THE SHOW: The Mindy Project
THE PAIRING: Mindi Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) and Danny Castellano (Chris Messina)
THE EPISODE: “The Desert” – (aired January 21, 2014)
THE MOMENT: After turbulence rocks the aircraft, Danny finds Mindy trying to get him some tonic water and sweeps her into a romantic kiss.
We have all been waiting for this moment since this show began. Danny and Mindy’s back-and-forth bickering hides a deep connection that had to be explored at some point.
They may fight like cats and dogs, but the two are clearly denying some serious feelings for each other. Danny’s seriousness and feet-firmly-on-the-ground attitude are the perfect foil for Mindy’s wild imagination and charming whimsy.
I remember when the show first started and Mindy truly couldn’t stand Danny, thinking him a rude jerk with no sense of humor or positive attitude. Since then, we’ve seen these two slowly become friends who care deeply about each other.
They’ve been by each other’s side through numerous disastrous relationships and heartbreak. Through it all they’ve only grown closer, both looking out for the other’s best interest even when the other one refuses to listen.
Now, this could have gone two different ways. Their close relationship could have turned into a kind of brother and sister type friendship for instance or even just best friends. But somehow, an attraction between the two grew along with their friendship. It’s been obvious for some time now that Danny is jealous of Mindy’s relationships with other men.
I think it is hardest for him to admit his feelings about Mindy to himself. When they start to surface he gets surly and rude, wallowing in forced denial. On the other hand, Mindy doesn’t even recognize that she has strong feelings for Danny. She’s more the type to just flit along obliviously until the truth literally smacks her in the head.
Well, that is certainly what happened this week. Mindy was dead set on winning back her boyfriend, Cliff, when she returned to New York. But then Danny came swooping in with a passion that I think probably surprised all of us viewers as well as Mindy.
So, without further ado, here is our Romantic Moment of the Week!
Mindy and Danny are traveling home to New York on a plane. Mindy leaves to get Danny a tonic water from the back of the plane (after he helped her write an “epic” letter to her ex to win him back, revealing his own feelings through subtext in the process), and Danny relaxes back into his seat.
All is well for a short while until some serious turbulence hits the plane, causing Danny to quickly grab for his armrest. He gets a nervous look on his face (perhaps our dear curmudgeon is not terribly fond of flying) and glances back in the direction Mindy just walked off.
After the turbulence subsides, Danny looks meaningfully at the seat Mindy was just occupying and then gets a determined look on his face as he turns forward. I can’t be the only one who wondered what would happen next, sitting on the edge of my seat…
The scene cuts to Mindy trying to find tonic water for Danny, sifting through all the different bottle and cans with a confused look on her face. We then see Danny in epic style coming up behind Mindy as she makes one of her typical ditsy comments about how all the bottles look the same to her.
As Mindy turns around, Danny sweeps her into his arms and kisses her thoroughly.
We fade out to them kissing at the back of the plane while all the other passengers sit by, oblivious to the passionate moment behind them.
What did you think of Danny and Mindy’s kiss? Will they get their Happily Ever After?
RELATED:
Take a look at Romantic Moment of the Week: Jack and Miss Fisher.
PIN THIS ARTICLE! AND MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST.
MORE ROMANCE:
