The Mindy Project is finally back. Based on the Season 5 premiere, which debuted Tuesday, Oct. 4, it’s going to be an interesting and fresh season, especially when it comes to Mindy Lahiri’s love life.
What can fans expect from future episodes? Based on the premiere, teasers, castings and Instagram, there are a lot of clues of what’s to come. So let’s analyze and see if we can predict what’s ahead for Mindy and the series itself.
A more independent Mindy
As showcased in the Season 5 premiere, titled “Decision 2016,” Mindy definitely made a decision. She chose neither Danny nor Jody and is focusing on herself.
As much as it would be nice to see Mindy and Danny together again, this was the right choice for her. It’s time for Mindy to live the single life. We haven’t seen a single Mindy for a while now because she has been very focused on dating, which is always entertaining. She even said in the premiere, “I want to be with myself for a while.”
For the past four seasons, fans have watched Mindy grow and become stronger as a woman, but it seems like Mindy will become even stronger and more independent in Season 5.
More love interests
In September, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Jack Davenport would join The Mindy Project Season 5 as a guest star. Who will he be playing? A love interest for Mindy, of course.
Despite Mindy declaring that she wants to be by herself right now, that doesn’t mean men aren’t going to be attracted to her or won’t try to date her. Davenport (Smash) will play Leland Breakfast, “an English stage actor who is known as the ‘bad boy of the West End.’ He comes to New York City to star in a one-man show and ends up taking an interest in Mindy.”
Who knows if they’ll fall madly in love, if Mindy will shut him down or if they’ll just casually date, but whatever the case, Mindy’s love life won’t be completely dead in Season 5.
Another love interest?
Bryan Greenberg (One Tree Hill, October Road) is playing nurse Ben on The Mindy Project, and he isn’t coming on just once but will be a recurring guest star, according to Deadline.
Ben is described as the “new pediatric nurse forced to deal with Mindy and her child’s ever-changing illnesses.” It sounds like Ben and Mindy will have a contentious relationship, but that could also develop into something romantic. They definitely make a cute couple, though maybe they’ll just end up as friends.
Danny will be even more MIA
In June, TVLine reported that Chris Messina will not be a series regular in Season 5 but will recur as a guest star. Obviously that means Danny will be MIA more so than usual.
Seeing as he appeared sporadically in Season 4, this is something Mindy Project fans are used to. However, it’s kind of a bummer that Danny won’t be as prominent as he once was.
A ‘Gone Girl’ cameo?
Based on this Instagram shared by Kaling, it looks like author Gillian Flynn will make a cameo. Or maybe Lahiri and Flynn were just mingling at a party, but let’s say she will guest star. Where? When? What for? Details are scarce, but Mindy Lahiri meeting the author of Gone Girl will surely be entertaining.
Mindy may become a “white man”
During August’s Television Critics Association summer press tour, Kaling revealed that Mindy Lahiri may become a “white man” in Season 5. How the heck is that possible?
“We’re pitching an episode called ‘If I Was Born a White Man,'” Kaling said. “I love the idea that something happens to Mindy that is really sexist and then she wakes up the next morning as a white man.”
She also said that if Hulu approved the idea, then a Caucasian actor would be cast “to live [Mindy’s] life, still with my [voice-over]. It seems really interesting and fun and kind of a weird wish fulfillment to see how differently she would be treated.”
Mindy’s past loves return
See who’s in that photo to the right? Yeah, that’s Anders Holm, who plays Casey (previously Pastor Casey), aka Mindy’s former fiancé. Guess what! He’s not the only one returning.
At the TCA summer press tour, Kaling revealed that both B.J. Novak (Jaime) and Bill Hader (Tom) will return. Kaling also described Jaime’s stint as a “juicy little arc.”
Mindy will make one big enemy
Mindy Lahiri is getting an enemy. As reported by Deadline in August, Rebecca Rittenhouse (Blood & Oil, Red Band Society) will soon be seen as Anna, “a young, put-together but slightly evil doctor in the office who becomes a new foil for Mindy.”
Who knows how Mindy will handle the situation, but things will surely get interesting if Anna develops any kind of relationship with Mindy’s co-workers and/or former flames. That would take their enemy status to a whole new level.
A ‘Scandal’-ous reporter?
Like on Scandal, where she plays reporter Ashley Davidson, Kimrie Lewis-Davis’ role on The Mindy Project is being kept under wraps. What is known is that she will be a guest star, as first reported by TVLine.
Based on an Instagram shared by Lewis-Davis, she will appear in Episode 10, “Take My Ex-Wife, Please.” Hmm… Is Lewis-Davis playing someone’s ex-wife? Things become curiouser and curiouser.
Nasim Pedrad, the superstar
Scream Queens‘ Nasim Pedrad will also be seen in The Mindy Project. Her casting was announced at the summer TCA tour, and her character was described as a “pediatrician to the stars.”
It seems that Pedrad’s character will treat Mindy’s son Leo. Seeing as she is a “pediatrician to the stars,” does this mean Mindy will try to make Leo famous again? Remember that time he almost became a famous baby? Who knows, but Kaling is excited about Pedrad. “Nasim is an actress I’ve been dying to write for forever,” Kaling said at the TCAs. “She fits so perfectly in our world.”
Mindy and Peter will get into more trouble
He’s back. Despite not being a series regular anymore, that hasn’t kept Adam Pally away as Peter. It’s unclear when he’ll appear or how many episodes he’ll be featured in, but there’s a good chance Peter and Mindy will be up to no good.
When aren’t they getting into some kind of trouble? Mindy and Peter just can’t help themselves.
An amazing 100th episode
The 100th episode is right around the corner, so it has to be a superspecial episode, right?
That’s a huge milestone, so here’s hoping The Mindy Project doesn’t disappoint with its celebration, and let’s hope Danny doesn’t miss out either.
More Mindy love scenes
Do you see what Kaling is wearing? She shared the photo on Instagram and captioned it, “Old Faithful, my skin colored one piece for love scenes. Had it all five seasons of #TheMindyProject.”
So that suggests Mindy will have love scenes in Season 5, right? With who? Will it be an old flame, or someone new? Or maybe the love scene will be part of a dream. Whatever the case, love scenes are ahead.
Another favorite film sequence
The Mindy Project is no stranger of incorporating favorite romantic comedy moments, including You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally. It seems like another beloved romantic movie moment is coming to Season 5.
According to TVLine, who spoke with executive producer Matt Warburton, an upcoming episode will include a “supernatural-conceit/romantic fantasy trope.” He added, “It’s our take on one of the all-time classic romantic fantasy movies.”
Hmm… Is this photo of Kaling in a wig a clue? She captioned the Instagram, “Part mutant part comedy writer.” So is she supposed to be Storm from X-Men? Either this is related to what Warburton describes above, or there is a completely different moment with this wig in Season 5.
Dot and Annette return
No worries — Danny’s mom and her best friend are returning. Annette and Dot never disappoint, so they will definitely bring some funny moments to Season 5.
Bye-bye, Jody?
The Season 5 premiere did not end well for Jody. After Mindy turned him down, Jody was not happy whatsoever. Based on his reaction, their days at the office will be probably be filled with drama and tension.
Maybe Jody will get over Mindy’s rejection quickly, but that sure doesn’t seem like what the series is teasing. Now that they aren’t pursuing a romance, will Garret Dillahunt even stay on as Jody? He did just get cast in TNT’s drama pilot Monsters of God. Depending on how that goes, maybe that’s a sign that Jody will be taking his final bow sometime in Season 5.
Danny’s marriage will fail
Now that Danny is going through with his marriage to Sarah, fans are probably wondering if they’ll actually get married. Well, given the fact that Danny slept with Mindy and doesn’t ever seem to make up his mind when it comes to women, his relationship with Sarah probably won’t end well.
If they do get married, their marriage will most likely fail. There’s also a good chance that Danny will end up sabotaging it all before they even say “I do.” Oh, and the fact that he told Mindy that he “needs someone to take care of him” just doesn’t bode well. It seems like he’s getting married for all the wrong reasons.
Basically Danny and Sarah are doomed.
Mindy and Danny may never reconcile
Even though Danny and Mindy seemed endgame since Season 1, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
They still aren’t on the same page about their wants and needs. Furthermore, Danny just can’t understand who Mindy is and what she wants in life. It’s frustrating to see them go back and forth. They are so good together but also destructive at the same time. Plus, Danny is engaged to another woman, so who knows if he’ll ever get back with Mindy? If that happens, a lot of change needs to happen first.
At this point, Mindy and Danny’s future as a couple doesn’t look positive.
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