend to get him out of an awkward situation with a crazy ex. I promise this one will leave you laughing so hard it physically hurts.
1. Danny and Mindy S2 E22
This is the episode where Danny and Mindy finally, actually, get together. Danny catfishes Mindy, desperate to get her back. This is obviously a bad decision and Mindy eventually finds out. However, Danny makes a romantic attempt to set things straight, expressing his regret and underlying love for her. And, well… you’ll just have to watch to find out the rest! This episode has a heartwarming rom-com feel to it, and its soundtrack features two of my favorite songs, so I definitely approve!!
Honorable Mentions: Teen Patient (S1 E7), Hooking Up Is Hard (S1 E12), Christmas Party Sex Trap (S2 E11), The Desert (S2 E14), French Me You Idiot (S2 E15), Be Cool (S2 E 17)