This post contains spoilers for The Mindy Project Season 4 Episode 2
In a season that is in its infancy but already brimming with big moments, The Mindy Project's second episode (literally) delivered the biggest so far: the birth of Mindy and Danny's son, Leo.
Most of the episode revolves around Mindy’s insistence on a drugged-out C-section, a decision which Danny strongly opposes.
He tells her that at least attempting a natural birth, if not a drug-free one, will be a formative experience that will bond Mindy and their child. Mindy, of course, won't hear of it, and she's so stubborn that Danny has to turn to known nemesis Brendan Deslaureier (the ever-superb Mark Duplass).
With Brendan's guidance, Danny picks up some "paleo birth" tips to help induce Mindy's labor. Mindy, inexplicably, doesn’t recognize what he's up to, even though she herself is an OB/GYN and at least owns a television and has seen that episode of Friends where Ross and Rachel try to do the same thing.
Still, she eventually stumbles upon Brendan's book and figures out Danny's plan, which infuriates her.
"I'm gonna be so drugged up that when I wake up, Donald trump will have started his second term." #MindyOnHulu #TheMindyProject #dead
— Frances Key (@FMK88) September 22, 2015What Danny doesn't realize until Jeremy spells it out for him is that Mindy is terrified. As much as she loves Danny and their unborn kid, she feels completely out of her depth.
Things take a turn when Mindy’s water breaks on a stalled 2 train, with no one around to help except both Deslauriers, who quickly learn that she is resistant to their methods of natural childbirth.
Danny, meanwhile, hears the news and jumps -- heroically and illegally -- onto the subway tracks and chases down the train carrying his fiancee.
@TheMindyProject Tuesdays mean Chris Messina being hot in leather jackets while running on subway tracks. I like Tuesday.— rachel mcmillan (@rachkmc) September 22, 2015
He tells Mindy that she is strong enough to deliver the baby, because she is a "stone cold bitch."
The next morning, the couple are in a hospital with a safe, healthy baby boy.
At first, it feels a bit abrupt. Twenty-two minutes doesn’t quite cut it for the content of the episode, and it’s a startling transition to make from Mindy and Danny making amends in the subway to holding their son Leo in a hospital the next morning.
At the same time, omitting a birth scene is the type of subtle but brilliant move that The Mindy Project of all shows can pull of. We’ve seen enough TV births to know that, as Mindy puts it, “childbirth is a horror movie.” We don’t need another sweaty, screamy subway scene to add to the trope, and meeting Leo is still just as special.
Also, the episode fades out to Sam Smith's weepy "Stay With Me" -- so if you weren't already crying, this is when you start.
NO ONE DOES MUSIC MOMENTS BETTER THAN THE MINDY PROJECT MY GOD
— Andrea (@ellewoodsedu) September 22, 2015
How I wanted to react vs how I reacted. #MindyOnHulu pic.twitter.com/vu6LOG0O8y
— The Hasti Project (@TheHastiProject) September 22, 2015
relatable content #TheMindyProject #MindyOnHulu pic.twitter.com/8inoaeeIAs — tori (@toraflora) September 22, 2015
With two excellent and emotionally charged episodes under its belt, The Mindy Project's work at Hulu has been some of its best and funniest so far.
Baby Leo is in good hands.
I'm a stone-cold b*tch but @TheMindyProject's latest episode has left me in a state of complete emotional collapse. #MindyOnHulu
— Vanessa (@vanessa_volt) September 22, 2015
That episode of #TheMindyProject tore up my emotions. Danny's reaction #MindyOnHulu
— Leah Jackson (@Leah____J) September 22, 2015
THIS SHOW IS A COMEDY! Why am I crying every week from it?!?! #TheMindyProject #MindyOnHulu @mindykaling
— Harper Elizabeth (@Harper173) September 22, 2015